Celebrate our global community at the Women's Dignity School West African Cultural Event 

Rachel Benton

A couple of weeks ago, I received the world’s most optimistic and exciting message from my friend Chris Hyde with Souper Sunday and Food Source Foundation.

Hyde introduced me to his friend, Ibrahim (Ba) Dembele, and the amazing work he is doing as executive director of the  Women’s Dignity School (WDS). My excitement grew when Hyde told me the Women’s Dignity School is hosting its first West African Cultural Event.  

The WDS invites you to join them at Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE in Lacey, on Saturday, Aug. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for an afternoon of getting to know your neighbors and enjoying incredible food, music, dance and more!  

To learn more about this event, I interviewed Ba Dembele, who radiates with joy and a generosity of spirit unlike anyone I have ever met.  

Discussing the event 

The event flyer says, “everyone is welcome,” and in this context, it's not a blanket statement but a personal, inclusive and intentional invitation.  

“We embrace every background and every culture, and we actually want to see everybody there,” Dembele shared. “We need to come together, get to know our neighbors, and be each other’s allies. I know that the event says, ‘West Africa,’ but we want to celebrate everybody.”  

Dembele continued, “Oftentimes when people come to the United States, people try to stay within their little bubble. They don’t get to know their neighbors, and their neighbors don’t get to know them. In this way, we limit ourselves from fully accessing and learning about our big, diverse, beautiful world.  

“People often forget that Africa is a continent (not a country). We have over 50 different countries, and each country has multiple cultures and languages within its country. In Mali alone, we have over 60 different ethnicities and six native tongues.” 

Dembele told me a story about a time he was in college when one of his professors asked him if he knew “Hakuna Matata.” Dembele did not know the song, nor was he familiar with Swahili. That professor assumed that Dembele knew both simply because he was from Africa.  

Just as people believe stereotypes, lies and stigmas about Africa, they have similar misunderstandings about immigrants. Part of Dembele’s invitation to you is to, “Come meet Africans and immigrants and see what they are like. Come make friends and have fun!” 

What better way is there to connect with your neighbors than over music, dancing and food? 

Originally from Guinea, master drummer, dancer and leader of Dounia Djembe in Seattle, Manimou Camara will be playing the djembe drum at the event and teaching the community West African dance moves. No experience needed, just come ready to have fun.  

WDS founder Mariam Debele (Ba’s mother) will be cooking chicken and beef kabobs with Tiga Deguè Nah (a classic peanut butter sauce from Mali) and Jollof Rice. Community and diversity never tasted so good. 

This is an event you do not want to miss. Click here for more event information. Events like this are part of the big, incredible work WDS is doing both in Mali and in Washington state. 

 Everyday work 

WDS was founded by Mariam Debele in 1998 as a school in Mali that created new opportunities for women with limited options. The school continues to thrive in Mali, but this 501(c)(3) charitable organization has an extended mission that serves immigrant families and their allies in Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties.

A powerhouse in more ways than one, Debele is a trailblazer who has helped countless women, even when it meant risking her own life. Throughout my conversation with Ba Dembele, he kept discussing how much his mother’s work inspires him and how he wants to continue helping her dream to thrive. 

 As described on the WDS website, the school remains a safe space for “those (people) facing some of life’s toughest challenges, including orphans, women living with disabilities or HIV, and those from extreme poverty.” According to Ba, the school has about 375 students with more than 7,000 graduates. 

WDS supports communities in Thurston County and other Washington counties with multicultural leadership training, advocacy and empowerment. Its "Lead with Dignity" project helps immigrant women and families "gain the confidence, connections, and voice to thrive in their new home." 

Building connections and community does not happen overnight. Language barriers, financial restrictions and limited resources (or access to "available" resources in place) create challenges for the immigrant population. 

WDS also assists numerous families facing hardship because of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, deportation and current immigration policies. Sometimes, it is as simple as helping families maintain access to food, electricity and water when a loved one is detained.  

I invite you to click here to learn more about the Women’s Dignity School and be a part of sustaining their work in Thurston County and beyond.  

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.