Happy Black Futures Month + Ethos Donation Announcement
Photo by Mika Martinez
Don’t Shoot Portland is proud to announce that we will be providing youth with year long scholarships through local music education nonprofit, Ethos.
Photo by Mika Martinez, commercial printing by Infinity Images
We have donated $10,000 from our Children’s Art and Social Justice Council to further access to the arts through our communities who need it the most. In addition to free music lessons, we will also be supporting initiatives for BIPOC led teaching environments for all students who sign up. Both Ethos and Don’t Shoot PDX are excited about this first step in a new era of relationship building as we evolve, expand and collaborate. Please sign up here, and Ethos will be in touch regarding scheduling lessons. This is open to youth of all ages, including young adults.
Don’t Shoot Portland was able to make this happen through the support of many artists and art organizations in our community. Please consider donating to our programming and encouraging a friend or family member to match the contribution! Thank you all for supporting us.
Photo by Mika Martinez
Black Futures Matter.
Everyone should be looking into Black art and literature, especially this month. A great way to research this is by supporting Black art. Some of the creatives we’ve come across include Portland based artists Aiyana Monae and Her Name is Kyra.
We also discovered two great Black owned businesses: Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books - A Black Philadelphia bookstore and community space that donates portions from each sale to other local bookstores. We pre-ordered Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb and purchased copies of Pharrell William’s Pharrell: Places and Spaces I’ve Been. Puzzle Huddle - A family run company that sells puzzles for children of all age levels featuring diverse characters in empowering career roles.
Photo by Mika Martinez, commercial printing by Infinity Images
Now we will leave you with one of the most inspiring documentaries we have seen in a long time.
Black Art: In the Absence of Light is a 2021 documentary that dives into the long and formidable past and present of Black art and its collectors, while also exploring the importance of promoting and supporting living Black artists. This feature was so powerful and unveiled many truths about Black art.
We urge you to add this to your watch lists!