All Power to the People: Remembering the Legacy of the Black Panther Party

The Vanport Mosaic with Mr Kent Ford and the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods present a three-day event: All Power to the People: “It’s a marathon not a sprint”, remembering the Legacy of the Black Panther Party in Portland, with Mr Kent Ford and Invited Guests

February 24, 25, 26, 2023 at Historic Alberta House - a sanctuary for the cultural arts & humanities / 5131 NE 23rd Ave. Portland, 97211

TICKETS: $10/general, $5/students & seniors Reservations on Eventbrite, masks required

Join us for a three-day event linking The Black Panther Party’s 10 Point Plan to challenges we face today. Featuring “Points number 7, 8 & 9” a panel conversation between Mr Ford and invited Historians, Activists and Educators reflecting on our community’s current status in relationship to policing and incarceration; No Cops in Schools, No Police Money in Politics, learn about the campaigns to keep SROs out of Oregon schools and combat the outsized influence of the police lobby in Oregon politics through a conversation with Bruce Poinsette and guests; Jefferson Archive Initiative Debut: Show And Tell Session 1, Master Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr. and guests debut the effort to develop a living archive at Jefferson High School to be a site and resource for the past, present, and future students of Jefferson to find a forever home, a screening of a short Vanport Mosaic-produced documentary Sting Like A Bee; a narrated slide show presentation by Mr. Ford from his personal archive, providing historical context and sharing personal memories of the Panthers’ revolutionary activism and community organizing; a fully staged performance of Walking through Portland with a Panther, a newly-commissioned play about the life of Mr. Ford, a screening of SOUL’D: the economics of our Black body (the Joy edition) a new performance piece adapted for film that engages questions of how our Black bodies have participated in the American Economic Dream. Youth empowerment, environmental justice and community health organizations will join to raise awareness about their projects and calls to action.

This program is made possible by the generous support of

Our partner Northeast coalition of Neighborhoods

The Fred W. Fields Fund of Oregon Community Foundation

with additional support from the Regional Arts and Culture Council

Break out of each day’s events following:

6p (doors at 5:30p) No Cops in Schools, No Police Money in Politics Bruce Poinsette in conversation with youth activist Danny Cage and Imagine Black Executive Director, Joy Alise Davis about the campaigns to keep SROs out of Oregon schools and combat the outsized influence of the police lobby in Oregon politics.

2p (doors at 1:30p) Fully staged performance of Walking Through Portland with a Panther: The Life of Mr Kent Ford. All Power! Written by Don Wilson Glenn, directed by Damaris Webb, featuring La’Tevin Alexander. A newly commissioned solo play incorporating archival footage and storytelling to understand local history, rediscover lost neighborhoods, and learn the intimate makings of unsung leaders of protest and revolution. Followed by a post show conversation with Mr Kent Ford.

6p (doors at 5:30p) Jefferson Archive Initiative Debut: Show And Tell Session 1 Join Master Artist Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr. (MAMBSJ) and collaborators Damaris Webb, Amy Hargrave, Theotis Cason, Soapbox Theory, Colloquate, and others for the debut of the effort to develop an archive at Jefferson High School to be a site and resource for the past, present, and future students of Jefferson to find a forever home. Guided by feedback from the first phase of community engagement around the Jefferson Modernization Project, and a history of initiating projects centering Black folks, young people, and the elders and families who support them in Portland and the Albina region, MAMBSJ is leading the charge on establishing a living archive designed by Cleo Davis and Kayin Talton-Davis of Soapbox Theory in the new Jefferson building. * Although items are not required to be collected at this time, we invite guests to bring items to be included in the archive and share about them to the audience. Guests featuring objects in the show and tell are not required to pay admittance to the event.

2p (doors at 1:30p) Remembering the Legacy of the Black Panther Party in Portland. Led By Mr Kent Ford Come hear Mr Kent Ford, founding member of Portland's chapter of the '60s-era black empowerment organization, share his personal memories of revolutionary activism, defending the community from police violence as well as organizing free breakfasts for children and health clinics. We will screen the Vanport Mosaic-produced short documentary "Sting Like A Bee", produced by Lisa Serrano, Donovan Smith, and Mohammed Alkhadher - Executive producer Laura Lo Forti. The event culminates in a moderated conversation between Mr. Ford and local historians, activists and community organizers with “Points number 7, 8 & 9” a panel conversation and reflection on our community’s current status in relation to policing and incarceration. Arrive early to explore informational tabling by local individuals, grassroots groups, and cultural institutions committed to social justice and advancing our community.

6p (doors at 5:30p) screening of SOUL’D: the economics of our Black bodies (the Joy edition) a new performance piece adapted for film, engaging questions of how our Black bodies have participated in the American Economic Dream. Devised by a cohort of local Black performers, designers and filmmakers.

Host or Publisher Vanport Mosaic