This February, we asked partners to share events and activities they are hosting in honor of Black History Month. We are thrilled to spotlight a few amazing partners who have planned creative and effective events on behalf of their community.
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Last month, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) hosted their Boosters @ Boon Boona event in partnership with Dunia Health Clinic and Boon Boona Coffee. The event offered a free drink from Boon Boona for any attendee who got tested or boosted. This effort resulted in 135 vaccinations! This month, ULMS hosted a second Boosters @ Boon Boona event on February 21, 2022. ULMS’s efforts were recently highlighted by The Seattle Medium in a piece titled, “Urban League Delivers Vaccine Access Through Series Of Local Pop-Up Clinics.”
Rainier Avenue Radio
Rainier Avenue Radio planned a month of educational programming, musical and dance performances, panel discussions, historical exhibits and more. The first week of Black History Month included Black Comedy Night featuring Nate Jackson and Tawaana, Seattle Here and Now hosted by John Yasutake with special guest Dr. Jesse Wineberry, and The Impact of the Coronavirus on Black Communities hosted by Tony B. Additional events throughout the month included Black Comedy Night Valentine’s Edition, Panel Discussion: Being an African Immigrant in Black America, and Blacks in Tech hosted by Al Herron.
This week, the Grand Finale Week of Black History Month 2022, includes a panel discussion on Black Health and Wellness, a TASWIRA African Workshop, a musical performance featuring Bob Lovelace and Friends, Blacks in Trades hosted by Mark Schley, an “Old School” DJ Party, and the Black Wall Street exhibit.
The Black Wall Street exhibit will begin on February 25 with a Women of Black Wall Street exhibit featuring authentic memorabilia from Tulsa’s thriving Black Wall Street, accompanied by stories of the Black women who were essential to the business community. On February 26, attendees can expect The Black Wall Street Vendor Fair from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. with the full Black Wall Street exhibit open until 8 p.m. Featured guest speakers will include descendants of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street business owners. Closing ceremonies for the exhibit will take place on Sunday, February 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tune in to these and other events hosted by Rainier Avenue Radio at RainierAvenueRadio.World.
WOW Tri-Cities
WOW Tri-Cities held a “skate night” for youth in urban and rural areas of Eastern Washington. The program focused on the importance of vaccination, along with information on Black history and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
More than 150 youth attended, coming from areas around Moses Lake, Othello, Prosser, Sunnyside and Tri-Cities. The organization provided COVID-19 home test kits, masks, shields, food boxes, and Black history resources as well as pizza and skates for the gathering.
The event was organized in partnership with other community organizations, and WOW Tri-Cities was recently recognized by a local NBC affiliate for their outreach in vaccine education and resources in “Vaccine hesitancy within the Black and African-American community”
Thank You
Thank you to ULMS, Rainier Avenue Radio, and WOW Tri-Cities for sharing your incredible efforts this month. Likewise, thank you to each of you for working hard to improve the health of your communities. Your work is a constant source of inspiration to us, and we are honored to partner with you in this effort.
As always, we love to hear about the work you are doing. To have your events included in our calendar or newsletter, reach out to a DH team member or add your event to our partner events list.