Recent Events
See the Web Log for information about past events
Poet Jordan Presents: “Black Excellence”: An Evening with Nikkita “KO” Oliver
When: Friday, November 20 at 7 PM PST – 9 PM PST
Hosted by Jordan Chaney, Celina Mahinalani Garza and 5 others
Where: Online Event
Tickets: ti.to/Poet-Jordan-Presents/black-excellence
Thank you to our sponsors!
Platinum Sponsors –
Communities of Color Coalition
Ted Miller
WholeStory
Gold Sponsors –
Native LifewayCommunity Sponsors –
Karla Camac Carlisle
Erik Ralston
Seema L. Clifasefi
Becky Beardsly
Wendy Veysey
John Roach
Previously, Poet Jordan Presents brought New York Times bestseller Ijeoma Oluo and Academy Award-winning filmmaker T.J. Martin to eastern Washington to talk about their creative and powerful work.
Now, Poet Jordan Presents: “Black Excellence”: An Evening with Nikkita Oliver!
Nikkita Oliver (they/them) is a Seattle-based creative, spoken word artist, community organizer, abolitionist, educator, and attorney. Working at the intersections of arts, law, education, and community organizing, Nikkita strives to create experiences which draw us closer to our humanity and invites us to imagine what we hope to see in the future. Nikkita is the co-executive director of Creative Justice, an arts-based alternative to incarceration and a healing engaged youth-led community-based program.
Also joining the program will be opening notes provided by Reagan Jackson, a dance performance by Serenity Wise, and poetry by Daishaundra Loving-Hearne. Celina Garza with Native Lifeway will provide the land acknowledgement and blessing.
Reagan Jackson is a multi genre writer, artist, activist, and international educator with an abiding love of justice, spirituality, and creating community. She is the Program Director for Young Women Empowered and the cofounder of Blackout Healing. You can learn more about her at reaganjackson.com.
Serenity Wise is a dancer and arts researcher/organizer. In her dance practice, she studies Orixa/Orisha movement from the Afro Brazilian tradition of the Black diaspora. It’s a personal practice that allows her to trace and recover knowledge from her ancestral roots. However, she also believes Black dances to be important to educate and share broadly, as a method of reclamation for Black people whose origins have been marginalized by colonization and racism.
Poet, writer, activist, and choreographer Daishaundra Loving-Hearne is no stranger to the arts or the power of it. She is a Co-CEO of Urban Poets Society and the founder of Black Lives Matter Coalition: Tri-Cities. After spending over 16 years in the arts and working with youth, she has dedicated all of her talents and voice to standing and fighting for equality, equity and victory of our people.
Celina Mahinalani Garza is the Tribal Liaison for the Strong Heart Study serving Native communities in the Phoenix area, specializing in Client Relations and Community Outreach. She is the Founder of Native Lifeway.
When: Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 11 AM PST – 1 PM PST
Hosted by Tri Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council, Black Lives Matter Coalition: Tri-Cities and Revamped Wellness
Where: Online Event
Tickets: via Eventbrite
Keep ya Crown on is an exciting event for Black students to learn skills to manage stress, stay motivated, and walk in their greatness!
TCD&IC has developed a virtual event that is unlike any in the history of Tri Cities. Along with collaborative partners, we have come together to form a dynamic approach to empower, educate, and motivate our Black Children and Teens. As a marginalized community that lacks support and resources, we recognized a great need to help challenge the stigmas of mental health and support the psychological safety of the Black community. Our event will afford an opportunity to address the trauma that the Black Community has experienced and provide emotional coping skills and the overall tools to aid in resiliency.
Our virtual event will have exciting speakers that will help teach you skills to manage stress, recognize your worth, and stand in your greatness! You will also receive a swag bag with goodies that you will use during and after the event. After you participate in our online event your name will be entered into a raffle to receive a cool gift!
YOU MUST ATTEND THE EVENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AMAZING RAFFLE!!!
When: Friday, November 13, 2020 at 6 PM PST
Hosted by Tri-City Democrats
Where: Online Event
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81650027613?pwd=cUNOOWcvRHFWUG9NS3Y5QTBRaUx2QT09
Thanks to everyone’s hard work, we’ve succeeded in regaining the White House. This opens the door for us to start work on “what’s next”. We have a lot of damage to repair and we need to redress a lot of injustices that have existed for far too long. So let’s talk about it. What do we need to be pushing for? What new ideas will we need to have enter the conversation?
We’re still forming this event, but we intend it to be very participatory. We’ll have a skeleton to share, but hope to hear ideas from the body.
November 7th, 2020
The West Richland Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to host this year’s Virtual Veterans Day Parade.
Join us on Saturday, November 7th for another year of remembrance and honoring those who served. The Virtual Veterans Day Parade will be available to watch on our website. The Vietnam Memorial Monument Dedication will take place at 11:00am at Flat Top Park. The Drive Thru Chili Feed will starting at 11:30am at the Flat Top Park Pavilion. Donations will go to the Combat Veterans International.
About Scotty Smiley, 2020 Grand Marshall
In 2005, while leading his platoon in Mosul, Iraq, Scotty found himself in front of a suicide car bomber. After the man blew himself up, shrapnel blew through Scotty’s eyes, leaving him blinded and temporarily paralyzed. Though questioning his faith, Scotty made a decision to forgive and rebuild his life and continue to serve in the Army, becoming the first blind active-duty officer in military history. Over his military career, Major (Retired) Smiley received a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Airborne Wings and Combat Diver Qualification Badge.
Our segment of the presentation can be seen at 30:09 through 32:38.
When: Saturday, November 7 at 3 PM PST
Where: John Dam Plaza
Hosted by Benton County WA Democrats
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are our President and Vice President Elect!! Let’s breath a sigh of relief for democracy and safely gather together to celebrate!! Hate has no home here! Don’t forget your masks!!!
When: Sunday, November 1 at 3:30 PM PST
Hosted by Elect Justin Raffa Benton County Commissioner
Where: Online with Facebook Live
Join Justin and his campaign leaders as they discuss their experiences campaigning in the era of Covid, and wrap up the long road from the Primary to today!
Trick or Vote
When: Saturday, October 31, 2020 at 1 PM PDT – 5 PM PDT
Where: John Dam Plaza
Hosted by A place at the table with Shir
Please RSVP at: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D49ABAA2CA6F9C25-trick
Don’t let those Halloween costumes go to waste! Join us for this family-friendly literature drop and door hanger event in the final days before Election Day. Volunteers will be visiting the homes of people who need to return their ballots and leave some final literature about Shir behind. No knocking – no tricks! Just a treat for a voter. 
Sign Distribution Biden/Harris and Local Candidates
Signs Can Still Be Ordered
Hosted by Democrats of the 8th Legislative District Washington
The 8th LD Democrats still have Biden/Harris signs available for delivery. All proceeds benefit the 8th LD whose mission is to send representation to Olympia. To get yours, we are suggesting a donation of $25 or more. You can submit your donations at:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/8thld2020signs
Evening Phone Banking!
When: Friday, October 23, 2020 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Hosted by Committee to Elect Carly Coburn
Where: Online Event on Facebook
Join the Committee to Elect Carly Coburn for an evening phone banking session! No experience needed, as the candidate, Carly Coburn, will lead a training session at the beginning of the event. Stay as long or as little as you like!
The link to the zoom for training will be posted thirty minutes before the event begins, and will be deleted after the phone banking session is over.
Doug McKinley Town Hall Series
Every Thursday night at 7 pm for the remainder of the campaign, Doug McKinley will be hosting a Townhall meeting for the residents of Washington’s 4th Congressional District. All are invited and all are welcome. To protect all participants, these meetings will be held on Zoom. If you would like to attend, please register at the link below, and we will send you instructions for joining. You will only need to register once to attend all meetings.
To Register:
https://forms.gle/PgJp3ReYJyabqc6C9
We will be discussing a variety of topics, and Doug will be taking questions and making his case why Washington’s 4th Congressional District needs a change. Please join us to participate in our democracy!
Can We Achieve a New Zero-Carbon Energy Mix by Mid-Century?
When: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at 3 PM
Hosted by Steven Ghan and Tri-Cities Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Where: Online Event
Achieving zero carbon emissions from power and transport by mid-century will require all non-fossil fuel energy sources, including nuclear. Learn why from Forbes writer Jim Conca.
Preregistration a day in advance is required.
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 10 AM PDT – 11:30 AM PDT
Hosted by Department of Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, University of Minnesota, Mizna and Imagining Transnational Solidarities Research Circle
Online Event: https://umn.zoom.us/j/95866573747
You can watch this conversation on Zoom at: https://umn.zoom.us/j/95866573747
Dr. Nadine Naber is director of the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy and a professor of Gender and Women’s Studies and Global Asian Studies at UIC.
Ash Stephens (he/him & they/them) is a Criminology, Law and Justice PhD candidate, and Black Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies concentrator at UIC.
When: Monday, October 19th at 7:45 PM PDT – 8:30 PM PDT
Hosted by Committee to Elect Carly Coburn
Where: Online Event
Join Carly on Monday, October 19th at 7:45 pm for an evening conversation with Vida Amoré on Facebook Live about how local politicians can help amplify the LGBTQ+ and Latino/a/x community’s voices and support their needs. Vida will also be taking questions from the Facebook live stream and ask Carly them as they come up! Don’t miss this chance to learn more about Carly!
When: Saturday, October 17 at 3 PM PDT
Where: Volunteer Park
Hosted by Tri-City Democrats
Register: https://act.womensmarch.com/event/join-oct-17-march/361
October 17, let’s protest the Republican lie about not confirming SCOTUS nominees during an election!
Masking, physical distancing and other COVID-19 controls to be maintained please! Stay home if you’re sick.
Thank you!
Ridin’ with Biden Rescheduled!
When : Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 10 AM
Where: WSU Tri-Cities
Hosted by Tri-City Democrats
Are you Ridin’ with Biden? Show your support in a decorated vehicle and join like-minded voters in a fun rally thru Richland, Kennewick and Pasco. Meet up at the parking lot of WSU Tri-Cities in Richland at 10am October 17th. This event is not sponsored by WSU, we are merely using the public property parking lot as a staging area. We’ll share a map at the start, so if you get cut off at a stop light just continue the route. Social distancing and masks required at pre and post staging areas. Local candidates are encouraged to decorate with their signage. PLEASE FOLLOW ALL TRAFFIC LAWS. This event is supported by Tri-City Democrats, Benton County Democrats and Franklin County Democrats. Please share widely.
When: Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 12 Noon
Hosted by Columbia Basin Badger Club
Online Event Via Zoom
More information to be announced soon.
The Race Series: Part I
When: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 6 PM – 8 PM
Hosted by Tri Cities Diversity and Inclusion Council and Raleigh Radio Girl
Where: Online Event
The Race Series: Part I
The Black & Latino communities come together to discuss their thoughts on race, division, & unity.
Click or Tap here to go to Facebook event.
Here’s a list of of the panelists.
When: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 5 PM PDT – 6 PM PDT
Hosted by Elect Danielle Garbe Reser and Norma Lola Hernandez-Rios
Where: Online Event
Tickets: secure.actblue.com/donate/dgrwomen
Please join us with special guest Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, former Deputy Secretary of Energy, to celebrate women in leadership and the energy that Danielle Garbe Reser can bring to our State Senate. Tickets available at a range of prices: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dgrwomen
Join Us
Tuesday, October 13th
5:00-6:00 pm
via Zoom
Danielle and Liz worked together at the National Security Council at the White House and at the U.S. Department of Energy. They will share insights from their careers and perspectives on why we need women and people with diverse perspectives and experiences in every room where decisions are made, including the Democratic caucus room of the Washington State Senate.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you to our hosts: Washington State Commissioner for Public Lands Hilary Franz, Senator Karen Keiser, Senator Lisa Wellman, Senator Mona Das, Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney (former), Rep. Ruth Kagi (former), College Place Mayor Norma Hernández, Pasco City Council Member Zahra Roach, EMILY’s List, Win With Women, Network of Exceptional Women, PAC for Science, NWPC-WA, Alma Chacon, Melanie Matthews, Ceil Erickson, Teresa Purcell, Caroline Micelli, Caroline Maillard, Susan A. Weiss, Kari Isaacson and Jim Peterson
When: Sunday, October 11, 2020 at 5:30 PM
Hosted by A place at the table with Shir
Where: Online Event
Join us on National Coming Out Day for a special session of text banking hosted by local legend and Miss Gay Washington 2009-2010, Roxanne Von Cummings.
We will start the session with a quick training on how the program works and step you through how to achieve results. This will be followed by texting voters to remind them to vote in November while Shir and Roxanne will be live with you to play lip synch karaoke and also answer any questions if they come up.
Afterwards, in the tradition of the Sunday Tea parties of the “before-before times,” we will have a virtual dance party! What better way to celebrate coming out day than by working to defeat one of the most famous homophobes in the country?
When: Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 12 Noon
Hosted by Columbia Basin Badger Club
Online Event Via Zoom
More information to be announced soon.
Disinformation in Local Elections: How to spot it and what you can do
When: Wednesday, October 7 at 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Where: This free event will livestream on thenewstribune.com, theolympian.com, bellinghamherald.com, and tri-cityherald.com.
We will share examples of it in Washington’s local elections and strategies for spotting it as you look to make the best possible decisions for your community in November. We will give you a roadmap for spotting false claims and help you learn how to set the record straight.
We will bring together misinformation experts from academia and technology, including event partners Microsoft and University of Washington, local reporters and policymakers to discuss how we can navigate with confidence an election unlike any other.
Please join us. You can sign up here.
Thanks, as always, for your support of local news.
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 6 PM
Hosted by Columbia Basin Badger Club
Online Event: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IEaRwjx8Q6-tEpsnCL1FzA
Register for the event at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IEaRwjx8Q6-tEpsnCL1FzA
Get your ticket today at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dgr509 to join us for this event with Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig to support Danielle Garbe Reser’s State Senate campaign in LD 16.
Senate Majority Leader Billig is currently the only Democrat from Eastern Washington in our State Senate, so by helping Danielle we can double Eastern Washington’s representation in the Senate Democratic Caucus and bring the voice of rural Washington to the table.
Let’s support Team 509 today! Join us to discuss our shared love of baseball and Eastern Washington and our hopes to bring better health care, a sustainable environment, and economic opportunity to the best area code in the state — The 509.
Monday, October 5 from 5-6 pm
