Innovative Programming and Partnerships to Engage Learning, New Experiences, and a Broader Vision of History and Cultural Inclusiveness
There are a few new activities that have occurred over the last few months of 2015 that I wanted to share with my community of interest. This means folks like you, whom I share information with from time to time.
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To kick off the summer beach season, I was asked to write an article in The Argonaut newspaper on the history of the Jim Crow era, African American beach site in Santa Monica. Fortunately I was able to include a promo for Nick Gabaldón Day 2015, Saturday, May 30 towards the end of the article.
At the May 30 event the Black Surfers Collective, the Surf Bus Foundation, Los Angeles County 3rd District Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Heal The Bay, the Santa Monica Conservancy, Body Glove, Los Angeles County Lifeguards and the City of Santa Monica offered a day of surf lessons, beach exploration, history lessons and more for young and old to commemorate the life of Nick Gabaldón (1927–1951) and other African American pioneers. After you read the Argonaut article, for more info on the event, go to BlackSurfersCollective.org.
If you missed the May 30 event, the BSC will offer free surfing lessons and family fun at Pan African Beach Days the second Sunday of the month–July 12, August 9, September 13 and October 11–at Santa Monica beach near Tower 29. Go to the Black Surfers Collective website for details. Hope to see you there.
Innovative programming to inspire, engage and empower youth to help build personal experiences with natural, cultural and historical heritage that are the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of engaged citizens. Middle school boys mentored by Concerned Black Men Cares, LA have a fulfilling day at the beach learning about history and ocean stewardship, and how to surf at Nick Gabaldon Day 2014 at the historic Inkwell at Bay Street in Santa Monica. Maurice Bunton, the group’s program manager said recently, “the young men mentioned this event as their favorite of last year. When the thought of participating in Nick Gabaldon Day 2015 was discussed, the boys nearly went through the roof with excitement. The boys were really wowed with the black history made real at the event last year, and their excitement to participate again this year went through the roof.” Photograph by Maurice Bunton, Program Manager, Concerned Black Men Cares, LA.
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Woman surfers strutted their stuff for Women’s International Surfing Month (May 2015)! The Wahine Project developed a beautiful poster to remind folks to check out the stories of women who surf. For more information on the organization’s efforts and programs, check here.
To celebrate the California African American experience in the California Dream, and to raise money for the Los Angeles County Junior Lifeguard Program, the Black Surfing Association, Malibu Surfing Association and other groups held the first Nick Gabaldón Charity Paddlethon on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The groups putting on the event raised a nice chunk of change to help the youth towards developing today, and into the future.
Hanging out on the sand at Santa Monica’s historic Bay Steet/Inkwell beach the 2015 Nick Gabaldon Memorial Paddlethon, Saturday, February 28, 2015.
L to R: Bill Kalmenson, Malcolm Carson and Alison Rose Jefferson.
It was a nice, but windy day at Santa Monica’s Bay Street, Jim Crow era African American beach site, formerly known as “Inkwell.” I was honored to be a participant in this new programming.
Fun was had by the paddlers in the ocean contest, observers on the sand and by all at lunch at Rusty’s Surf Ranch Restaurant on Santa Monica Pier. Some new friends were made, and reacquaintance occurred with some others. Live music at Rusty’s included the soulful acoustic Donny Wonderful and friends, and the reggae band, Pacific Coast High.
See the short film that Malibu Under Dogs made of different segments of the day’s program on the beach and at Rusty’s on Santa Monica Pier. Featured in the film are: Alison Rose Jefferson, Remy Smith, Allen Sarlo, Barry Roach, Tony Corley, John Hinkle, Rube Escalante, Jean Pierre Pereat, The Malibu Under Dogs and Nick Gabaldón.
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