Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar 2020 Holiday Year-in-Review Edition

About the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar The purpose of the Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar is to connect the Black Community of CSU Monterey Bay with the local Black Communities of the Greater Monterey Bay Area. The idea for the calendar came out of the community forums organized as part of CSUMB's annual Super Saturday Black student recruitment events. The Calendar is edited by Steven Goings with new editions being released every Monday. To submit an event for possible inclusion, please send to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com. The submission deadline is Friday at 6pm.

Editor's Note: Throughout this newsletter, Blue Underlined copy (including above!) indicates a searchable link.

THE VILLAGE PROJECT, INC. URGES AFRICAN AMERICANS: "TAKE THE SHOT" BY MEL MASON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER   On this first day of Kwanzaa [Dec 26, 2020], the beginning of a period of an African American celebration of thanks and appreciation, The Village Project, Inc. decided to take this opportunity to call on African Americans, especially, and others as well, to become recipients of the anti-coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available for the general public. In other words, “Take the Shot!”  Many of us who are African American have harbored centuries-long distrust of government for good reason, given the long history of medical abuse of African Americans during the period of enslavement to such “studies” as the horrific Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment on African American men that resulted in deaths and lifelong physical impairments and the clandestine “sterilization” operations performed on African American women, Native American women and other women of color as some examples of the historical reasons for this distrust. However, like many other African American-led organizations in this state and across the country, to include churches and civic organizations, we have come to the realization that what we are faced with is a pandemic that kills African Americans and other people of color for that matter, far out of proportion to our percentages of the population in our area and in this country. The issuance of the vaccine is not being done in a clandestine manner and focused on a certain ethnicity or singular group of people. Instead, it is in the process of being distributed broadly and openly to people across all the human boundaries created by racism, sexism, homophobia, and the like.  Black medical practitioners, to include Dr. Leon McDougle, President of the National Medical Association, served as consultants if not members of the teams of medical scientists who created and tested the vaccines. One member of the team that developed the vaccine is an African American woman doctor named Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett who is the lead scientist for coronavirus research at the National Institute of Health. She and Dr. McDougle are two of many leaders in the field to call for African Americans to “Take the Shot”. An especial source of inspiration is the fact that in New York, the first person to take the shot [pictured above] is an African American nurse named Sandra Lindsey who is a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The person who gave her the shot is a doctor named Michele Chester, MD, who is the Director of Employee Health Services at Northwell Health. The picture of the two of them giving and receiving the vaccine was on the front pages of newspapers across the country. This should serve as encouragement for all of us “to take the shot” and be around to celebrate many more Kwanzaas and other special holidays. We are always mindful of the fact that our initial reason for our founding was our desire to meet the unmet clinical and other needs of our underserved African American community. This led to our broadened mission statement of “helping our communities reach a greater state of wellbeing…” We believe this statement you have just read is very much in accordance with that mission. --Mel Mason, The Village Project, Inc. Executive Director & Co-Founder

Steven's Take on 2020: Black Folks Year in Review Twenty-eight years ago, Queen Elizabeth II described the year 1992 as "Annus Horribilis", Latin for horrible year. Most would argue that designation is even more appropriate for the year 2020. I learned a new phrase in 2020, that I think applies beautifully to Black Folks; "anti-fragile". Something fragile is of course something that breaks easily when struck or under pressure, for example: a glass figurine. Something that is not fragile is something that is particularly resilient, for example: a plastic cup. Anti-fragile is something that is actually improved by stress and opposition; muscles for example. For all the lasting damage slavery and Jim Crow have inflicted on our people, we have only been bruised -- not broken. Despite the continuing threat to Black Lives -- especially in the Trump era -- we continue to thrive and are a primary source for American (and indeed global) culture. Even a year that included the murder of George Floyd and the disproportional impact of COVID-19 on our Black kin, Annus Horribilis 2020, can't keep the Black Community down. In this final Holiday Edition of the Monterey Black Folks Calendar, we look back at some of the good and the bad that 2020 had to offer for Monterey Bay Black Folks. I will also be developing a physical Year-in-Review booklet to be shared with community members as a thank you for attending Super Saturday 2021. Super Saturday is the premiere African American student recruitment event for CSUMB and will take place on Saturday Feb 13 as an online event. (Check future editions of the Black Folks Calendar for more details as the program develops) I am actively seeking stories about Black events and Black excellence from the 2020 calendar year to include in the booklet. If you know of an event that should be included, or have digital photos of Black-themed CSUMB events or Black community participants at CSUMB events please send them by email to Steven Goings at sgoings@csumb.edu.

Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar 2020 Archive To view any story highlighted in this Year-in-Review, click on the corresponding week link: January 27 February 3 February 10 February 17 February 24 March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 April 6 June 2 June 9 Special Protest Edition (June 11) June 15 Special Juneteenth Edition (June 17) June 22 June 29 July 6 July 13 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 10 August 17 August 24 August 31 September 7 September 14 September 21 September 28 October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 November 2 November 9 NAACP Election Edition November 16 November 30 December 7

Although George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were perhaps the highest profile Black Folk killed by police this year, there were actually 1,066 people were killed by police in the U.S in 2020. Despite being only 13% of the population, 28% of those killed by police (about 300) were Black. We also lost many other notable Black Folk in 2020 including:

The story that would most define 2020 - the coronavirus pandemic - actually began in the waning days of 2019. Researchers now believe COVID-19 first jumped into the human population in Oct or Nov 2019. "Patient zero" was identified on Dec 1 in Wuhan, China. The first hospitalization occurred on Dec 16. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first learn of 27 active cases in China on Dec 31, 2019.

January 27: 1st Edition of the Weekly Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar (BFC) launched by Steven Goings. January 31: CSUMB Black Folks Meet Hosted by Black Students United, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Africana Heritage Scholars (Housing), African Student Association, & African American Heritage Staff/Faculty Alliance. This ALL inclusive event showcased community building in the African Diaspora, by connecting Black & African Heritage students with the African Heritage Faculty & Staff Alliance and their roles on-campus.

February 2: Historically Black Church Tour launches with visit to Friendship Baptist Church, different local churches visited each Sunday. February 3: CSUMB Harambee African Heritage Men's Community Gathering and Support Group begins weekly meetings throughout the semester. February 9: The Historically Black Church Tour starts new annual Black Sunday tradition in which as many CSUMB community members as we can get visit a selected church for Black History Month. We started with the First Baptist Church of Pacific Grove which is the oldest Historically Black Church (HBC) on the Monterey Peninsula having just celebrated 110 years! February 9: Recognizing Military Service Center (formerly Retired Men's Social Club) Black History Month program featuring keynote Monterey City Counselman Tyller Williamson February 16: CSUMB's All Black Gala features keynote speaker Kevin Willmott, co-author of BlacKkKlansman as well as a Art and History Digital Display February 16: City of Seaside's Annual Black History Month Program co-hosted by LINKS, Inc., NAACP Monterey County Branch, and Monterey County Pan Hellenic Council February 22: 3rd Annual CSUMB Super Saturday Event: In its continuing efforts to improve the preparation and graduation rates of African Americans, CSUMB hosts this annual recruitment event focused on Black students. Event included: Continental Breakfast Keynote Speaker Ise Lyfe Carlos Tottress & CSUMB Gospel Choir Presentation of Student Support Services Student Panel Community Forum Campus Tour February 22: Grand Opening of Darryl Choates' Club Deja Blue February 22: The Drifters perform at CSUMB World Theater February 25: 11th Annual Jamboree: Soul Food at CSUMB's Dinning Commons February 27: 8th Annual NAACP Black History Month Meeting hosted by CSUMB's Black Students United. Honorees include: Mrs. Alice Jordan Mr. Joe Watts (posthumously) Mrs. Paula Carter Ms. Jeniece Smiley Mr. Matt Murphy MEChA de CSUMB New CSUMB Employees welcomed: CJ Pace (Head Woman's Basketball Coach Daniel Summerhill: Human Communications Assistant Professor Jacqui Smith: Chinatown Program Analyst Renie Rondon Jackson: Master of Social Work Field Coordinator Kamilah Majied: Professor, Department of Social Work K Shanae Vaifnua: Student Housing & Residential Life Assistant Director

March 2020

BFC Women's History Month Profiles: (Click on name for profile) Harriet Tubman Shirley Chisholm Fannie Lou Hamer Angela Davis BFC Women's History Month "In the Spotlight" Profiles: Darchelle Burnett Regina Mason Helen Rucker Victoria Lee March 5: Seaside Campus Towne Development Center: Seasiders and the Black Community show up at Seaside City Council meeting in support of the Bakewell Campus Towne Project March 19: CA Gov Gavin Newsome order state-wide shelter-in-place order due to the coronavirus pandemic COVID-19. March 23: Black Census Week. The NAACP and other national Black organizations focus on counting African Americans for the 2020 Census. March 24: CSUMB professor and mental health therapist Dr. Kamilah Majied co-leads workshop on "Exploring Independence through the Lens of Blackness" March 29: Emmanuel Church of God in Christ, Greater Victory Temple and Friendship Baptist Church among the first local churches to switch to online services through Facebook Live. March 30: The Village Project, Inc. issues its "Strategies for Coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic"

April 2020

BFC Jazz History Month Profiles: (Click on name for profile) Louie Armstrong Ella Fitzgerald April 7: CSUMB convenes "Racialized Diseases Panel". This panel explores the ways in which communities of color experience racism and xenophobia tied to medical pandemics and epidemics, such as COVID-19, Ebola, etc. April 8: National NAACP launches COVID-19 Virtual Townhall Series April 13: Local inspirational speaker, Dirrick L. Williams announces offering of "life changing videos" on You Tube and Vimeo through his Tok2Me and Truth Be Told channels. Due to widespread COVID-related cancellation of events, the weekly Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar issued its final edition until further notice.

May 25, 2020 Police Killing of George Floyd

June 2020

Due to sudden resurgence of events related to the killing of George Floyd, the weekly Monterey Bay Black Folks Event Calendar resumes publication which had halted since April due to COVID-related dearth of events to cover. LGBTQ History Month Black Profiles in the Black Folks Calendar: (Click on name for profile) Little Richard Alicia Garza Bayard Rustin Patrisse Khan Cullors James Baldwin Marsha P Johnson June 2: Monterey County native and former president and CEO of the NAACP Ben Jealous was named the first African American president of the People For the American Way and its affiliate foundation both are progressive advocacy organizations founded to fight rightwing extremism. June 2: Seaside City Councilman Jon Wizard calls for defunding police at a protest rally following the killing of George Floyd. This leads to a failed attempt to recall Wizard from the Seaside City Council. June 2: River Navaille and other mostly white Black Lives Matter supporters launches Community Before Cops Facebook Group. Local Black activist Miriam Smith becomes a prominent member. June 5: "A Community Conversation: The George Floyd", an online community discussion moderated by CSUMB's Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton. June 10: The Village Project, Inc. launches Juneteenth Emotional Emancipation Circle through Zoom June 11: The Monterey Bay Black Folks Calendar puts out special Protest Edition to cover plethora of local protests, rallies and other events related to the revitalization of the Black Lives Matter movement following the police killing of George Floyd. Nathaniel Sawyer emerges as a principal young leader of the local movement. June 12: Facebook group page for the Monterey Bay Black Folks Calendar launched June 13: Local photographer Nic Coury launches Listening to Black Voices portrait campaign highlighting the voices -- and images -- of local Black activists June 17: The Monterey Bay Black Folks Calendar puts out special Juneteenth Edition June 22: The Village Project, Inc. begins developing a Black Folks Court Support Emergency Response Team June 30: Monterey County Black and Brown Coalition holds a virtual online anti-racism training in preparation for major rally to occur in July.

Black Folks Calendar names the Month of July as The Village Project, Inc. Month. All month long the BFC features profiles on Village Project profiles and supports their Jubilee fundraising efforts.

July Black Folks Calendar "In the Spotlight" Profiles: (Click on name for profile) January Brown Debbie Anthony July 1: Princess Killens leads a weekly House of Prayer Ministries "Virtual Bible Forum" for youth ages 17 to 25. July 3: Monterey County Black and Brown Solidarity Coalition organizes "East Side - Seaside Solidarity March" because "Black Lives Matter July 6-10: The Village Project hosts Virtual Ghana, West Africa Tour July 6: Dirrick Williams first reoccurring "Truth Be Told" article appears in the Monterey Bay Black Folks Calendar July 6: Steven Goings moderates first bi-monthly virtual Black Folks Town and Gown Forum of CSUMB and local community Black leaders. July 20: Monterey City Councilman Tyller Williams host first of occasional Talks with Tyller social justice forums. July 20: Black Faculty of CSUMB issue open Letter on Systemic Racism at CSUMB to CSUMB President Eduardo Ochoa and his Cabinet. July 21: Dirrick Williams' announces Banner of Reconciliation bill proposing that the Pan-African flag be flown under the U.S. flag in all government buildings.

Black Folks Calendar names the Month of August as NAACP Month. All month long the BFC features national, state and local stories on the NAACP and the Monterey County Branch.

Starting in the month of August the Black Folks Calendar begins running a "Candidate's Corner" column publicizing local Black Folks running for various local offices including: Ian Oglesby for Seaside Mayor Jon Wizard for Seaside Mayor Debbie Anthony for MPC Board of Trustees Vanessa Robinson Salinas City Council Regina Mason for Seaside City Council Tinisha Dunn for Seaside City Council Audra Walton for MPUSD Trustee Miriam Smith for MPUSD Trustee August Black Folks Calendar "In the Spotlight" Profiles: Paul Richmond (white ally) Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton Congressman Jimmy Panetta (white ally) Alana Myles Dr. Umi Vaughan Laverne McLeod Dr. Kamilah Majied Aug 1: Asya Guillory announces Salinas Black Teachers Appreciation Drive with Black Moms Who Care Aug 11: Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden names California Senator Kamalah Harris as his pick for Vice President on the Biden-Harris ticket. Aug 13: The entire California State University system convenes Fall 2020 at the CSU webinar to inform the public about how the CSU system will operate during the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Aug 17: Dr. Umi Vaughan named Founding Director of CSUMB's new Center for Black Student Success Aug 27: LaVerne McLeod offer 4 part Racial Pandemic Series Aug 27 - 28: The National NAACP convenes Virtual March on Washington

The Black Folks Calendar highlighted many "In the Spotlight" profiles in the month of September: Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt Dr. Vivian Waldrup-Patterson Dr. Ibram Kendi Helen Rucker Pastor Ronald Britt Miriam Smith Darryl Choates Rev. Anthony Dunham

Sept 2: Dr. Vivian Waldrup Patterson launches Mandla Mentoring Program for CSUMB's Black/African Heritage Students Sept 3: Talking Racial Bias with Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt Sept 9: CSUMB's Systemic Racism Teach-In: "A Day of Action for Racial Justice" Sept 9: An Evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi Sept 10: Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent P.K. Diffenbaugh announces recruitment of Black teachers and teachers of color through the Adler Teaching Residency program Sept 14: Weekly Spring Semester Harambee African Heritage Men's Support Group begins.  Sept 14: 2nd Bi-Monthly Black Folks Town & Gown Meeting

BFC Hispanic Heritage Profiles Include: Mariah Carey John Carlos Sammy Davis, Jr. Gwen Ifill  Sept 24: The Art of Story Telling: Black Joy with Professor Daniel Summerhill Sept 24: Racial Pandemic Series Part II: Uncovering Systemic Racism Involving Criminal justice & Pathways to Help Create Change with LaVerne McLeod Sept 30: Dr. Vanessa Lopez-Littleton among the panelist on Part 5 of the Democracy and Social Justice Series "Dismantling Inequities and Injustices in Health Care and Public Health presented by the American Society for Public Administration

The Black Folks Calendar highlighted many "In the Spotlight" profiles in the month of October: Pastor Eugene Jones CSUMB's Center for Black Student Success Advisory Committee Oct 1: An Evening with Master Drummer Kiazi Malonga becomes inaugural event for the Center for Black Student Success (CBSS) Oct 6: National Association of Social Workers hosts webinar series Addressing Racial Equity Oct 8: CBSS Toni Morrison Authors Conversation Series Event: novelist and essayist Professor Keenan Norris in dialogue with Professor Daniel Summerhill Oct 16: Monterey County Branch NAACP pushes back on Monterey County Weekly for their dismissal of the "old guard of Black leadership" in Seaside. The MC Weekly prints NAACP Executive Director Yvonne Thomas' Letter-to-the-Editor in full. Oct 19: Conversation on Systemic Racism with Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Activist Nathaniel Sawyer  Oct 22: CBSS Money Matter Financial Literacy Event: Black Finances Matter with financial coaches Mecca and Kwesi Dreams

November 2020

BFC Native American Heritage Profiles Include: Crispus Attucks Lena Horne Jimi Hendrix BFC "In the Spotlight" profiles: John Wineglass Nathaniel Sawyer CBSS Student Coordinators: Judah Young Zah-Rah LaTour Jaya Lynnette Hodges Danny Bakewell Nov 3: Kamala Harris elected Vice-President of the United States, Ian Oglesby re-elected to second term as Mayor of Seaside, Debbie Anthony elected to MPC Board of Trustees Nov 4: Composer-in-Residence John Wineglass interviewed by Youth Music Monterey County Nov 12: CBSS Daniel Hale Williams Black Health Education Series Event: African-Caribbean chef Roberto Perez

BFC Trans Awareness Week Profile: Laverne Cox Nov 13: Monterey County Youth Summit: "Race to Equity" Nov 16: Third Bi-Monthly Black Folks Town and Gown Meeting Nov 18: Building a Diverse Health and Human Services Workforce webinar with Harvard Medical School Inaugural Dean of Diversity and Community Partnership Dr. Joan Reede Nov 19: Racial Pandemic Series #4: Disarming Racial Fear with LaVerne McLeod Nov 26: Monterey County Branch NAACP announces Branch election results as follows: OFFICERS President YVONNE THOMAS 1st Vice President MARY CLAYPOOL 2nd Vice President CYNTHIA HYATT Secretary PAT SPENCER Assistant Secretary JEANNE GAVRIN Treasurer JAMES BLACK Sergeant at Arms BEN COOPER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Edward Armstrong Linwood Eady Steven Goings Rosalyn Green Barbara Johnson Victoria Lee A. Dean Martin Annalisa Mitchell Lori Black Ogene Guadalupe Perez John Smith Monica Mapp Smith Josh Stewart Ruthie Watts

BFC "In the Spotlight" profiles: Justin Cummings; First Black Mayor of Santa Cruz Ruthie Watts Joyce Beatty The Congressional Black Caucus

BFC World AIDS Day Profile: Magic Johnson Akin Miller

BFC recommends donations to the following local organizations for Giving Tuesday: Monterey County Branch NAACP The Village Project, Inc. The Links, Inc. Emmanuel Church of God in Christ Friendship Baptist Church Greater Victory Temple Mt. Nebo Church New Hope Baptist Church (Seaside) New Hope Baptist Church (Salinas) Dec 1: CSUMB Diversity Celebration Series: World AIDS Day with Francisco Ruiz and Dr. Scott Rhodes Dec 2: The Black Lives Matter organization launches "Black Love Letters" campaign in support of the United States Postal Service Dec 3: CSUMB Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center features Dr. Justin Cummings, Director of UCSC Doris Duke Conservation Scholars program and first Black Mayor of Santa Cruz Dec 3: CBSS Madame C.J. Walker/Robert F. Smith Black Professional Series Event with Nate Cameron Dec 9: F*&K Your Diet with journalist-turned-comedian Chloe Hilliard for CSUMB's Self Care in Action Week  Dec 12: Mrs. Ruthie Watts honored with 2020 Baha'i Human Rights Award at annual Monterey Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association - USA event.

Upcoming Community Event:

Anti-Black Racism: Transforming Allyship Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at 8:00 AM PST -to- Friday, January 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM PST Note: This is a 3 day event, 8 AM - 12:00 PM each day. Please plan to attend all 3 days. Purpose: A forum for people of all racial identities to engage around ending structural and anti-Black racism. Join us for this opportunity to deepen understanding of racial domination, marginalization and subjugation.  Outcomes: Framing racism and its impact across the racialized continuum Interrupting the "divide and conquer" pattern of structural racism Learning and practicing conversation across racial identity Examining patterns, practices and accountability Building accountable allyship for Black and other racialized groups This virtual three-day event will be led by: Joyce Johnson Shabazz, Founder of Evolution, LLC, a consulting practice that works with individuals and organizations addressing challenges to the relational dynamics of race in organizations and leadership. She also directs the International Black African Heritage Caucus and leads affinity work in partnership with the National Coalition Building Institute International. She is joined by Sue Parris, a consultant and trainer assisting organizations to increase awareness of racial and social equity issues and institute organizational equity and inclusion practices. Sue is Chapter Director for NCBI Monterey County and leads the NCBI International White Affinity Group. She is also a founding member of Whites for Racial Equity, a group of white people who are committed to dismantling racism. Hosted by National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) Monterey County, and co-sponsored by California State University Monterey Bay, and Whites for Racial Equity of Monterey County. Special thanks to The California Endowment, Hartnell Foundation and Center for Nonprofit Excellence for their support.  Partial list of Panelists: Mary Ann Carbone, Mayor of Sand City, Chumash Healer Brian Corpening Ph. D., Associate VP, Office for Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer CSU Monterey Bay Michael Frederiksen, Chapter Administrator NCBI Monterey County Caroline Haskell, LCSW, Author, Consultant & Trainer Luis Xago Juarez, Artistic Director, Baktun12 Margaret Keith, Director, Student Disability Resources, CSU Monterey Bay Stephanie Low, Leader, NCBI Intl. Jewish Affinity Group Erika Matademas, Community Impact Officer, Community Foundation for Monterey County Andrea Monroe, Associate Director for Service Learning, CSU Monterey Bay Eric Mora, Public Policy graduate student, MIIS Pamela Motoike, Ph. D., Professor, Service Learning Institute, CSU Monterey Bay Francine Oputa, Ph. D., Director, Cross Cultural & Gender Center, CSU Fresno Rosa Smith Tyller Williamson, City Council Member, City of Monterey   Who Should Attend: Educators (K12, Higher Ed) Health Care providers Nonprofit leaders Students Social Justice advocates Anyone who wants to be more effective at ending racism PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BY JANUARY 5. Register Now! Note: A limited number of partial scholarships are available for full-time students and for individual community members with low or fixed income. Center for Nonprofit Excellence has also provided scholarships, for a limited number of nonprofit organizations. Apply for a scholarship HERE.

Useful Links: New! County Employment Opportunities: Monterey County Supervisor Elect Wendy Askew encourages community members to "register for job announcements from the County - and to apply for anything that seems interesting so that your resume gets into the system." Black Business Directory Here is something the Monterey County Branch NAACP is working on. You can send your entries directly to lbogene@yahoo.com Black Community Leader/Activist Archive Check out the list and add your bio and photo to it. Black Court Support Volunteer Sign-Ups We all know the so-called criminal justice system treats our folks much more harshly than others, sometimes just having community members show up at court can make a difference in how things turn out. Black Web Sites Check it out or add your favorite to the list Black Speakers Bureau for Classroom Presentations With so few African Americans working in our K-12 and higher education systems, our kids have too few opportunities to see professionals and role models who look like them. We are looking for Black community members and professionals who can be called on to be occasional guest speakers in local classrooms. Updated! CSUMB Black Staff & Faculty Just the basic public contact and position info Monterey Bay Historically Black Churches Check out the current list of churches, update existing entries or add new ones.

Monterey Bay Black Folks Weekly Event Calendar  Submit to AfricanQuazar@gmail.com