October 18, 2017
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
photo by m ark W ashington J r ./t he p ortlanD o bserver
Community leaders plan for the upcoming ‘Black Women’s Gathering,’ a revival of an event focusing on empowering and celebrating black women, healing, and a com-
mitment of justice to strengthen families and the community. Pictured (from left) are organizers Joyce Harris, Stephanie Ghoston-Paul, Carol Tatch, S. Renee Mitchell,
Debora Leopold-Hutchins and Adrienne Nelson.
Empowered Sisterhood
Date set for
gathering and day
of togetherness
A highly anticipated Black Women’s
Gathering focusing on empowering and
celebrating women in the community will
be a renewal of an empowerment group for
local women and is expected to draw hun-
dreds of participants.
The free event is scheduled for Saturday,
Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Portland
Community College’s Cascade Campus,
705 N. Killingsworth St. An invitation is
out for all black females from the commu-
nity to attend. RSVPs are strongly encour-
aged by contacting the planning committee
at blackwomensgatehring@gmail.com
Embracing the theme, “Together We
Rise in Strength, Unity & Community,”
the gathering is designed to affirm the pow-
er and emotional strength of black women,
as reputable studies show black women are
particularly vulnerable to the impacts of
race-related stress.
For years, Judy Boyer, a longtime labor,
community and political activist, was part
of early Black Women’s Gathering events
when they were held at the Matt Dishman
Community Center in north Portland. Boy-
er also participated in planning for the up-
coming event.
“I look forward to a day of celebra-
tion as our theme of many years ago pro-
claimed, we come together as a celebration
of our being, our spirits and our survival,”
she said.
The first Black Womens Gathering was
organized in the 1980s after the domes-
tic-violence related death of a black wom-
an at the hands of her partner. The event
was held annually for 20 years, serving as
a place for black women to share food, cre-
ate alliances, develop mentors and reflect
on community issues.
“There was a lot of pain, a lot of grief,
of course,” noted former Sen. Avel Gord-
ly, who was part of the original planning
committee. “We came together, needing,
wanting to create a safe space where black
women could be their authentic selves.”
Many of the original attendees recalled
that a powerful component of the program-
ming was the open mic, where women
could “say whatever was on their minds
and be heard and be hugged,” Gordly said.
One year, instead of talking, she said, an at-
tendee only screamed and was then hugged
by other black women.
This year’s event will also have an open
mic opportunity, in addition to certified
child-watch, healthy meals and informa-
tive workshops.
Organizers also are planning to honor
the achievements of black women leaders
and business owners in the Portland area,
as well as honor the civil rights legacies of
black women who have passed on, such as
Judge Mercedes Deiz, the first black wom-
an to practice law and become a judge in
Oregon; Bobbi Gary, an impassioned com-
munity activist who relentlessly fought
against racial discrimination; and Chris
Poole-Jones, who was the state’s first black
in a series of PPS administration positions
and was also dedicated to social justice,
among others.
“I’m just so happy and pleased that this
is coming around again for a new genera-
tion to be a part of,” Gordly said. “We really
need this right now because there is so much
pain and grief and fear. I’m looking forward
to giving and receiving hugs that come from
a place of real knowing, real understanding
of who we are and what we need in these
times. We get to be ourselves.”