Random acts of kindness

Mary Beth Harrington, CVA

We are halfway through February and have not yet focused on Black History Month.

President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” Since then, Black History Month has been an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. In February 1924, spurred on by Woodson, his college fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, introduced Negro History and Literature Week to bring greater attention to African American history. This is one of the reasons, February is now Black History Month.

Nonprofits that celebrate and support Black causes

• The Black Alliance of Thurston County (BATC) - BATC was formed in the aftermath of an Olympia police shooting involving two young Black men and a white officer. According to their Facebook page, “we come together to take action and to be a catalyst for positive change.” https://www.facebook.com/Black-Alliance-of-Thurston-County-1697962003814315/

• Olympia Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) – SURJ Olympia is part of a national multi-racial network mobilizing & organizing white people within a multi-racial movement for racial justice. https://surj.org/chapter/surj-olympia/
• The BIPOC Project – According to their website, the BIPOC Project aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to undo Native invisibility, anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice. https://www.thebipocproject.org/
• Black Leaders in Action & Solidarity Thurston (BLAST) – According to their website, BLAST is “a collective of Black voices in Thurston County.” The organization is intersectional with a membership that is multi-generational, multi-gendered and coming together from across the black diaspora. https://blasthurston.org/
• For information on how the City of Olympia is working alongside Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, community groups, and employees to shape a more equal future and anti-racism strategy for Olympia, visit www.olympiawa.gov/diversity.

Black History Month Events

The following are some of the events that you may still attend this month as part of Black History Month.

• The Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at South Puget Sound Community College is presenting “Black Love” – Community Building Through Mentorship” February 14 – March 18, 2022. The opening reception will be on February 18 at 6 pm and an artist talk will be held on March 11 at 6 pm. For more details go to https://spscc.edu/gallery
• The community is invited to attend an all-outside program and reception honoring Black pioneers Alexander and Rebecca Howard and the newly installed Howard Point Marker on East Bay Drive. The event will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 1 pm at the Bigelow House Museum located at 918 Glass Avenue NE in Olympia. Following the program, Olympia Arts and Heritage Alliance (AHA) will offer walking tours to view the marker. For more information go to https://www.olyaha.org/
• The City of Olympia and Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture will co-host an event celebrating Black history on February 28, 2022, at 11 am. The virtual, online program will feature a keynote address by Payne African American history presentations; performances by Delbert Richardson’s Unspoken Truths Traveling Museum, Chanel music, and Awodi Drumming. The public can join live via a link you'll find on The JOLT's Calendar -- or watch the rebroadcast on the Olympia City YouTube channel.

Individuals can take a self-guided walking tour of the Olympia Downtown banners celebrating diverse community leaders.

Random Acts of Kindness 

Have you been feeling the love this week? Did someone open a door for you or maybe even spontaneously bought you a cup of coffee? February 13-19 is Random Acts of Kindness Week and this Thursday, is officially Random Acts of Kindness Day (RAK Day). While it certainly would be better if we practice RAK Day every day, it is nice to set one day aside to do this intentionally. According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, the work to create a kinder world never ends. “There is no limit on the amount of goodness we can put into the world.” This Thursday, everyone is invited to make kindness the norm but performing RAK and using #MakeKindnessTheNorm #RandomActsofKindnessDay and #RAKDay on your social media platforms.

If you would like more information on this day or need some ideas on random acts of kindness you can perform, go to https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/

Soliciting your ideas

If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits! 

Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at  MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com