Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2024 Community Highlight: The Black Parent Initiative
This blog post is by Ari O’Donovan, Boost’s Diversity Program Director. It is part of our “Stronger Together Oregon” blog series that focuses on communities of color in Oregon.
Boost Oregon focuses on and celebrates Black communities all year long. We partner with Black organizations, amplify Black voices in our podcast, Boosting Our Voices, and create programs and materials specifically for Black families. Since our founding, we have been committed to pursuing equitable health outcomes for Black Oregonians. Today, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by spotlighting one of our community partners.
The Black Parent Initiative (BPI) is a nonprofit organization that serves Black families with children across Oregon. BPI’s mission is to “educate and mobilize the parents and caregivers of African, African American and African American Multi-cultural children to ensure they achieve success.” BPI understands that Black/African American families have an inherent ability to thrive with access to the right tools and resources. Systemic racism, structural violence, displacement, and economic disenfranchisement are some of the many ways Black/African American families do not have the necessary resources to promote the health and advancement of their families. BPI has specifically designed programs to support Black/African American families in a variety of ways, including the Black Family Resources Center, Sacred Roots Doula, Sacred Roots Lactation, Sawubona, and Together We Can. Every stage of Black/African American family life deserves specific attention, support, and resources, and BPI aptly fills those needs.
We encourage you to learn more about BPI, consider donating or volunteering, and follow BPI on social media for current updates. We wish you a peaceful and reflective Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. that expands your understanding of the Black lived experience. May we come together and be the light that drives out the darkness of racism, inequality, and hate.
