by Reagan Jackson This Black History Month has been a poignant meditation on joy, resilience, rage, fear, curiosity, pride, and grief. As always, I’m fascinated to learn new tidbits of history like how Norris B. Herndon, a Black gay millionaire, quietly helped fund the civil rights movement or that Rosa… [ Keep reading ]
Tayah Carlisle is the Grow Program Coordinator at Young Women Empowered (Y-WE). Grow is a program based out of Marra Farm, that helps young people connect with the Earth in reciprocal relationship, gain practical gardening skills, and grow fresh, culturally-relevant produce. Tayah was born and raised in Seattle’s Central District… [ Keep reading ]
Remembering and Imagining our Stories by Mary Hall-Williams In which I remember my people. Most of whom took their stories with them when they passed. Some of whom I never had the pleasure of meeting. Anita, Sidney, Louise, Robert, Elcinda, William, Mary, Fred, Lenora, Raymond, Robert, Leslie Jr, Leslie Sr…. [ Keep reading ]
Fatra Hussein is a freshman at Franklin High School. For the past two years, she has been involved with Young Women Empowered (Y-WE), a Seattle-based nonprofit that cultivates the power of diverse young women to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers through transformative programs. In her time at Y-WE, Fatra… [ Keep reading ]
Redefining Blackness by Indigo Mays What is Blackness? I am not referring to people whose ancestors descend from Africa, but the cultural phenomenon that is being Black. One can be African American, but not Black, just as one can be African American and Black. I happen to fall into the… [ Keep reading ]
Delivering New Worlds: Black Doulas Talk about Black Futures Wednesday, February 22, 5:30-7:30 pm at Y-WE (5623 Rainier Ave S.) If we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, then what are our dreams for Black futures? This Black History month we are celebrating the past, but also contemplating how it’s shaped the… [ Keep reading ]
Victoria Santos is a Co-Founder of the BIPOC ED Coalition of Washington State, a multicultural, cross-sector collaborative of 200+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color nonprofit leaders working in solidarity to promote wellness and restore resources in our region’s communities. She is also the Director of the Center for Healing… [ Keep reading ]
Like Fine Wine, Black Joy Over Time: The Necessity of Black Joy Narratives to Black Liberation by Nacala Ayele As a Joy Actualization Coach for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, I define joy as the internal sense of well-being, satisfaction, and contentment that is independent of external circumstances. For… [ Keep reading ]
Reimagining Black History Month by Reagan Jackson The earliest memory I have of celebrating Black History Month was in the fourth grade. I attended a predominantly white school in Middleton, Wisconsin. One day my mom noticed my backpack was much heavier than usual. She asked why I was taking so… [ Keep reading ]
The Importance of Black History Month by Yodahe Maaza A problem in Seattle, and many other places, that needs to be addressed is mental health within Black communities. There is an omnipresent stigma in the Black community around mental health. There is no talk about it, just silence, making individuals… [ Keep reading ]
