A vibrant, intergenerational celebration of Black storytelling, legacy, and cultural resistance, survival and sovereignty through literature, live performance, food, and community engagement. This gathering responds directly to the City of Olympia’s ongoing Rebecca Howard Park project and calls for deeper, trust-centered investment in Black voices and presence.
The event will feature a Black author showcase provided by Timberland Regional Library, live readings and performances by local Black authors, poets, storytellers, & Elders, and Black owned food vendors from Thurston County. This gathering is rooted in a deep intention to honor the Black presence in Olympia—not only as a historical fact but as a living, breathing part of the city’s cultural and civic landscape.
We Were Here Before the State is both a remembrance of Rebecca and Alexander Howard and a declaration of their continued presence. It centers the voices, stories, and lived experiences of Black communities that have long shaped this land—often invisibly, and often without the recognition they deserve.
Presented by BlackAss Foodways Culturist
Sponsored by Colloquate, ABLE for The Rebecca Howard Park Project, Growing Home Collective, Traditions, Mourning Drum
