February is Black History Month
Heritage months are excellent reminders for us to stay curious and look for ways to continually expand our horizons and experiences. Communities are stronger when they include a diverse range of leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and more.
This Black History month, we salute Dorothy Richardson, an African American homemaker who is known by many as the “mother of community development.” This resident leader is credited with shaping the field of community development, one that emphasized cross-sector partnership and ground-up solutions for struggling communities. The neighborhood that Dorothy Richardson fought to preserve is now home to the Andy Warhol Museum, Heinz Field (where the Pittsburgh Steelers play) and PNC Park (Pittsburgh Pirates), as well as many other attractions. Her efforts to save her Pittsburgh neighborhood in the 1960s led to the creation of what is now NeighborWorks America. We celebrate Dorothy Richardson for her vision and perseverance to improve her neighborhood and start a mighty community development movement across our country!
To recognize Black History month locally, here are some activities/ideas for learning about and supporting the rich diversity within our communities:
- Black History Festival Northwest
- City of Vancouver & NAACP Black History Month schedule
- In Her Steps - Downtown walking tour featuring impact of Black Women in Portland 1900-1940
- Red Tricycle lists some great activities, particularly good for kids
- African Film Festival
- Passin Art Theater, African-American led theater company
- Visit Black-owned restaurants (click here for a directory) or businesses (click here for online database)
