BFCF ListeningReport2024 r201 - Flipbook - Page 10
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
LISTENING TOUR REPORT 2023 - 2024
Community Strengths
Powerful Black-led work is happening across Washington state to promote Black well-being. While each region is distinct,
in every place we visited, communities are connecting across intersecting issues to respond to immediate needs, as well as to
address systemic root causes.
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In the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, youth, education,
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In Spokane and Eastern Washington, the Carl Maxey
arts and culture, health and social service, faith, and
Center and MLK Center are providing vital cultural
racial justice groups are designing programs speci昀椀c
anchors for Black people, while the Spokane NAACP
to Black residents. Black Lives Matter of Jefferson
continues to organize community members around civil
County, Well Organized, and NAACP Kitsap are some
rights and racial justice. The community journalism
of the groups empowering truthful storytelling;
of The Black Lens is uplifting Black perspectives and
facilitating organizing among communities of color;
relevant news. Organizations like Terrain and Raze
and encouraging civic involvement. A number of health
Development are cultivating Black brilliance through
practitioners are creating care systems that holistically
art and investing in young people’s development. Strong
support people’s wellness and well-being. And,
Women Achieving Greatness (SWAG), the Shades of
organizations like Our Gems, The Freedom Project, and
Motherhood Network, and Forge are supporting the
YWCA are providing educational and supportive services,
health and well-being of Black women. In addition,
while actively dismantling systems that harm us.
several groups are focused on apprenticeships and job
skills training.
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In North Washington, communities are more
geographically dispersed in this largely rural setting.
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In Yakima, local churches, the Yakima NAACP, and
NAACP Snohomish County is a major pathway for
the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) have
collective power building, as well as protecting and
been instrumental in carving out opportunities for
expanding the rights of North Washingtonians.
Black residents. With the Yakima NAACP celebrating
Additionally, organizations like The Bronze Chapter are
eight decades of impact this year, we learned about
rewriting outdoor narratives and increasing access for
the long list of Black leaders who’ve championed equal
Black people to enjoy nature.
rights in education, voting access, economic mobility,
and more. We met Ms. Esther Huey, who is the driving
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In Southwest Washington, folks who participated in the
listening session expressed the importance of investing
in their communities’ well-being. Organizations like
Odyssey World International Education Services, Red
Sea Road Consulting, and Roots and Remnant LLC, are
offering safe and supportive spaces, particularly for
Black youth and women. The Community Foundation for
Southwest Washington is funding local racial and social
justice initiatives.
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force behind fundraising for and building a new aquatic
center in southeast Yakima; Rev. Robert Trimble, a Martin
Luther King Jr. disciple, who has advocated for Yakima’s
own MLK Boulevard and building a beloved community;
and Mr. James Parks, a retired army sergeant,
environmental justice organizer, and current president
of the Yakima NAACP. They are all helping usher in a new
wave of Black leaders.
