Ink People

What is Black Humboldt ?
Black Humboldt is interested in networking, building relationships and community with the black population residing and visiting Humboldt  County, CA. A DreamMaker project of The Ink People.

As the 2% Black population and 28% People of Color (PoC) is growing through employment, education and even vacation, our goal is to represent and support one another by focusing on positive stories from the community, investing in black business, arts and culture and building community awareness of  issues affecting Humboldt County residents.


People of Color (PoC): Historically oppressed and marginalized people as a direct result of American Colonialism.

How did this begin?

Black Humboldt began in April 2018 by visionary Dionna Fletcher and co-founded by Mo Desir as a response to Humboldt County's social climate and injustices, the overwhelming  whiteness (or buzzphrase "lack of diversity"), and safe black spaces. Dionna wanted to provide a platform for all black and brown bodies who shared similar needs and interests while existing in Humboldt. Black  Humboldt seeks to promote existing black businesses, professionals and organizations, support black navigation and to help unify people of color (PoC). It all started as a social media platform to gauge what the 1.5%   black population could look like and a future vision for creating events, workshops, and forums. Black Humboldt hopes to provide a space where people can see a positive and beautiful reflection of themselves. In the summer of 2019 Black Humboldt was chosen to be A DreamMaker Project of the Ink People in Eureka CA.


“Our decision to use “Black” instead of “African American” is to ensure the geographical and cultural inclusivity of everyone within the African diaspora. We hope to highlight that African Americans are one of many variations within a larger global community of individuals who have a shared ancestry yet diverse cultures, customs, and languages.”
Find out more on this ideology at https://www.teachforamerica.org/life-in-the-corps/your-tfa-network/black-community-alliances



Mission: To enlighten, empower, and entertain our Black communities and all people of color in Humboldt County through events made FOR US and BY US.


Vision: Focus on positive stories from Black communities and people of color in Humboldt County, invest in Black and PoC businesses, and support Black and PoC arts & culture. Build community awareness of issues affecting Humboldt County residents. Create visible spaces within the community for the acceptance of Black & PoC presence and fostering relations with non-POC communities.


Values: Safety,  Culture, Community, Empowerment and Education.


Goals:

1.Cultivate safe, supportive, and inclusive spaces for all people of color in Humboldt County.
2.Create, maintain and sustain economic empowerment for all people of color in Humboldt County.
3. Educate, empower and liberate all people of color in Humboldt County.
4. Educate non-POC groups within Humboldt county on race relations, inclusion, and alliship.

Our 2022 Juneteenth festival will take place June 16th - June 20th in celebration of the Black communities of Humboldt County. The weekend will include a wide array of Black & Brown curated events and projects. We will host our Juneteenth Picnic party on The Arcata Plaza Sunday June 19th 12 - 7pm.   This event is an all day, community wide, event celebrating freedom, diversity and community. The event features local POC vendors, workshop facilitators, music and performances.  Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, celebrating that day in history, June 19th 1865.

This holiday is very important and empowering for the Black and Brown communities all over the United States, but especially for Humboldt County, as this community makes up a very small percentage of the population and is often oppressed as a result. Black history is a part of The United States’ history and is important to celebrate as we create safe spaces and inclusion for POC communities in Humboldt County. With the current racially fueled tragedies affecting POC communities it is important that we continue to celebrate and honor Black lives and Black joy.


All proceeds collected on this day will be redistributed to Black owned businesses in Humboldt County. 

The Eureka Chinatown Project is a collaborative effort of community members and Humboldt Asian & Pacific Islanders In Solidarity (HAPI).

Project Purpose: We celebrate the history and culture of the Chinese community in Humboldt, while raising awareness of the local expulsion events and the federal and state exclusionary acts that shaped our society today.
By educating our community, we hope to heal, grow, and move towards a more inclusive future.

Historical Background: The Chinese were integral members in building the West, including Humboldt County, before the national Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Expulsions that started in Humboldt County in 1885 - 1906.  The Eureka City Ordinance and overall culture prevented Chinese Americans from returning to Humboldt County until the 1950’s. To this day, we are still feeling that void in our community.

First Stage Projects on/around Old Chinatown Block, located between E/F and 4th/5th Streets in Eureka:
- Commemorative Plaque
- Chinatown Lost & Found Mural in the Alley (back of Savage Henry Comedy Club)
- Informational Panels on the City of Eureka Wayfinding Signs
- Rename the Alley to commemorate the location of Old Chinatown
- Self-guided Walking Tours (Printed & Digital)


Follow the Project progress on Instagram @EurekaChinatownProject

Humboldt Asian & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) is a DreamMaker project of The Ink People

English Express, a DreamMakers project of The Ink People in Eureka (CA), opens the door to our non-English speaking neighbors by providing free language classes, field trips and connections to people and local resources in Humboldt, Del Norte and Trinity Counties (CA) and Curry County (OR).

We're raising $5,000 to support the program started in 2016.

The operating budget needed to maintain and grow the program in 2021 is $80,000. Grants and contributions have raised $30,000. You can help us fill the gap!

Will you join the friends of English Express and keep the program rolling?

In the first half of 2021, during the pandemic, the program started and led by Mary Ann Hytken provided 30 students with 80 online classes, tutorials and individual consultations. Grants and donations were used to get laptops for remote classes and to make the program free for participants, most from low-income households.

Everyone deserves a chance.

English Express builds confidence and connections and fosters self-sufficiency for our students.

Read about the program featured in June 1 edition of the Eureka Times-Standard.

Once part of the local community college, English Express operates as an independent community project under the financial umbrella of The Ink People. The Ink People has been changing people's lives since 1979 by connecting the community to the arts and resources for cultural development.

Easy ways to give:

• Contribute online via this GoFundMe campaign.
• Give a secure gift via our website .
• Mail your contribution in a check or money order to:

The Ink People

PO Box 111

Cutten, CA 95534