1619 to 2020: Stolen Black Lives Still Matter
You Can’t Control Art is a community art project at large - these sessions connect history, art and culture to inspire and motivate social change. It’s through this programming that the Children’s Art and Social Justice Council have been able to promote youth activism in action.
To ensure the safety and inclusion of all, guidelines are supported and enforced. Don’t Shoot Portland designed an all sizes bracelet for supporters and families who will be marching with us. We encourage families to attend the upcoming free public events to get bracelets or to stop by our location at 14 NE Killingsworth.
On January 11th, families are invited to kick off another #ReclaimMLK organizing season with Portland’s first lady of Blues Larhonda Steele, Karen Trusty of SNCC and NW NOGGIN along with special guests from Pear. There is no cover for this event - please attend free of charge by mentioning ‘DONT SHOOT PORTLAND’ at the museum’s entrance!
On January 18th & 19th, join us for sign making and shirt printing in partnership with PAM and Umbrella Screen Printing at DCBC on Saturday January 18th and First Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday January 19th.
January 20th, 2020 we ask that you show up again to the recreation center located in Peninsula park for a rally and Call To Action for the 2020 Reclaim MLK. This years’ March marks the completion of the Dont Shoot Portland artist residency at Portland Art Museum for the Hank Willis Thomas ‘All Things Being Equal’ exhibit. The theme, ‘I Am Somebody‘, is an inclusive play on the Hank Thomas ‘I Am. amen.’ series.
What a year of support looks like:
The legal outreach and front line advocacy that Don’t Shoot Portland provides make up for the resources to people left behind.
In 2019 our non profit provided food and clothing to thousands of families because of the solidarity shown at our annual Reclaim MLK March for Human Rights and Dignity. Over 100 children received access to free arts and culture programming year round including meals and transportation because of your time and generosity. We were able to share our research and strategic community engagement with social justice communities on college campuses, high schools, in churches, courts and other institutions. We enjoyed gracious opportunities to promote and build our preservation and social anthropology focusc with our ‘liberated archives’ programming by partnering with City of PDX, Multnomah County and PNCA.
Our arts collaboration was successful and we were honored to have support from so many people in the community working with Isaka Shamsud-Din and Ameya Okamoto. Documentation of our work has been diligently supported by volunteers; Kendall, Portraits of Change, Twixx, Mika Martinez, Michael Hull Fifth Column Films, Tall Paul and staff photographers at several venues. Thank you to everyone who continues to support the narrative of our work!
Thousands of children received books and hygiene items year round because unionized nurses, dentists, teachers and home care workers showed up. Backpacks went to hundreds of children because local organizations and groups engaged outside of work spaces to support direct outreach to families who can now rely on support from allies with a anti capitalist and anti fascist ideology. Thank you for going off the grid with us to build liberated learning and access for families and community at large. Please continue to think about our work when giving to make your social impact. Our work in community is solid and that’s been made possible due to your support!
