Black-Led Wellness Weekend is a time for Black people to come together to focus on our own health and healing. It’s an opportunity for us to care for ourselves and those around us; to receive and provide culturally-responsive services, resources, opportunities, and connection; and to support the needs of community.
On Friday we are joining with other community organizations to offer free health and wellness services at Seattle Central College.
We are also amplifying and supporting Black-led healing events, curated and hosted by Black folx on Friday and Saturday. These events are intentionally centered on Black queer and trans people in honor of Pride Month.
Black-Led Wellness Weekend Events
Friday, June 26
BLMSKC Community Health Services Day
- Seattle Central College
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Free health and wellness resources and services for all community, organized by BLMSKC and partners, including Public Health Seattle King-County, Country Doctor, Odessa Brown, Carolyn Downs, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Human Services Department, Mary’s Place.
Blackout Healing
- Judkins Park
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Carefully curated all Black healing space presented by Black Out Healing Collective, amplified by BLMSKC.
Saturday, June 27
Blackout Healing
- Jimi Hendrix Park
- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Carefully curated all-Black healing space presented by Black Out Healing Collective, amplified by BLMSKC.
Taking B(l)ack Pride
- Jefferson Park
- 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- An event to lift the voices, narratives and contributions of Black queer and trans folks, presented by Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, WA Black Trans Task Force, Alphabet Alliance of Color, Queer the Land, & Ghetto Heaven, with big, fat, Black love from BLMSKC.
Community Support Contributions
We’re also calling on our entire community this weekend. Show up for Black-Led Community Wellness by giving to BLMSKC’s Black-Led Community Investment Fund.
ALL gifts made between Friday and Saturday will be reinvested in Black Community Wellness—Health, Education, and Basic Needs.
‘Black Lives Matter’ means caring for our physical, mental, emotional, and social health in ways we define. Caring for ourselves and others is an act of resistance.
Gifts will go to:
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic Library
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic Free Book Library is located inside the clinic, in the central district. It is coordinated by Seattle public libraries and provides free, new, BIPOC centered books every time a child comes in for an appointment. The library is organized by color code per reading ability. Funding will help cover costs of BIPOC books, shipping books when needed (COVID-19), and also be used to purchase educational kits to help with motor skills, brain development and reading comprehension, while childcare centers, early learning centers, and after school programs are closed.
Look, Listen and Learn
Produces children’s television to bridge the achievement gap in Washington so BIPOC kids enter school ready to learn, day 1. L,L&L is producing socially distance safe emotional wellness programming- which they had no idea they would need to do- for Black children to help them and the adults in their lives process through all the things happening to them and around them.
Tyrone Love Memorial Scholarship Fund
This scholarship is in memory of Tyrone Love, who was gunned down while walking home from work. His death was so traumatic for the community and as a result the city and county, it changed the way we talk about and understand youth, gun, and gang violence. This scholarship is for Black youth in Seattle, in support of their education and or work in the community. The memorial scholarship is going to use these funds to support Black students and children in Seattle and King County with meeting their basic needs and providing tech and other tools most kids don’t have access to during COVID-19, to help students stay connected and learning online. This effort is usually funded by local Black entrepreneurs who host events and donate proceeds every year. Because of event cancelation, no funds, generally, to support youth in 2020.
Community Kitchen #FeedThePeople
Community Kitchen #FeedthePeople is a group of local black chefs who prepare at least two meals a day and distribute for free through a drive up, socially distance-safe location. The Kitchen has become the place for being able to donate other items in need, like PPE. Supporting the kitchen Feeds the People and helps maintain this emergency infrastructure.
Seattle Artist Relief Fund Amid COVID-19
“The widespread cancellation of group events has had a disproportionate impact on the Seattle arts community – especially those who rely on gigs to pay their bills. Creatives are people whose very existence relies on what they create and people being able to access their work. Musicians, DJ’s, independent chefs, caterers, actors, directors, writers, spoken word artists, and teaching artists.”
Cierra Sisters
Cierra Sisters is an African-American breast cancer survivor and support organization. Cierra Sisters was conceived and founded by Bridgette Hempstead, a breast cancer survivor. “Cierra”, an African name meaning “knowing” reminds us that when we have knowledge, we have power against the effects of breast cancer. We welcome all cancer survivors, supporters, caregivers, family and friends.
Ebony Nurses Association of Tacoma Scholarship Fund
The primary mission of the Ebony Nurses Association of Tacoma is to provide financial assistance and scholarships to students of African American Heritage who pursue studies leading to careers in professional nursing.
Our purpose is to improve health care within the Tacoma-Pierce County Metropolitan area by providing and promoting health and education through recruitment of African Americans into the nursing field, scholarships, and mentoring support for nursing students.
POC SWOP
POC-SWOP is a response to the lack of support for (specifically black) and other POC sex workers in the Seattle area. Our work includes harm reduction outreach on North Aurora via Green Light Project; Equity Consulting for orgs and individuals interested in increasing equity in programming, especially when working with folks in the sex trade, and, Community-building:
Much of our work as sex workers is siloed, isolated, and/or lacking other people of color. We are here to provide safe spaces for SWOC and help make connections between people, organizations, and services.
People’s Harm Reduction Alliance
PHRA works under the philosophy of harm reduction to educate the community about safer drug use and fight the spread of infectious disease. We are peer-run, meaning we have active users in all levels of our organization. PHRA runs a need-based needle distribution program serving the region of cascadia since 2007.