The 1st Annual Black Graduation celebration will be held this Fri., June from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute – 104 17th Ave. S. in Seattle.
The event, which is open to all African American and African high school graduates of the Class of 2016 in the Puget Sound area, highlights a positive narrative for Black and African descent youth in the Greater Seattle Area.
The event will also feature a host of speakers including NFL analyst and former Seattle Seahawk Jordan Babineaux, Founder of the WELL Project Yoli Chisholm, rags to riches real estate investor Kenny Pleasant, and emerging leader Acacia Salisbury. There will also be performances by rising soul sensation Otieno Terry and Seattle youth poet laureate Leijah Farr.
“Black youth in the United States are the subject of many statistics that paint a bleak picture and negative outlook with respect to their place in our society yet the majority still continue to demonstrate tremendous resilience and defy the odds,” said K. Wyking Garrett, one of the event organizers. “Our goal is to lift up the brilliance and resilience as the most valuable asset we have.”
“Not only will we honor and recognize this important milestone in their lives but in the tradition of many African cultures we will mark this event as a rite of passage into adulthood with wisdom from elders in the community illuminating a mindset that strives amplify the excellence already within them,” said Yoli Chisholm, founder of The WELL Project.
Students can still be nominated or register at www.blexcellence.com. Community members are encouraged to bring business cards to network with recent graduates looking for mentorship and resources.
The event was initiated by Africatown Center for Education & Innovation in partnership with Umoja PEACE Center.
