Alaska Black Caucus welcomes community at preliminary ribbon cutting

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A preliminary ribbon cutting of a new building dedicated to People of Color in Anchorage opened their doors Saturday, November 9. Despite the building being unfinished, supporters were thrilled.

The Alaska Black Caucus began renovations on the Equity Center downtown in 2021. ABC estimates funding from community members and a variety of donations to total around $3 million.

Located on Barrow Street, the new Equity Center houses a commercial kitchen and conference room – and according to ABC will offer office spaces and co-working facilities. ABC says their vision is to serve Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Anchorage.

Renovations are not yet complete, contractors working on the renovations said they’re still waiting for things like cabinets and light fixtures. Celeste Hodge Growden, President and CEO of ABC, believed it was time to let the community see their progress.

During speeches from a wide array of supporters, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, Police Chief Sean Case, Rasmussen Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Guess and Anchorage Assembly member Christopher Constant, all expressed their gratitude for being invited to participate in what they believed to be a step toward unity in Anchorage and their pleasure in being able to fund the Equity Center.

“There are places out there, but they’re not our space.” Hodge Growden said the building represents safety and sanctuary for People of Color in Anchorage. “It’s a place where we can invite our leaders and others in the community to work to resolve issues surrounding health, economics, education and justice.”

During remarks, Reverend Edwinia Brown Patterson said it is those issues the Equity Center is built on:

“I‘m going to teach you a word, so when people ask you ’What is the Equity Center?’ You can say ‘Golly JEEH, yes!’“ Brown Patterson said. ”Justice, Education, Economics, and Health…JEEH!”

Hodge Growden expects the building to be completely finished by early December. She says the ABC has an ambitious agenda. She said weekly community conversations, the Bettye Davis African American Summit and Black History Month are all coming quickly – but the building is intended to be a space for BIPOC organizations to operate out of, and there will likely be many using the center for their own events soon.

Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.