What is your organization doing to celebrate Black History Month?

Jessica McRae

Hi Community!


February is Black History Month in the U.S. and Canada and we know you organizations are doing some great things to celebrate! To learn from each other, would you please share who or what your organization supports and provide one or two examples of the events/activities you're organizations are participating in or coordinating? Here is what Blackbaud is doing: https://community.blackbaud.com/blogs/61/7429.

As a part of the content creation team focused on celebrating this and other special observances at Blackbaud, I'm looking forward to reading your responses!

Sharon Sandberg

Yesterday we had our service to celebrate the life and works of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was much different this year- it is usually a huge service and collaboration with a local college that is an historically Black college, and their choir comes and sings during the service. Our students who are BIPOC put all of the service together and lead it. We usually have a guest preacher who is a Person of Color. All of this is followed by a community lunch where 100 or so people pack into our fellowship hall to be in community together. This year was all virtual, we were blessed with a soloist from the college (what an amazing baritone to bass voice!) and one of our professors (a young Black woman) preached. Even though we could not be face-to-face, it was still a beautiful and impactful service.

Next up is an annual lecture and inservice also headed up by our student groups that represent the BIPOC people on campus, and the series focuses on social justice issues. These two activites have become some of my favorite times on campus. Always thought-provoking.

Ray Bergman

Sounds like an inspiring experience Sharon Sandberg‍

Jessica McRae

Hi Sharon Sandberg‍ thanks for sharing. This sounds amazing! And while I know the in-person events are so very special, it sounds like your team still did an amazing job coordinating the virtual event! Well done!

Elizabeth Johnson

Hi Jessica,


Great thread! Lots of great things to check out here. I've commented on a blog post that we were doing a 21-day challenge at my work in Celebration of Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day. It isn't 21 consecutive days as there is so much material and we are still going strong and will do so into March. Here is a link to the great resources our Director of Equity and Inclusion has put together. I actually had to pause writing this to attend the last of three 1-hour sessions with Dr. Liza Talusan on DEIJ work. I can't recommend her enough if other organizations are looking for speakers to help facilitate conversations.


I digress - one of my favorite days has been that it is more than just a month . . . and of that my favorite resources was Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story. Looking forward to reading more of her stories.


I look forward to coming back here to see what more organizations/individuals are doing.


Best,

Elizabeth

Jessica McRae

Hi Elizabeth Johnson‍ thanks for posting! This is great stuff and I especially like the 21-day challenge...several opportunities for people to learn and engage. Annnd Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is such a great author...I've read two of her other books, "Americanah" and "Half of a Yellow Sun". I'll have to check out "The danger of a single story".


Best,

Jessica

Elizabeth Johnson

Would you recommend I start with one of the ones you read over the other? My guess is they are both going to be amazing.

Patti Hommes

Elizabeth Johnson:

Hi Jessica,


Great thread! Lots of great things to check out here. I've commented on a blog post that we were doing a 21-day challenge at my work in Celebration of Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day. It isn't 21 consecutive days as there is so much material and we are still going strong and will do so into March. Here is a link to the great resources our Director of Equity and Inclusion has put together. I actually had to pause writing this to attend the last of three 1-hour sessions with Dr. Liza Talusan on DEIJ work. I can't recommend her enough if other organizations are looking for speakers to help facilitate conversations.

Our local YWCA is hosting the 21-Day Challenge as well! I participated last year and found it well worth while! https://www.ywcasouthflorida.org/21daychallenge/. We also encourage our staff to participate in Racial Equity training and we have formed a committee called REACH - https://www.jackandjillcenter.org/reach/.

Elizabeth Johnson

Hi Patti,


Thanks for your great links! I checked out the REACH one the other day when I saw it in another thread. I'll check out the YWCA challenge after my work one completes. I just decided on two of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's works. I went with The Thing Around Your Neck and Zikora and suspect I'll probably just read them all as I have simply fallen in love with her writing.


Best,

Elizabeth