**Black and Bold** is a community event that honors and uplifts the incredible work of Black authors. We’ll be gathering at BOLD Coffee + Books (1755 SW Jefferson St, Portland) on Saturday, August 8th from 6–8pm.

Black and Bold will be a space for storytelling, inspiration, and belonging, where we allow ourselves to reflect upon the beautiful writings of people from the African diaspora.

The event will include a tribute to legacy Black authors who made trailblazing contributions to the arts and literature, and we’ll also celebrate published Black authors in our very own Pacific Northwest community, including an author conversation panel, live readings, and book signings. Our featured authors are: **Emmett Wheatfall**, **Renee Mitchell**, and **Judge Kemp**.

Join us for Black and Bold on August 8th. This event is free and open to all ages, but please consider a $10 suggested donation to help sustain Brown Hope programs.

*“A writer’s life and work are not a gift to mankind; they are its necessity.”* —Toni Morrison

To learn more about BOLD Coffee + Books, visit [https://boldcoffeeandbooks.com/](https://boldcoffeeandbooks.com/)

To learn more about Brown Hope, visit [www.brownhope.org.](http://www.brownhope.org)


Black and Bold

# Back to School
# Donation Drive

Brown Hope is hosting a Back to School Donation Drive this summer to help students in our neighborhood have the supplies they need by the first day of school. The theme of this year’s campaign is *Youth Educated & Empowered To Thrive*, because we believe every child deserves access to quality education.

This is a grassroots campaign, and we need your support! Local businesses will be hosting donation bins **—between Monday, July 20th and Wednesday, August 19th—** where neighbors can deposit items like backpacks, folders, pencils, and erasers. We’ll be distributing the collected supplies at community events on August 20th and August 22nd.

# Here's How You Can Support

1. Drop Off School Supplies at one of these Collection Boxes
* Me Fitness (4943 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97211)
* Artist and Craftsman Supply (2906 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217)
* Nalu Kava Bar (722 N Sumner St, Portland, OR 97217)
* Columbia Art and Drafting Supply (1515 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214)

2. [Shop at Our Back to School Wish List](https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/pdxback2school2026)

3. [Make a Financial Donation Online](https://secure.givelively.org/donate/brown-hope/back-to-school-drive-2026)

# Items Requested
* #2 Graphite Pencils
* Colored Pencils
* Composition Book (one subject, wide ruled, black)
* Socks
* Snacks (Granola Bars, Chips, Trail Mix, etc.)
* Backpacks
* 1 inch 3-ring Binder
* Wide ruled spiral notebooks (one subject, solid color)
* Crayons
* Colored Markers
* Kleenex tissues
* 2-pocket folders
* Highlighters
* Glue sticks
* Hand Sanitizer
* Lotion
* Scissor
* Lined Paper
* Erasers
* 12 inch ruler with centimeter markings
* Scotch Tape
* Index Cards
* New Childrens shoes (All Sizes)


Back To School Supply Drive

**Mindful Medicine happens every third Wednesday of the month on Zoom from 7-8:15pm.** ([RSVP Here)](https://brownhope-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/PuSNXQgrSGe8b-lbaf_cfQ)

What we offer with Mindful Medicine is a culturally informed meditation and healing experience, open to anyone who is seeking to participate in the liberatory power of collective healing. If the current state of the world is causing you to feel exhausted and depleted— we offer this space as a way to be nourished, energized, and supported.

**There are four intentionally designed parts to Mindful Medicine:**
* Love Lessons, a quick teaching on various social justice related topics.
* Guided Meditation, a facilitator will lead us in gentle breathwork, inner awareness, and positive affirmations to cultivate feelings of peace, resilience, and trust.
* Writing Reflection, an opportunity to get our thoughts and feelings down onto paper before the group discussion.
* Group Discussion, a peer centered space to process, converse, and integrate our collective mindful experience.
  
We invite you to come to Mindful Medicine as your full authentic selves and share your lived experiences with radical vulnerability. We’ll have community guidelines with trained facilitators to ensure all voices have an opportunity to be heard and that the experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people will be valued and respected.

Mindful Medicine is a multiracial space— **all races, backgrounds, and identities are welcome.** Let’s build community and strengthen our healing movement!

**#moralmeditation #wehealwithhope**


Mindful Medicine

Brown Hope’s Monthly Book Club happens every first Thursday of the month on Zoom from 7-8:30pm. Our Monthly Book Club is organized by our Healing & Spirituality Action Group, and is a multiracial space– all races, backgrounds, and identities are welcome to participate. Together, we’ll create a supportive space to process, connect, and grow in community.

The first book we’re discussing is My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem. This powerful book explores how racism lives in the body and offers practices for healing, resilience, and collective liberation—through a step-by-step process grounded in neuroscience and somatic healing methods.

While the book focuses on the impact of racialized trauma on Black bodies, the practices and insights can be applied across communities, including Asian, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples, who are all navigating systemic oppression and racial violence. 

Meets: First Thursday of each month, 7–8:30pm PST.[ Sign up here to receive the meeting link.](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeK-AYYa2gdaBQDjTYoSNeBgUZGxJ8Zmf54rKBzytFFjExOlA/viewform)

Pace: Two chapters per month

Discussion Schedule:
* Feb 5 - chapters 8 & 9
* Mar 5 - chapters 10 & 11
* Apr 2 - chapters 12 & 13
* May 7 - chapters 14 & 15
* Jun 4 - chapters 16 & 17
* Jul 2 - chapters 18 & 19
* Aug 6 - chapters 20 & 21
* Sep 3 - chapters 22 & 23
* Oct 8 - chapter 24

Our book club is open to the public, feel free to share this invite with anyone who may be interested. If you have any questions, please contact[ healingaction@brownhope.org](mailto:healingaction@brownhope.org).


Events

Brown Hope Monthly Book Club

Black and Bold

Date

Location

Cost

Back To School Supply Drive

Date

Mindful Medicine

Date