Donate to the upcoming 2023 Freedom Summer Symposium
Updating the blueprint for black excellence
The 1969 Hilltop, Tacoma Mother's Day Uprising
An attempted arrest of a black man in the Hilltop area sparked a night of rage, resulting in confrontation, property destruction, a wounded officer, and charges of police brutality. This day would be known as the Mothers Day Riot. Anger within the community was already brewing due to residential discrimination; it was a failing inner-city area and lacked economic opportunity and political representation. The community needed better neighborhood services and black representation in those services. Just days after the Mothers Day Riot, black spokespersons demanded those very much needed changes. Fast forward to the present time, we want to help preserve the principle of creating leaders throughout society, even though they were successful in diversifying and adding black representation through the Mothers Day Riot in 1969. We want to use May 11th, 1969, as the blueprint for black excellence.
Mother’s Day Riot provides lessons for new Tacoma leaders | Tacoma News Tribune
Read More About the 1969 Mother's Day Uprising
2022 Freedom Summer Symposium Flyer
The Freedom Summer Symposium outcome determines where Institute For Black Justice will narrow its focus in 2023. Be a part of our process and, therefore, solutions by:
1) Registering to attend both days of the Freedom Summer Symposium
2) Take the EPA Pledge to commit to doing your part for a just and equitable future for all
3) Join the IBJ ACES Leadership Program if you are between 18 and 35 and take part in the 2022 Design Challenge. Let us know you would like to participate on the EPA Pledge Form.
Highlights from the 2021 Freedom Summer Symposium
The FSS theme for last year was based on the March on Washington and the late Congressman John Lewis
"Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble: Reimagining The Dream of True Justice"
Out of the 2021 Design Challenge, our program CHIMES was born.
Speakers
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Council Member Kiara Daniels - At-Large Position 6
At-Large Council Member Kiara Daniels was elected in November 2021. A proud Tacoma native and resident of Central Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, she is a longtime community advocate who values giving back and contributing to a stronger community.
Drew Ebersole
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Drew is a Certified Hudson Institute Coach and a member of the International Coach Federation. He has extensive coaching experience and expertise in mindfulness practices and teaching.
He is a relatable, compelling, and genuinely inspirational speaker, a life-long learner, and has learned that his challenges can be a source of energy.
Tremayne Edwards
Council Member Kiara Daniels
Tremayne Edwards
Tremayne joined the Alliance in 2021 as the Education and Engagement Director. In this role, he provides programming that educates, engages, and advocates for communities impacted by gun violence. Before the Alliance, Tremayne worked in Virginia as a Director of Community Engagement working to address and dismantle barriers that prevented access to various members of his community. When you can't find Tremayne at a community event, you can find him in the mountains with his pup. gunresponsibility.org
Shaun Worthy
Shaun Worthy
Tremayne Edwards
Shaun Worthy is a full custody father, entrepreneur, author, and thought leader. The CEO/Owner of IAMWORTHY & Associates LLC is a purpose-pushing youth development professional. He is using his life experiences, contagious passion, and good trouble mentality to impact his community and the field of youth development.
Megan Sukys
Shaun Worthy
Megan Sukys
Megan Sukys is Chief Strategy & Communications Officer for Greater Tacoma Community Foundation. Since 2017, Megan has developed strategy and implementation to connect Pierce County community voice to GTCF's philanthropic investments and supports while sharing stories about the work, people, and ideas that make our community stronger.
Talent
TWIYA
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
The World Is Yours, Always [known as TWIYA] is a hip-hop songbird, writer, music producer, visual artist, filmmaker, social entrepreneur and storyteller.
IG:@twiya.world
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson is a tiny dancer from Tacoma, Washington. Tacoma City Ballet is where she got her first initial training from 2016-2017, then she joined Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center(TUPAC) in 2017-2018.
IG:@starlight07
FB:@Starlight07
Tiory Watson
DianaStarr Raynell Robinson
Tiory Watson
From the city of Tacoma, Washington, TIORY always had the ability to sing and create. When she was only 10 years old, she wrote a song titled "Take It Slow" that made her known as one of the youngest artists making her own music in Tacoma, WA.
FB:@Tiory2018
Kareem Kandi
Lydia Valentine
Tiory Watson
A native of the Pacific Northwest, saxophonist Kareem Kandi is a performer, composer, and educator, in high demand for his talents both on and off the stage.
Kareem is a versatile saxophonist and composer with strong roots in the traditions of Jazz, Blues, Classical and Funk, and has been performing throughout the U.S. and abroad for years, gaining attention from critics and audiences alike.
Twitter:@Kareem_Kandi
Lydia Valentine
Lydia Valentine
Lydia Valentine
Lydia K. Valentine (née Roberts!) is a poet & playwright, editor & educator, and director & dramaturg who believes in the power of good, the healing capacity of writing and reading, and the absolute necessity of the Oxford comma. Through her work, Lydia seeks to amplify the voices of those who are often stifled, ignored, & marginalized in what has been the accepted narrative of the United States by promoting justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, and centering Anti-Racist and Anti-Biased practices.
IG:@LyderaryInk
ACES Facilitators
Dr. Mike Craw
Dr. Mike Craw
Dr. Mike Craw
Mike Craw (he/him/his) is the Director of the Master of Public Administration (MPA), The Evergreen State College. He teaches courses in public finance, policy analysis and urban management.
Andre Jimenez
Dr. Mike Craw
Dr. Mike Craw
Andre Jimenez currently serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist for the Washington State Historical Society, where he works to increase the histories we share and the communities we serve. He is also a Senior studying Law & Policy at the University of Washington Tacoma, where he serves as Student Body President.
Carolyn Weisz
Dr. Mike Craw
Keysha-Rae Cooper
Carolyn Weisz, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Puget Sound where she teaches courses on social psychology, research methods, and statistics. Carolyn is on the Leadership Team of the Race & Pedagogy Institute and serves on the advisory committee for the African American Studies Department. Her research addresses social perception, prejudice, racism, stigma, homelessness, health, friendship, and program evaluation.
Keysha-Rae Cooper
Keysha-Rae Cooper
Keysha-Rae Cooper
Keysha-Rae comes from a diverse background in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She holds a BA in Sociology from the best university in the state, WSU (Go Cougs!), and a MPS in Fashion Marketing. Following in her parent's footsteps, she comes from a long lineage of advocacy, helping others, and being a voice for her community.
IG: @key_key_86
De'Erica Waggener
Keysha-Rae Cooper
De'Erica Waggener
Our 2022 major donors & Partners
2022 Design Challenge Group 1: Field Day
2022 Design Challenge Group 2: Pierce County Historic Events
2022 Design Challenge Group 3: Social Activists Masterclass