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. 

Blacks United In Leadership and Diversity continues to BUILD.

Nominate yourself or any BUILD community member to serve on our 2021-2022 Executive Leadership Team. These are professional development opportunities leading a statewide program in a volunteer capacity. Incoming leaders will receive all of the training, support, and mentoring they need from the outgoing leaders and our Executive Sponsor to be successful.
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BUILD Chair job description
​BUILD Co-Chair job description
​BUILD Executive Assistant description

Informational flyer

Candidates must be public service employees with the state or at a state higher education institution to qualify.

The following is reprinted with permission from the author, John Vassall, MD.

Black Americans are reluctant to take the coronavirus vaccine. When the Pfizer vaccine became available at Howard University Hospital on December 14, only 600 of approximately 1,900 employees had signed up for the 725 doses received. Howard University is one of the oldest and finest historically Black colleges, reverently referred to as “The Mecca” by Te-Nehisi Coates. Anita Jenkins, CEO had her shot administered publicly in an effort to change the minds of the 70% of workers in a November hospital survey who either did not want to take the vaccine or did not want it immediately. If you find yourself hesitating to take the vaccine, you are not alone. I offer information to help you make your decision. 

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.

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced the appointment of Jamila Thomas as his chief of staff effective Nov. 16. Thomas is currently chief of staff to Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal and previously held the same title with former Speaker of the House Frank Chopp.
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Focus on organizations led by and serving communities of color seeks to address disproportionate pandemic impact.

OLYMPIA, WA – The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on nonprofit organizations, with many experiencing increased demand for services and programs while at the same time dealing with disruption of services and programs, cancellation of contracts, funding losses due to canceled fundraisers, reduced donations and other issues affecting staff and volunteer capacity. The impacts are particularly hard on nonprofits led by and serving Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities.

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.

A message from the Washington Immigrant Network - www.washingtonimmigrantnetwork.org:

The Washington Immigrant Network needs your help making the Food for Diversity-Cultural Recipe Book. We need your recipe as well as volunteers to help collect the recipes, publish, and distribute the book.  If you have recipes to share and or interested in joining the Food for Diversity committee, please email us at win@ofm.wa.gov

We have the following main ideas about the project:

"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.