Community Events
If We Could Talk Art Exhibit at The BLACK Gallery
Visiting hours are Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 5pm. Please request an appointment by sending an email to info@theblackgallerypdx.com
If We Could Talk is a storytelling exhibit debuting at The BLACK Gallery that explores what ‘home’ means to members of a Portland community that’s been profoundly impacted by gentrification. If We Could Talk is a socially engaged photography and writing project that blends history, race and place. Many of the featured artists are members of North and Northeast Portland’s displaced Black community who have reclaimed their roots through the city’s North/Northeast Preference Policy. The policy informs the eligibility criteria for the Dr. Darrell Millner Building on North Interstate Avenue, where the artists live.
Curated by Domenic Toliver and Gwen Hoeffgen.
Photo by Duanice Davis
Photo by Wynter Forbes
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Closing reception: If We Could Talk
A storytelling exhibit at The BLACK Gallery explores what ‘home’ means to members of a Portland community that’s been profoundly impacted by gentrification.
If We Could Talk is a socially engaged photography and writing project that blends history, race and place.
Many of the featured artists are members of North and Northeast Portland’s displaced Black community who have reclaimed their roots through the city’s North/Northeast Preference Policy. The policy informs the eligibility criteria for the Dr. Darrell Millner Building on North Interstate Avenue, where the artists live.
On view through February 16 at The BLACK Gallery at 916 NW Flanders St Portland, OR 97209
Photo by Valencia Edwards
"For Artists of Color" Student Exhibition at The BLACK Gallery
For Artists of Color
An Unaffiliated Exhibition of Student artwork, By and for Students of Color hosted by The Black Gallery
Exhibition Dates: February 22nd, 2026 - March 7th, 2026
Opening Reception: First Thursday, March 5th 2026 6pm - 9pm
What is art without activism? What is art without resistance? What is art without protest?
For Artists of Color is an exhibition showcasing artwork from local Portland-Based artists. This exhibition is curated exclusively by and for students of color. On February 14th, 2025 a letter was sent out by the United States Department of Education. This letter imposed a view of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as being discriminatory towards white students because they cannot "equally benefit” from race and ethnicity based measures that intended to create a more equitable playing field for students of color.
Many universities and arts organizations pushed back and fought against this letter, suing the department of education. The students in this exhibition were told that their institution wasn't fighting for them. Rather than support their community of student artists and defend their right to hold exhibitions solely for the Black, Indigenous and community of color they were told they couldn't. This exhibition stands as a counter, a push back against them, if you don’t want our community then you won't have us.
Please request appointments by emailing info@theblackgallerypdx.com Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 5pm.
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday,February 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Friday, March 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday, May 23 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Portland in Black: Free Archiving Workshop with Don't Shoot Portland!
Join us for a hands-on community archiving session to preserve personal and collective histories. In partnership with City of PDX Archives.
Archiving Is Resistance ✊🏾 Memory Work Matters!
Join us for a series of hands-on community archiving sessions to preserve personal and collective histories. Memory workers from Don’t Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives will be on-site to offer guidance. Coffee and light refreshments provided.
☕️ Coffee and Collections
Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory & Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 400 | Portland, OR 97203
________________
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX is an extension of this programming, centering art as activism to showcase underrepresented artists. @dontshootpdx @theblackgallerypdx
12th Annual Reclaim MLK March
We're gathering at 12PM and leaving the park by 1PM. Dr. King taught us the power of collective action and the importance of lifting every voice. If you feel moved to share your truth or offer words of hope, let us know—your voice deserves to be heard.
For more information or to get involved, please email contact@dontshootpdx.org
PNCA x DSPDX Reclaim MLK Art Build!
Join Don't Shoot PDX for a Community Art Build for the 12th Annual Reclaim MLK March!
Join Don't Shoot PDX for an afternoon of community creativity, art-making, mutual aid, and conversation! This is an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to a collective effort that aims to bring about positive change in our community.
This is a family-friendly event.
Everyone is welcome!
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock
The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland presents a new exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by local photographer Tonita Cervantes. Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective of the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock honors the courage, resilience, and unity of the Indigenous water protectors who stood against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Through powerful imagery, Cervantes’ collection of work bears witness to the historic movement that has continued to spark global calls for environmental justice and Indigenous sovereignty. This exhibit invites reflection, remembrance, and solidarity with those who continue to defend the sacred — the land, the water, and the future generations.
Email info@theblackgallerypdx.com to schedule your visit Thursdays through Sundays until December 4 from 12 to 5pm.
About the Artist:
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity. As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging. After spending years in Hollywood as a casting director and feeling spiritually unfulfilled, she left the studio and picked up a camera. It was time to tell the stories of those who don’t have a voice, illustrating their viewpoint rather than casting for commercials that promote consumer products that nobody needs. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes. She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future. In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.” Website: https://www.cervantesnomad.photography
Last March Out Of Standing Rock, 2017
Not Black Friday Free Meal Program
Don’t Shoot Portlands’ annual Not Black Friday addresses food insecurity by promoting care over capitalism.
We have converted our DSPDX Annex into a free community pantry (927 NW Everett St) and are now expanding this years’ free meal program to meet our communities needs. We’re grateful to once again make these meals a reality by collaborating with chef Ricky Bella of Palomar restaurant!
This Nov 28 on Not Black Friday, if you know someone in need of a free meal, please email us at socialoutreach@dontshootpdx.org with the number of meals, how to contact them and any dietary or allergy restrictions.
If you’re interested in volunteering with us to deliver meals, please email socialoutreach@dontshootpdx.org with your availability.
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Don't Shoot PDX: Community Art Build + Artist Talk with Tonita Cervantes
Join Don't Shoot PDX for an afternoon of community creativity, art-making, mutual aid, and conversation! This is an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to a collective effort that aims to bring about positive change in our community. This is a family-friendly event. Everyone is welcome!
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Community Art Build + Screenprinting
Art Build, button making, and mutual aid tabling in the Atrium and Hallway
Screenprinting signs for Don’t Shoot PDX’s annual Reclaim MLK March in January!
Advocacy aligned organizations and individuals should contact us at contact@dontshootpdx.org to get involved.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Artist Talk with Tonita Cervantes
Photographer and photojournalist Tonita Cervantes will speak about her exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock, and her photography practice. The exhibit is currently on view through December 4 at The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland.
Pacific Northwest College of Art
511 NW Broadway, Portland
November 15, 2025
12PM - 3:00PM
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. @dontshootpdx
Tonita Cervantes
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity. As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging.
After spending years in Hollywood as a casting director and feeling spiritually unfulfilled, she left the studio and picked up a camera. It was time to tell the stories of those who don’t have a voice, illustrating their viewpoint rather than casting for commercials that promote consumer products that nobody needs. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes. She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future. In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.”
I Dream a World: Black Women Speak | The Listening Sessions
Join us for an evening of community, soul food, and spiritual nourishment as we listen to newly unearthed oral histories from I Dream a World—a sweeping archive of interviews with 75 of the most influential Black women in American history.
Created in the late 1980s by Nobel Prize winning photojournalist Brian Lanker, this body of work features voices such as Toni Morrison, Coretta Scott King, Maya Angelou, Angela Davis and many others whose wisdom, courage, and lived experience shaped the political, cultural, and artistic landscape of the 20th century.
These rarely heard interviews are now available for the first time, coinciding with a poignant opportunity for reflection and courage to create a better world. We are honored to host this intimate listening session centering these rare interviews, exclusively granted by the Lanker Estate and the University of Oregon Libraries.
Tickets are tax-deductible donations that will go directly to support The Black Memory + Preservation Lab.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
Fully catered gourmet soul food from Kee's Loaded Kitchen is included with entry.
About Don't Shoot Portland:
Don’t Shoot Portland is an arts and education organization that promotes social justice and civic participation. Our mission is to harness the power of creative expression to inspire, educate, and mobilize communities towards equity, justice, and transformative social impact. www.dontshootpdx.org / @dontshootpdx
About The Black Memory & Preservation Lab:
The Black Memory Lab, an expansion of Don’t Shoot Portland’s grassroots programming, is a living archive dedicated to preserving and uplifting Black history, art, and cultural memory. Located in the Center for Social Justice in Portland, the Black Memory Lab provides a home for community archives, rare books, and cultural preservation, supporting artists, historians, and activists in protecting stories that shape our collective understanding of race, gender, and class. Through its Liberated Archives initiative, the Black Memory Lab safeguards the past to empower the future. www.memorywork.uoregon.edu
About I Dream a World:
Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Brian Lanker spent over two years interviewing and photographing remarkable Black women who profoundly influenced 20th-century American culture. He completed a series of 75 portraits and hundreds of oral histories which were assembled in a book published in 1989 and an exhibition, both titled I Dream a World: Portraits of Black Women Who Changed America. Featured women include Maya Angelou, Lena Horne, Betty Shabazz, Cecily Tyson, Althea Gibson, Toni Morrison, Ruby Dee, Coretta Scott King, Oprah Winfrey, and Septima Poinsette Clark and many more.
Portland in Black: Documenting Our Lives in the City of Roses
Portland City Archives and Don’t Shoot PDX are partnering on a series of events designed to grow community connections, build archival skills, and create a foundation to ensure community stories are accessible for future generations.
Join us for the kickoff event, Coffee and Collections, on November 14th from 10am to 12pm. This community archiving event is an opportunity to work on personal archiving projects, chat with community members, and receive guidance from the memory workers at Don't Shoot PDX and the Portland City Archives.
Light refreshments will be provided - All Are Welcome!
Coffee and Collections
Friday, November 14, 2025
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
The Black Memory and Preservation Lab
510 SW 3rd Avenue
Open Hours at the Black Cultural Library
BLACK MEMORY AND PRESERVATION LAB
POWERED BY DON’T SHOOT PORTLAND
Our reference library holds an expansive collection of rare and limited literary works from civil rights advocates, artists and scholars.
The Black Cultural Library will host open hours on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, but is also available for groups or research appointments.
For more information or to schedule your visit outside of our open hours, please email blackmemorylab@dontshootpdx.org
Photo by Mika Martinez for Don’t Shoot Portland
BLACK SNAKE KILLAZ: A RETROSPECTIVE ON THE INDIGENOUS-LED MOVEMENT AT STANDING ROCK
The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland presents a new exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by local photographer Tonita Cervantes. This exhibit will honor the fight for indigenous sovereignty and uplift the anniversary of those who defended the land as water protectors at the Standing Rock reservation.
Last March Out Of Standing Rock, 2017
Angry Bird Reconnaissance, 2016
Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock
The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland presents a new exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by local photographer Tonita Cervantes.
This exhibit will honor the fight for indigenous sovereignty and uplift the anniversary of those who defended the land as water protectors at the Standing Rock reservation.
Please join us for an opening reception on Thursday, October 2 from 5 to 7pm. The exhibit will remain open by appointment on Thursdays through Sundays until December 4.
About the Artist:
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity.
As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging.
After spending years in Hollywood as a casting director and feeling spiritually unfulfilled, she left the studio and picked up a camera. It was time to tell the stories of those who don’t have a voice, illustrating their viewpoint rather than casting for commercials that promote consumer products that nobody needs. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes.
She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future.
In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.” Website: https://www.cervantesnomad.photography
Last March Out Of Standing Rock, 2017
About the Artist:
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity.
As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging.
After spending years in Hollywood as a casting director and feeling spiritually unfulfilled, she left the studio and picked up a camera. It was time to tell the stories of those who don’t have a voice, illustrating their viewpoint rather than casting for commercials that promote consumer products that nobody needs. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes.
She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future.
In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.” Website: https://www.cervantesnomad.photography
Lost Child Camp Stand Off, 2017
Angry Bird Reconnaissance, 2016
Open House: Black Cultural Library!
Come join Don’t Shoot Portland for an open house at our newest office location, the Black Memory & Preservation Lab! This vision has been years in the making and we are truly grateful to have a dedicated location for our archival digitizing work as well as our collection of arts and literature.
Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 2pm
Black Memory & Preservation Lab inside of the Center for Social Justice | 510 SW Third Avenue
FREE RSVP via Eventbrite
We are inviting our community to immerse themselves in Black literature, art and knowledge passed down by generations of storytellers, activists and intellectuals. Our library collection is also home to books highlighting the resistance of oppressed peoples throughout the world, not only within the Black Diaspora - serving as a constant reminder of our shared struggles and solidarity.
Vintage titles, limited editions and even rare vinyl records will be on display for you to read and listen to. Our library is open to all and light refreshments will be provided - we hope to have you join us for this special occasion!
Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock
The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland presents a new exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by local photographer Tonita Cervantes.
This exhibit will honor the fight for indigenous sovereignty and uplift the anniversary of those who defended the land as water protectors at the Standing Rock reservation.
Please join us for an opening reception on Thursday, October 2 from 5 to 7pm.
Email info@theblackgallerypdx.com to schedule your visit Thursdays through Sundays until December 4 from 12 to 5pm.
Last March Out Of Standing Rock, 2017
About the Artist:
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity.
As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging.
After spending years in Hollywood as a casting director and feeling spiritually unfulfilled, she left the studio and picked up a camera. It was time to tell the stories of those who don’t have a voice, illustrating their viewpoint rather than casting for commercials that promote consumer products that nobody needs. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes.
She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future.
In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.” Website: https://www.cervantesnomad.photography
Lost Child Camp Stand Off, 2017
Support Those Who Support You, 2017
Angry Bird Reconnaissance, 2016
Reflect + Remember: A Retreat with Don't Shoot PDX
In liberation work, flowers are more than decoration. They are acts of memory, tools of resistance, and seeds of rebirth. Their quiet power disrupts erasure, asserts dignity, and helps communities grieve, dream, and organize.
Join Don't Shoot Portland at Sunblossom Farm for craft activities including flower pressing, flower picking, and more.
All ages welcome!
RSVP
Justice for Hakiym press conference
Justice For Hakiym Rally
Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. to noon
The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot PDX
Brian “Hakiym” Simpson has been wrongfully imprisoned at Snake River Correctional Institution for over a year, a facility known for its violence and racial segregation. He’s a father, poet, and Oregon firefighter. In 2024 he was attacked and targeted with racial slurs and acted in self-defense.
Convicted by an all-white jury, today Hakiym is serving nearly 6 years in prison while the other man, who admitted to starting the fight, remains free.Despite this, Hakiym works full-time in a coveted job as a prison telemarketer, continues to study and train, and remains committed to rejoining the fire service—ideally as a free man. Join us by bringing posters, statements of support, cards and artwork in support of Hakiym.
Sign the petition via Change.org here.
August 9 from 10am to 12pm
The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX | 916 NW Flanders Street Portland, OR 97209
Saving Your Archives + Our Stories Matter Workshop
Saving Your Archives + Our Stories Matter Workshop
August 8 from 12 to 2pm at The Black Memory and Preservation Lab
Don't Shoot Portland invites you to attend BETTER THAN A SHOEBOX - Preserving Your Family and Community History. This self-guided, free archiving workshop offers hands-on instruction from experienced archivists, oral history experts, and community memory workers to ensure our community stories are accessible for generations to come.
Each attendee will be provided with an archival supply kit to get them started on their preservation journey. Free to the public | RSVP
Graffiti As Resistance: Opening Reception
Photo by Mika Martinez
Graffiti As Resistance
at the black gallery powered by dspdx
August 7 to September 4
Graffiti As Resistance is a photographic exhibition featuring the plywood mural panels from the Apple Store in downtown Portland. Previously shown at PCC in December 2024, the panels became a space for memorializing lives lost to police brutality, racial discrimination and state violence. This exhibit centers those most impacted while amplifying ongoing calls for racial justice from past and present.
Photographs of the murals and accompanying research, including a de-stall process report from conservator Samantha Springer, will also be on display.
The Apple store panels began as a mural by local artist Emma Berger before growing to hold countless artistic responses that included calls to action from community members participating in the 2020 uprising and memorials to many of the Black lives that have been lost in Portland.
Artists known:
Emma Berger / @flatrabbitstudio
Atliöúx Tchèn / @atliouxart
Damon Smyth / @damonsmythart
Sagan Newham / @sagangenesis
Jenn Thompson / @yslives
Salomee Souag / @_________solace
Valerie Wrede
Did you contribute to these murals in any way? If so, your contribution to what became a community art project is historic and essential to the catalogue. Did you leave notes, signs, make stickers, wheat paste, or add writing to the walls? Even if you brought flowers and candles, you were apart of this social response. Please consider filling out our encrypted form here.
Photo by Mika Martinez
Photo by Mika Martinez
Common Unity Day at Hughes Community Church
Join us as we support a free Community Unity Day on Saturday July 26 from 12 to 5pm at Hughes Community Church! Direct action and advocacy are what makes communities stronger and there’s no better time to be involved than now. Donate to sustain our work here, sign up to join a committee or email contact@dontshootpdx.org to support Community Unity Day.
If you’ve been interested in our Food Forest initiative, this is a great time to visit and get more information! We will also be looking for support to help clean, tidy general areas and organize the on-site free closet. We anticipate needing 7-10 volunteers for Community Unity Day - please reach out if you’re available!
BlackOut: a 5 Year Retrospective of Portland’s Racial Justice Protests
In collaboration with the Portland Mercury, writer, producer and communications consultant Donovan Scribes has published a magazine containing 12 essays & interviews exclusively featuring Black Portlanders’ reflections 5 years after the murder of George Floyd.
The special edition, BlackOut: a 5 Year Retrospective of Portland’s Racial Justice Protests, is a first-of-its kind magazine print for the Portland Mercury. To coincide with the launch, Scribes is taking the experience further by curating an entire exhibit inspired by his publication and the racial justice movement at The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX.
The BlackOut exhibit features work by Savina Monet, Ronin Roc and Sai Stone, including a commissioned coin series titled ‘Symbols Matter’, photographic moments from 100+ days of protest and an editorial timeline of the fight for Black Lives in Portland. This show offers a unique opportunity to revisit Portland’s’ 100+ days of protest for Black lives while reflecting on the progress and setbacks 5 years later as we look towards an uncertain future.
The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX
916 NW Flanders Street Portland, OR 97209
For school trips or large group visits, please send an email to info@theblackgallerypdx.com. The gallery is open Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 5pm.
Spring Break Out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Friday, March 28 from 1 to 2:30pm:
Boots on the Ground will present Self + Community: Solutions for Revolution, a day of hands-on workshops to teach attendees about direct care.
This includes the basics of critical response including basic emergency first aid, wound dressing, the importance of emotional regulation, stress tolerance, navigating interpersonal relationships and practicing radical mindfulness.
DSPDX Annex
927 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
Spring Break Out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Friday, March 28 from 10am to 3pm:
Recently locating to Portland from Atlanta, Saleam is known for his Afrocentric emphasis in the work he creates, from his background as a cartoonist to his specialized form of abstract expressionism.
Saleam will host a drop-in style art workshop open to youth of all ages. All supplies are included free of charge.
DSPDX Annex
927 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
Spring Break Out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Join Don’t Shoot PDX, Basic Rights Oregon, famed author Alice Faye Duncan, and the ACLU of Oregon to protect Oregon’s diverse voices from censorship and book bans!
‘No More Book Bans: Defending the Freedom to Read’ is an event with educators, authors, and youth to celebrate the freedom to read, think, and learn with an afternoon of art, advocacy, and community.
DSPDX Annex
927 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
Spring Break Out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Thursday, March 26
Streaming from our socials starting at 10am: @dontshootpdx
Join us for a discussion by famed author Alice Faye Duncan as she shares her experience being placed on banned lists, the wide-ranging effects of these book bans and her latest titles, including things we can all do to stay hopeful during times of change.
Alice Faye Duncan is an award-winning author, National Board educator, and speaker. Her Juneteenth book, Opal Lee and What It Means To Be Free has sold over 100,000 copies since January 2022. Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop received a Coretta Scott King Honor Medal for Illustrations in 2019. Yellow Dog Blues was a New York Times and NYPL Best Illustrated Picture Book in 2022. Evicted was a Bank Street Best Book Selection in 2022. Coretta’s Journey was a 2023 Horn Book Fanfare Selection. In that same year, Alice appeared on Good Morning America to speak about children, grief, and the comfort found in her book, This Train is Bound for Glory. Her home is that river city—Memphis, TN. For 30 years, Alice taught in the Memphis schools. She now writes full-time in service to young learners, liberation, and light. Visit her at www.alicefayeduncan.com.
Streaming on @DontShootPDXC socials at 10am.
Spring Break Out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Wednesday, March 27 from 11am to 3pm:
American Coup: Wilmington 1898 tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city in 1898 — the only coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of “Negro Rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.
Please RSVP via Eventbrite for the film screening!
DSPDX Annex
927 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
Spring Break out 2025
Our annual Spring Break Out program takes place the week of March 24 through the 28th. We will invite youth and their families to participate in free workshops focused on community education, art and civic engagement.
Wednesday, March 26 from 11am to 3pm:
Join Don’t Shoot Portland and Next Up Action Fund for a presentation on youth civic engagement as well as a screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898.
Please RSVP via Eventbrite for the film screening at tr.ee/SpringBreakOut
DSPDX Annex
927 NW Everett Street
Portland, OR 97209
