By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In celebration of 60 years of hard and dedicated work, Byrd Barr Place (Byrd Barr), a local nonprofit organization that helps build pathways to self-sufficiency, will host its 60th anniversary Diamond Gala on Saturday, October 5, at the Fairmont Hotel, 411 University Street in Seattle.
Legendary civil rights leader Angela Davis will serve as the keynote speaker for the event, which will feature a champagne reception, great music, exquisite food, and an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate and show their support for a community-based organization that has meant so much to so many people for 60 years.
According to Jacqueline Hamilton, Impact Coordinator at Byrd Barr Place, it is only fitting that Davis provides the keynote address for the event because the mission and much of the work of Byrd Barr Place over the years were inspired by civil rights champions like Angela Davis, Roberta Byrd Barr, and others.
“We are having a full program for the Gala, and our keynote speaker is going to be Angela Davis,” says Hamilton. “The programming will focus on both the past, honoring CAMP and all the leaders that came before us, but also looking ahead to the future and the programs that we hope to do. We are just two weeks away, and we are very excited to celebrate the last 60 years.”
Named in honor of legendary Seattle civil rights leader Roberta Byrd Barr, the organization was originally founded as the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) in 1964 by several Black-led organizations in the Central District area, like the Urban League and the Black Panther Party. Byrd Barr’s mission has been, and continues to be, part of the movement to eradicate poverty in the community.
According to CEO Dr. Angela Griffin, Byrd Barr Place has always been a place for the Black community to come for fun activities, organizing, and advocacy.
“At the time when we were founded, the Seattle Central District was about 76 percent Black,” says Griffin. “We were the hub in the Central District for the Black community, and we still are.”
“The organization as a whole has 60 years of presence in the community. We stayed in the community; we continue to be a resource and an access point,” added Griffin. “We continue to convene and make sure that individuals are able to share their voice and share their perspective on their needs in the community.”
Although she’s only been with the organization for about four months, Hamilton says that it is an honor and a privilege to work at Byrd Barr and be part of the planning team for the event.
“I came on right as we were starting up our 60th-anniversary events. This past summer has primarily been focused on getting ourselves back into the community, letting people know that we are still carrying the values and the foundation that we started as CAMP,” says Hamilton.
Part of the reconnection plan for the community included a 60th-anniversary block party held in July and a blueprint for change panel discussion where they talked about how Black organizations can better be served by philanthropists and funding organizations.
Both Griffin and Hamilton agree that it is a major achievement for the organization to still be around serving the community 60 years after it was established, especially since many other Black-led organizations that were active back then are no longer around.
“It is quite an achievement to be able to be a Black-focused and Black-led organization that has lasted so long,” says Hamilton.
“There are not many Black-led organizations around,” says Griffin. “It is a big deal for us to celebrate 60 years because we know where our foundation is, we know who built this organization, and so we always want to look back and remember and remind ourselves where we came from, so that as we move forward, we have that strength and foundation to build upon and carry forth.”
In order to continue assisting the community and making a more equitable Washington for all, Griffin believes that Byrd Barr needs to continue being a place where community members can come and have access to multiple resources that they need to better their lives or current situation.
“We need to continue to share resources and power in our community,” says Griffin. “When an individual comes through our doors, we don’t want to just give them a bag of food and send them on their way. We want to get to know them and be able to provide resources for all different types of support, from housing to child support. We want to strengthen each individual, but also whole families.”
Hamilton agrees and says that the work Byrd Barr Place does is needed just as much today as it was 60 years ago.
“Following on what Dr. Griffin said, the work is continuing; it still needs us, our engagement, and our attention, and we hope to bring people back into Seattle,” says Hamilton.
Tickets for the event are available on the organization’s website at