Reclaiming Black Joy opens in Rockwood Sunday, Oct. 30, with music, food and celebration of community

October 27, 2022

Community members are invited to a Reclaiming Black Joy event in the Rockwood neighborhood on Sunday, Oct. 30, from noon to 5 p.m.

This cultural event is one in a series of monthly gatherings that have taken place throughout the summer and fall to celebrate community and spread joy through food, culture, music, and entertainment. The events have been held at Dawson Park.

This time, people attending in East County will get a chance to learn about and receive safety-net resources and support local businesses and vendors. The event coincides with The People’s Market, occurring every third Sunday of the month until Jan. 15th at Rockwood Market Hall.

The event begins with a community walk at Vance Park, 1400 S.E. 182nd Ave, Portland, OR 97233 at noon and proceeds to the Rockwood Market Hall, 458 S.E. 185th Ave, Portland, OR 97233 where the festivities begin at 1 p.m. will continue until 5:00 p.m.

Play Grow Learn (PGL), in partnership with Multnomah County’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program, is organizing Reclaiming Black Joy.

Anthony Bradley and Germaine Flentroy of Play Grow Learn will lead the half-mile community walk from Vance Park as part of the Gresham Walking Campaign and Multnomah County’s “Active People, Healthy Multnomah” initiative. 

Gresham’s Mayor Travis Stovall will then open the event at 1:00 p.m. The first 350 attendees can collect a ticket at the welcome table to exchange for a meal, free of charge. Food and other goods will be available for purchase throughout the day.

Music and entertainment begins immediately  after mayoral remarks and announcements. They include celebrated musical artist DJ O.G. ONE who will lend his talents to host the event from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Other sets include William “Chill Will” Scriven, Charles Hysaw and Press Forth Gospel Band, and dance performance and poetry reading by Play Grow Learn’s youth group.

Reclaiming Black Joy will also serve as the official launch of a newly-designed breastfeeding space at Rockwood Market Hall. The African American Breastfeeding Coalition of Oregon, Multnomah County’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, the Black Parent Initiative, the Healthy Birth Initiative, and the REACH program are excited to open this lactation room to the public in continued support of breastfeeding parents.

Sponsoring organization REACH, will be among the many community organizations sharing information about resources and upcoming events. COVID-19 vaccinations will be available. Volunteers are still needed to help with day-of-event activities and support. To volunteer, please email Play Grow Learn at: LGarnerpgl@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!

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