Hey friends 👋🏾 How’s the end of summer feeling? XB Community is all about Black businesses, so this August we're highlighting Black Business Month, giving you some easy ways to support Black-owned businesses and spotlight an organization that’s been investing in the Soul of Portland for decades. As always, we have community events for you. See you inside. Events Near You From celebrations to workshops, check out these community events near you. Enjoy! Portland Hip-Hop Week

Hey friend 👋🏾 We hope you’re getting as much time in the sun as possible this summer. If you’re not, now’s a good time. Summer isn’t complete without family reunions, BBQs, games and movie nights. So, in this spirit and because we’re XB Community, we’re highlighting Black films and filmmakers right here in Portland who are amplifying our experience and building community power. Continue reading for community events (including youth-friendly ones!) Let’s dive in. Events Near

Hey friend 👋🏾 How are you really doing? As Black people, we are faced with many social barriers. They can come in systemic, health, or cultural forms. Over time, it builds up and that weight affects how we show up for ourselves and for each other. It can also quietly take a toll on our mental and physical health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and so we're creating space to talk about it honestly and highlighting some helpful resources. We also want to remember the r

Hey friends 👋🏾 It’s officially graduation season 💃🏾 and we want to say we see you, and commend all your hard work to get to this point. We also appreciate the parents, guardians, teachers, and the village that made this milestone possible. Congrats 2026 grads 👨🏾‍🎓🧑🏾‍🎓 In this edition, we are highlighting opportunities for Black students for the graduates and those already planning for next year. We are also spotlighting the Center for Black Excellence, a collaborati

Hey friends 👋🏾 We want to start by centering Earth Week, happening now. If you haven’t done this recently, we highly recommend you stop, look around and appreciate how beautiful our planet is. On our planet, every single thing is important and connected. From bees and birds to mountains and streams, to the animals at the bottom of the ocean that we will probably never know of. And because they are all important and connected, we know that we also matter and have a lot to gi

Hey friends 👋🏾 When I think about breaking barriers, my mind goes to the pioneering Black figures in sports, academia, music, art, activism and faith. Those who were the firsts to ever do it. But this month, I want to honor Jackie Robinson stepping onto that field as the first African American player in Major League Baseball's modern era, and Erin Jackson, the first Black woman to carry the U.S. flag at a Winter Olympics. These are just two names on a very long, beautiful l

Hey fam! Spring is here and the culture is moving in Portland. From powerful stories on stage to fairs in the neighborhood, Black Portland is showing up and showing out and we are here for every bit of it. PassinArt Theatre is wrapping up their powerful one-woman show Sojourner, the story of the first Black woman leader in the abolitionist movement, so if you haven't caught it yet, this weekend is your last chance. Inside this issue we're spotlighting another Black- and woman

March is Women's History Month and so today we pause to reflect on and commend the bravery and contributions of the women who gave their lives to achieving gender equality in America. We also recognize Black women who courageously stood for racial equity, and justice, paving paths that we now walk in. From the likes of Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Katherine Johnson, Shirley Chisholm and Fannie Lou Hamer, to modern day trailblazers like Tarana Burke, Serena Wil

This year marks the 100th anniversary of celebrating Black history in our nation! It is significant for many reasons, but we want to celebrate the contributions and resilience that brought us this far. This newsletter elevates the Black experience, culture, and brilliance of our community. So, sit back, enjoy and Happy Black History Month! Events Near You From concerts to film showings, we’ll help you find black joy anywhere in our beautiful city. Click on each link to learn