Umoja Kijana Shujaa
Founded in 2017, Umoja Kijana Shujaa is a paid year-long leadership development cohort and program of Black & Beyond the Binary Collective. Umoja was created to further radicalize Black trans, queer, nonbinary, and intersex+ (TQNI+) youth 14-24 to combat white supremacy, criminalization, anti-blackness, and to advance Black liberation. Umoja youth will participate in responsive and collaborative community building throughout the summer and will walk away with a deep understanding of white supremacy, hands-on experience in community and civic engagement as well as community care practices to help to deal with the realities of moving throughout the world in a Black TQNI+ body.
Annually, Umoja youth organize Portland’s Night Out for Safety and Liberation event in partnership with the Ella Baker Center to answer the questions of “how do we build safety beyond policing” and “what are the alternatives to calling the police”?
We are so excited to announce applications are NOW OPEN for our 4th Annual Black Trans and Queer Youth Leadership Cohort. Umoja Kijana Shujaa is a one of a kind experience for Black TQNI2S+ (Trans, Queer, Non-binary, Intersex, 2-spirit) youth ages 14-24 to learn liberation practices and get paid while doing it. Using art, civic engagement, community connection, and protest, we empower young people to lead the resistance against the systems of oppression surrounding them. All participants will be paid $19/hr and are also eligible to receive at least 2 months of full rental assistance. Sessions are on 8 consecutive Fridays from 10am-5pm PST, starting Friday, June 21st, 2024. Applications are due May 9th, 2024. Sign up!
A hot pink background with the text Umoja Kijana Shujaa at the top. Below that is a picture of 7 Black TQNI2S+ Youth and our Executive Director Zubbi, all holding fists up with the B3C mural in the background. To the right of that picture is a description of the program. Under that: Apply at the link in the bio! At the bottom: Our address, 5633 SE Division, Portland, OR, 97206, and text saying, “Please share access needs in the application”
A group of ten Black folks smile at the camera behind a green wall full of art.
Five Black folks smile for the camera and hold up a handmade sign that reads "Welcome to Night Out for Safety and Liberation."
Five Black folks smile for the camera while standing in front of a green wall and a staircase.
A group of nineteen Black folks pose for a photo
A group of nineteen Black folks pose outside for a photo
Two Black folks laugh outside. One person has their arms out and the other one is playfully pushing them away.
A group of six Black folks smile for the camera and pose next to a banner that reads "Divest from Prisons" with artwork of two Black folks on it.
A group of six Black smile out for the camera
Constructing Civic Dialogues
Coming up: Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty. April 25th, 1-3pm on Zoom. More information and sign up coming soon.
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Constructing Civic Dialogues builds support for groups that provide free communication, mediation, and facilitation training services to Portland community members. These services offer third-party support in discussing challenging topics and have played a role in diverting matters that might needlessly involve police intervention. Grantees offer culturally responsive, community-led, multilingual, and community-specific training and services at no cost to the public.
As we re-imagine new strategies to address conflict resolution, racism, and community safety we recognize the need for opportunities for participants to develop foundational skills on addressing community conflict, resolution, and communication. The Constructing Civic Dialogues Program is a concrete way for the City of Portland to channel multi-year financial resources to groups doing community-based work. We envision a future that gives power back to our communities, celebrates self-expression, and preserves the dignity, joy, and the future of Black Trans and Queer communities living fully liberated lives.
Ultimately, we believe that our friends, classmates, neighbors, and all in our community benefit from taking an active role in public safety discourse. We are working to connect with those who are curious and willing to dismantle institutions that are harming us for the sake of liberation, the dignity of our planet, and building something beyond the carceral punitive systems that disappear our communities. Everywhere people are struggling to imagine how we address harm without the use of the state. These virtual events will build upon our collective imagination while beginning to address anti-Black racism in our movements.
All of our series will feature ASL and captions. You can register for our next Constructing Civic Dialogue programming here!
**Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this series do not necessarily represent those of the City of Portland. This webinar series has been made possible in part by a grant from the City of Portland, Office of Community & Civic Life.**