"Black History Month is equally about reaching into the stories of our past, as well as carving our futures with possibilities. It's not simply a time to post nice quotes from the same historical figures. It presents us with an opportunity to recognize that history is, in fact, being made in the present day. That history finds a strong heartbeat in the Northwest jewel that is Portland, Oregon."
"One of the best organizers to ever hit the scene. A co-conspirator in my initiative The Kidz Outside (TKO), she single-handedly sourced nearly 1,000 backpacks, thousands of pounds of food, more than 200 bikes, and more resources than I can count over the last four years of our annual festival. Pre-TKO, Minnieweather helped source tens-of-thousands of dollars in mutual-aid resources for houseless folks during the apocalyptic Alameda Fires that ripped through Oregon in 2020."
Black History Month emphasizes both remembrance of past stories and active creation of future possibilities. History is presented as ongoing and being made in the present day. Portland, Oregon, hosts a vibrant Black community reshaping arts, sports, comedy, and activism across the city. Ten Black innovators and changemakers in Portland are identified as exemplars of that ongoing history. LaQuisha Minnieweather organized large-scale mutual aid, sourcing nearly 1,000 backpacks, thousands of pounds of food, and more than 200 bikes for an annual festival, and sourced tens of thousands of dollars in aid during the 2020 Alameda Fires. Jared Leaf directed BET's digital series Churchy, released the short film Spilled Milk under MonkeyPaw Productions, and is developing Taste Black Portland. Damian Lillard made a 2025 return to the Blazers.
Read at Portland Mercury
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