BUILD HONORS AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT

March is Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes the yearly theme, and this year it is the same as last year: “Valiant Women of the Vote.” It is appropriate to carry this theme forward considering the historic role Black women played in the recent elections. This includes the election of Kamala Harris.  Harris is the first Black woman, the first Indian-American woman, the first person of Asian-American descent, and the first graduate of a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States. As she said in her acceptance speech, “(she) may be the first, but (she) will not be the last.”

Compiled by BUILD for our Black History Month celebration, 2021.

​This is a story of a little boy name Theo, who woke up one morning and asked his mother, "Mom, what if there were no Black people in the world?" Well, his mother thought about that for a moment, and then said, "Son, follow me around today and let's just see what it would be like if there were no Black people in the world." Mom said, "Now go get dressed, and we will get started."

Please attend our next Lunch and Learn session:
The topic of discussion: The Equity Filter
Location:  Online (More Information Below)  
Date: February 17th, 2021
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm
Facilitator: Leilani Williams

The Disability Inclusion Network (DIN), a fellow statewide business resource group, is excited to announce the availability of an Inclusive Virtual Meeting Planning guide and checklist published on their website.

“We must never forget that Black History is American History. The achievements of African Americans have contributed to our nation’s greatness.”
​- Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman

“The month of February marks Black History Month, when our country celebrates the generations of Black Americans whose courage, advocacy and patriotism have enriched our communities and strengthened our democracy. In honoring Black trailblazers and change-makers of the past, we also gain inspiration for the work that still remains to fulfill our sacred responsibility to form a more perfect union.

Sadly, Black History Month comes as the scourges of systemic racism, injustice and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has inflicted a devastating, disproportionate toll on the health and economic stability of communities of color, continues to undermine Americans’ rights and our most fundamental values. In the face of these grave challenges, countless young Black leaders, activists and dedicated citizens have marched, mobilized and are making a difference to advance justice and build a brighter future for all. In this vital mission, we are blessed by the leadership and vision of a record number of Black Members of Congress as well as the historic inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman vice president in American History.”
​- Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, February 1, 2021

NEWS RELEASE: February 1, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT: Julianna Verboort, Marketing and Communications Director, Washington State Historical Society, 253-343-7004 julianna.verboort@wshs.wa.gov

From Black pioneers to Seattle hip hop: Learn about Black Washingtonians during February and beyond

​TACOMA, Wash – Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) will feature two free online lectures to celebrate February’s Black History Month, and is also working with an advisory committee to implement Washington Black History Project initiatives that will educate and enlighten throughout every month of the year.​

Compiled and submitted by The Washington State Department of Veteran's Affairs in support of Black History Month, 2021.

Short title: Providing for equity and access in community and technical colleges
Hearing: January 21, 2021 at 1:30 pm in Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development

SB 5194 Providing for equity and access in the community and technical colleges. 

Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions around the world, representing opportunity for celebration of family, community, and culture.
 
Dr. Maulana Karenga started the celebration of Kwanzaa in 1966. Feeling African Americans were detached from the values and culture of the continent of Africa, he created the celebration to give them something they could connect to and make their lives better.

Blacks United In Diversity and Leadership supports our American Indian and Alaska Native brothers and sisters and honors Indigenous Peoples / Native American Heritage Month.

​Beginning in 1990, November was designated Native American Heritage Month, a time to pay tribute to the rich history and culture of the American Indian tribes. All the verbiage surrounding that initial recognition seemed to place Indigenous people and culture into a past tense.

1619 – 1865 AMERICAN SLAVERY ERA
1865 – 1954 RECONSTRUCTION, JIM CROW, RACIAL APARTHEID AND SEGREGATION ERA
1954 – Present Day Civil Rights Law and Mass Incarceration

Reformatted from the original PDF compiled by The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

"The term disability justice was coined out of conversations between disabled queer women of color activists in 2005, including Patty Berne of Sins Invalid (and Mia Mingus & Stacy Milbern, who eventually united with Leroy Moore, Eli Clare, and Sebastian Margaret) seeking to challenge radical and progressive movements to more fully address ableism."

Read more at their site.

BUILD supports accessible video calls.

​Accessible meetings are effective meetings. Whether you’re catching up with a friend or discussing the latest project at work, accessibility ensures that everyone can fully engage and participate.

Funded by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment Division and the Coal Creek Sewer Upgrade Project.

More info is at rootedinrights.org

This and more info is on BUILD's resource page. 

Featuring experts and self-advocates on disability and race, this panel will explore life at the center of multiple oppressed identities.

Dear community members,
 
The Barbara Clarkson Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at South Puget Sound Community College is looking for mentors to assist with mentoring and guiding its graduating class of Black Scholars.
​
The Black Scholars Program helps Black and African American students get through college and graduate by offering mentorship, community, and support services tailored to unique needs around racial identity.

Kelsey McGarry of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Monique Brown of FOB Hope organized and co-led four Racial Caucus Affinity groups with King County providers within homeless and veteran services. The focus of the conversation was to discuss racial disparities, racial bias, the killing of Black people by police, White supremacy, and the actions steps we can take to make changes in King County. 

BUILD would like to highlight these especially relevant resources from Leanin.org:

Working at the intersection: What Black women are up against
The State of Black Women in Corporate America
​
The above links, and many others, are also part of our Resources page.

The African American Studies Institute at PGCC presents: Black Culture Matters : A virtual lecture-discussion series.

Black Culture Matters is a series hosted by the African American Studies Institute (AASI) at Prince George's Community College, revolving around this year’s theme: Resisting De-humanization through the Humanities.

Facebook University (FBU) Gear Up which is an internship program for students (HS Seniors & College Freshman) from, but not limited to Latinx, Black, Native backgrounds!

This series is a platform for black authors to share personal accounts about their life experiences in research and academia, as well as reflect on the Black Lives Matter movement, the current state of affairs and where we go from here.

The Washington State Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council hosted a learning session on how to be an effective accomplice or ally. BUILD’s Chair, Megan Matthews, was a panelist!
Watch the pre-recorded, 24-minute session.