It’s Umojafest weekend in Judkins Park, parade Saturday

Umojafest 2012 starts tonight in Judkins Park and will run through Sunday, filling the park with music, food, a basketball tournament and more.

The festival kicks off with Children’s Day activities from 11-4 Friday, followed by the SHINE Talent Competition at 5.

The annual parade starts Saturday at 23rd and Union and marches down 23rd Avenue to Judkins Park. Staging starts at 11 a.m., the parade starts at 1.

From Umojafest:

“Umoja” is a Swahili word meaning “unity”, and is the main theme of the festival.  As our community and city has experienced a number of tragedies from gun violence, we value the Umoja Fest as a platform to promote peace and community building.  This year will feature several events addressing the toll that gun violence has had on our community and launching the 206-4-PEACE campaign.

206-4-PEACE is a grassroots campaign powered by several of Seattle’s positive young leaders.  The mission is to build a movement that speaks out on gun violence, positive alternatives, education, respecting others, healing and community building.

The campaign will launch on Saturday, August 4th at the Umoja Fest featuring several activities focused on promoting and end to gun violence in our communities and highlighting positive alternatives. The campaign  seeks to leverage celebrity guest speakers, live performances and free giveaways that promote employment opportunities, outreach programs and support systems. Activities include:

PEACE is Possible Parade Entry

Join the entry for peace in the Umoja Fest Parade.  Wear orange to show your unity. We are seeking to have as many people from the community as possible march in the parade in memorial to the lives that we have lost to violence and commit to working together for positive change. 

Here are some highlights from the schedule:

Children’s Day & Activities Friday (11am -4pm)

SHINE! Talent Competition (Friday, 5pm)

UNCF Walk For Education (Saturday, 9am)

Umoja Fest African Heritage Parade (Sat. Aug 4th, 1pm)

Umoja Soul of The City Stage (Saturday & Sunday)

UNCF Celebrity Cook-Off For Education (Saturday, 11am-4:30pm)

Hip Hop 4 PEACE Stage (Saturday & Sunday)

Heal The Hood Basketball Tournament (Saturday, All day)

Raise The Bar Community Fitness Challenge (Saturday, 3pm)

Gospel Fest (Sunday 1pm-4pm)

Vendor Marketplace (All Weekend)

Voter Registration Drive (Saturday & Sunday)

 

CHILDREN’S DAY

Friday, August 3rd, 11am-4pm

Art In the Park African Drum & Dance with Adefua

Adefua Cultural Education Workshop brings another spectacular year of West African Drumming, Dance and Song to the Othello Park Community. Youth will perform a Traditional Welcome Dance, with live music, and song, Kutt N UP’s Hip Hop Dance, and orchestrated selections of sounds of West African cultures.

Fitness Passport Station with the Austin Foundation

Fitness Passport is a fun way to engage youth and family of all ages in exercise and nutrition education. The activity features fitness and obstacle stations. As youth go through the different stations they receive a stamp/sticker on their passport showing they have accomplished the activity at that station.  Small prizes are awarded to participants who reach certain goals for individual obstacle and fitness stations.

Futsal clinic with Puget Sound Futsal

Founded in 2006 Puget Sound Futsal aims to be at the forefront of ushering organized Street Soccer/Futsal to the Central Area of Seattle. PSF made History on May 10, 2012 as the1rst organization of its kind to be awarded an 18th month pilot project at the Judkins Park Tennis courts. PSF’s vision is to provide a year round free open space for Steet Soccer/Futsal recreational pick up games, 4 season leagues, Tournaments, Futsal Clinics, Training sessions, Futsal Cups and freestyle soccer all ages.

Other activities include:

Arts n Crafts Station, Candy Necklace Making/Popcorn Bracelets/Fruit Loops, Umoja Mural, Face Painting, African Mask Making, Bubble Pictures, Coloring Pages, Crown Making, Popsicle stick crafts, Movin it Station, Dress up, African Clothing for boys and girls, Drumming, Musical Chairs to live drumming, Rythm and Sounds, Relay Race, Eggs on a Spoon, Math Games, Flag Football, Nature Station, Plant a Seed, Find a Fern Nature Hunt, Literacy Lounge, Library Representatives, African Storytelling

Stage:

DJ demonstration, Dance Off, Talent Showcase, Modern Dance, Rythm and Dance

The activities continue on Saturday with the always anticipated parade at 1pm.  After the parade there will be lots of fun with  Carnival Time Fun Village  There will also be arts and crafts and the fitness challenge for children and families to participate in.

For more information contact Angel Mitchell at 425.390.4826 or email [email protected]

 

UNCF Walk & Cook-off for Education

Saturday Aug. 4th, 9am-4pm

 

“PEACE is Possible” Parade Entry

Join the entry for peace in the Umoja Fest Parade.  Wear orange to show your unity. We are seeking to have as many people from the community as possible march in the parade in memorial to the lives that we have lost to violence and raise the alarm on this state of emergency.  The purpose is to mobilize community to do the necessary work to change this situation.

 

COMMUNITY FITNESS CHALLENGE

Saturday Aug. 4th

Austin Foundation Fitness Challenge

Zummba in The Park

Capoeira Angola w/ Seattle Capoeira Center

 

Soul of The City Stage

Saturday

Global Heat

Zumba in the Park

Poetry In The Park feat.

Matthew Pollock

Nikkita Oliver

Monique Franklin

Lance Israel

Brother Kwame

UPC All Stars feat.

Kenyatto Amen & KHMET

Angel Mitchell

E-Rich

Shelton Bolter

Empty Vessels Afro Carribean All Stars

Pam & Joe Duo

Kevin Gardner & Redwine

The Descendants

88mm Films presents Chris Anderson Experience

Closing Remarks & Announcements

Sunday

Opening Announcements & Remarks

Committed Praise

New Hope Psalmist

New Bethel Choir

ONE (Eric & Megan Chaffer)

Kenisha Blackman

Moneya Woods

V.O.N.L

Tabernacle Youth Choir

Angie Shields

Greg Collins

Poetry Plus Motion

Caffeine Jazz Trio

Poetry in the Park feat.

Nick Spears

Chris C’Dubb Washington

Gina “Beans” Adams

Yolo

Bobby “Retrospective” McShan

Lady Logik

Dee.ale Poetry

88mm Film presents Chris Anderson Experience

Closing Remarks

 

HIP-HOP 4 PEACE STAGE

SATURDAY

Heal The Hood Basketball Tournament

Join the Starbucks Black Partner Network and come hoop for a cause.

Doing It In The Park B-Boy/B-Girl Battle 4 PEACE

“Doing it in the Park” will bring hip hop back to its roots of park jams and a alternative to violence, in order to bring the community together and build strong friendship and communion across the city/region. This competition will celebrate over 40 years of bboying, featuring some of the top Northwest crews. It will be a celebration of urban culture and will demonstrate how the original New York City Breakers turned their negative environment into a positive global phenomenon.

Watch the Promo Video here:

Sponsored by the UW Hip Hop Association

2v2 BBoy

1.) Styles For Miles

2.) F2 Si

3.) KOS

4.) Aristocats

5.) No Roots

6.) The Goons

7.) Certified Motion

8.) Record Junkies

9.) Battle Reflex

10.) ThisGuyDidSteps

11.) Parks and Wreck-reation

12.) Yo Yes Squad

13.) 1312 UNL

14.) Young Gunz

SHINE Talent Competition Finals

Perilini

Alex Gonzales

Kalieb Nash

SUNDAY

Suntonio Bandanaz

Metal Chocolates

M.Famous

J. Bre

Vic Hashim

Jah Jigga

King Dro

Lady Tasz

Ditta Mac

XKid

SK Studio

206 Classics

M.I.H. Studios

Si Young

Silver Shadow

Korvus

25 thoughts on “It’s Umojafest weekend in Judkins Park, parade Saturday

  1. Anyone else concerned with all trash and garbage left on the sidewalks and streets after the parade today? It seems so little respect or our community. I can undertand the happiness and enjoyment of a parade but to not clean up after yourselfs? This scenario is repeated at every event thinkable so i know its just not a CD thing…but come on people…clean up after yourselfs and have repect for our community.

  2. Our volunteers will be finishing litter pick up today. I just drove the parade rout and saw a little litter in spots along route to inspect and it’s clearly not “trashed” so please stop the negative propaganda and be part of the solution. If you have pictures of said trash you can send with location and we will pick it up.

    This is the oldest and largest cultural event promoting peace, unity and community pride in the CD and you are welcome to support and participate to make it better rather than just complaining.

  3. Umojafest on Saturday went extremely well. No issues’. Limited amounts’ of ‘trash’ are of course, a by-product of any parade. Its’ the success of any community event that matters’ and its’ results; and if your not a registered voter, please come out and sign up at Umojafest. And a huge success this will be for our community. See everyone at Judkins’ Park on Sunday!

  4. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND/S WOULD FLY MILITARY JETS OVER CIVILIAN HOUSES DOING “TRICKS”? WOULD GLADLY CHOSE PICKING UP TRASH IN AFRICATOWN AFTER THE AFRICATOWN CULTURAL PARADE OVER PICKING UP LAKE WASHINGTON BOAT RACE “BEER CAN” TRASH? ARE THE RUSSIAN AND/OR RED CHINESE “COMMUNIST” STILL COMING? DON’T FORGET TO UP GRADE OUR BOMB SHELTERS? OMARI TAHIR, 66 YEAR AFRICATOWN/CD RESIDENT AND AFRICATOWN/CD HISTORIAN (REMEMBER SLO-MO 4 AND SLO-MO 5 (TED JONES AND STAN SAYERS), MISS WAHOO (MYRO SLOVAK), MISS THRIFTWAY(BILL MUNCEY, MISS BARDAHL (RON MUNSON)CHAPIONSHIP HYDROPLANES BACK IN THE 1950S AND 1960S?? REAL HISTORY FOR YOU???

  5. Even though I have a hard time with all caps–I usually find some kernel of truth to Omari’s posts.

    I also cannot stand the noise from the Blue Angels. In my 20+ years in this neighborhood, it’s always bugged me. However, I’ve found it intolerable since I started working in the health care field. One of the first times I worked in a hospital during Seafair, I was taking care of a recent refugee from a war-torn country. This poor soul was curled in the fetal position in bed, fearing for his life. Seeing the terror in this man’s eyes that we were under attack (and trying to explain that we were OK, without an interpreter present)…no words.

    So for those of you who will inevitably call me a cranky pants/party pooper–think of all of the refugees who live in the CD. Many of them don’t have happy, patriotic feelings about jet fighters swarming overhead.

    And frankly–while I can appreciate all of the hard work the Blue Angels have done to learn amazing flying skills–we shouldn’t be glorifying armed combat.

    My two cents.

  6. My former neighbors moved here just before Seafair 2002 and thought the Blue Angels were attacking Seattle’s tall buildings as a follow-on to the World Trade Center attacks of the previous September. They were absolutely terrified.

  7. I pick up trash around the neighborhood a few times a month. It would be nice if everyone here pitched in a little bit and picked up in front of their house or business and occasionally in the parks or nearby areas.

    It’s certainly not for a lack of garbage cans. I think people that don’t care about themselves, don’t care about their neighborhood either. When other people see their litter, they get the signal that littering is ok. We can all make this a better place, by showing we care about how the neighborhood looks.

    PS: I had a great time at my first Umojafest!

  8. Really.

    I reassured them, of course, but it doesn’t seem stupid to me. They were new in town and had not heard about Seafair and its traditions. I don’t know if they had ever heard of the Blue Angels – I forget where they moved here from.

  9. Well if the immagrants “don’t have patriotic fellings” about the blue angels flying over – why are theyt here? Such a statement suggests these imaginary immigrants came from a country that they feel was attacked by the US.

    In fact, most immagrants come from countries freed by the US and our fighter planes. If you can’t deal with the miliatary issues, try to appreciate the artistic and technological display.

    Sour, sour, sour. Try to pay a little attention to the joys in life. See how the kids are inspired by speed and flight. Quit being weenies.

  10. While I’m all for Seafair having grown up going to air shows, I do know that for some Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (having been with someone the first day of Blue Angels’s rehearsal once) the sound brings up unpleasant memories and strong physical reactions, same for those who’ve moved here from countries with experience of bombing from Cambodia and Vietnam to the Czech Republic.

    PTSD isn’t a rational thing, it’s an emotionally terrifying physiological reaction that can’t be reasoned away. Bremerton military psychologists using computer game technology and simulations are working effectively to find a solution for some of our vets. They’re not weenies, nor are refugees. Their brains remember that sound as a prelude to terror, loss and injury, that’s not something that goes away because you know you’re in Seattle. Many vets without terror associations with the sound don’t have a problem with it. Depends on your experiences.

    It affects a comparatively small number of people but it is real.

  11. I can’t believe I’m going to feed the troll: Grumbo, I’ll be sure to tell this to my non-English speaking refugee patients in the future when they’re cowering in their hospital beds. “Be happy! We liberated you! How dare you have any emotion other than glee when seeing fighter jets?? And if you don’t like it, let me escort you out of the hospital bed that WE’RE PAYING FOR! How ungrateful you are.”

    Who said they weren’t relieved and appreciative of being in the US? I just said the feelings it raises for them are PTSD reactions–not the happy, “look at the cool airplanes” reaction.

    See imseee’s post–more eloquent than mine. Probably more people suffer from PTSD than we think–and not just refugees, but those who have served in the armed forces, and people who have been subject to abuse of some sort. Not logical, but who are we to tell them how they should feel??

    I also stated that I can appreciate their artistry and hard work, but I am severely bothered by the noise and dangerously low flying planes. But I have my own PTSD issues, so I guess I should just “pay attention to the joys in life”, put up and shut up.

    Have at it with further comments–I’m going out of town to enjoy my family and kids and WON’T be sitting inside, paying attention to the joys of my computer, looking for ways to invalidate peoples’ posts.

  12. I feel badly for anybody who has PTSD. It does sound terrible.

    I also see people that are petrified by my dog. They don’t want me to go for a walk in the park or go for a walk on the sidewalk because they live in fear or in some cases hatred of dogs. This is very bad for them, but, I and millions of other people are not going to lock up our dogs in the house 24/7. I’m not going to miss the air show. We are not going to close down every movie theator because somebody is afraid of movie theators. We’re not going to close down mosques or catholic churches or boy scout troops. Bad stuff happens and some people are have irrational fears. I really do feel sorry for them, but, I will not make a single concession on my living life to the fullest possible extent – as I define that. We pursue freedom specifically so that I can do that. And you can do that. Not so we have to suppress every joyous moment because it offends somebody.

    Seafair is a celebration of freedom and power. Hydroplanes, Jets, a Marathon, Parades. Other poeple are doing Umojafest – what ever that is – music, barbeque, more parades.

    The complaints here about the jets are not from anyone who is actually scared. They are people using a surrogate argument to degrade American pride. Take another look back at Omar’s statements. And krikky going on defending people who “don’t have patriotic feelings”. One weekend for an airshow that so many people enjoy. Is that too much to ask? This is the same people who are against fireworks displays. One day of the year you have to keep a closer eye on your dog.

    How about this. The library being open in the summer is offensive to me. All these people hiding indoors reading about live when they could be out enjoying it. Just kidding, but, man, I don’t meddle in your business. Stop crybabying about my SUV, my dog, my safely managed gun collection, my bicycle, my spandex panties with the cushioned crotch, my mustache, my marriage status, my townhouse, my job, my taxes (one of the few who actually pays my full 25% you paying losers disgust me and should not have a right to vote). Stop bitching about what everybody else does. In case you have not noticed I am always arguing for peoples rights to do what ever they want other than a narrow band of violent crimes and larceny.

    I am for fair trials of Patterson and Zimmerman. I am for marriage equality (If I can be married so can a man and a man, a woman and three other women, etc, etc, etc. I don’t care.) Do what ever you want so long as it is not malicious or extremely dangerous – like dumping PCBs and mercury into puget sound.

    I get really tired of the anti freedom complainers.

  13. … the closer you get to the air show itself (which is good fun) the less loud it is. The jets making turns over various parts of the city are the loudest part of the show. Sit in Leschi or Mt Baker near-ish to the lake and the sound is, largely, not near you.

    I love the air shows, myself, but having been with a vet who had a reaction, I know PTSD is real. When he can, he just leaves town as do many affected refugee groups.

    I do, though, hear your point that most people complaining aren’t in the affected groups. Complaining does seem to be a sport here, either it’s too hot or we haven’t gotten a real summer…

    (And I never read Omari’s comments anymore – he doesn’t want to communicate, he wants to rant in all caps, so I ignore him. If he wanted to communicate, I’d give him a listen. Since he’s been told over and over that all caps is off-putting and continues to do so, he knows he’s seen as ranting and posting screeds. He doesn’t care, so I don’t care to spend a second of my life reading him)

  14. Good point. I actually always leave town now. I’ve seen 10 times or more. The hydros are too quite and are not a common man’s sport. I don’t watch pro-sports much. If people I know are playing Ultimate or a neice has a soccer game – cool, I’ll watch that. I am pro-arena, but, I don’t actually care.

    I spent the weekend camped out on a small quite lake with my girlfriend, our dog, and several friends. I swam about two miles in clear calm water, rode my bike on country roads, and had a few beers on the raft. I increased my risk of skin cancer by .03% (dad died of it) and felt good. Total cost: Gasoline, and a bottle of cheap rum.

  15. ummm, Grumbo, do you really not know the difference between an immigrant (or immagrant as you say) and a refugee? Nobody was talking about immigration.

  16. Born and raised in the CD and easily as old or older than most folks here and I love the blue angels. My windows shake, car alarms go off, and it’s spectacular. Yes, people from war torn countries can be traumatized. However, my Cambodian friend’s father urinates himself if anyone knocks on the door because he thinks they’re coming for him again. My dog, who was once shot (yes, with a gun), shakes all over and is nearly catatonic on July 4th. We give him Valium to survive it. Does that mean we should cancel July 4th or never knock on a door? Good God, people.

  17. I was in a horrible car accident. I have PTSD from it. I can’t be on the freeway without freaking out, and I freak out for days in advance of knowing I will have to be on the freeway. Should we demolish freeways? Jeebus!

  18. krikky123: If you moved to the CD 20 years ago you knew what you were in for with Seafair.

  19. Plus, he might break multiple facial bones and nearly dislodge your eye conking you in the face with a bullhorn. That’s why I’m afraid to talk to him.

  20. Peace Everyone,

    first I would like to address the “trash” issue. Yes there was trash after the parade; as there is after any parade, however, volunteers for the UmojaFest went and picked up the trash before the sun went down over AfricaTown.

    Secondly, how did you support the ancestors, children, and grandchildren who owned the home(s) before you in AfricaTown? The Central district was very different place Before Regan and HIS crack! Those of us who still have families who own homes in the area of 98122 or 98144, or did own homes,come back to this part of the city because we love what they built. We have ever lasting memories.
    as for PTS, I can relate… However, we can do more to educate our New Africans ( new to America) about what happens and when. That way, they can make a conscious decision about whether they want to be in the area.

    Again, Unity is what we are striving for. We have all ready had enough of New England type people telling us we have to move to another location to celebrate our lives and the lives of our Ancestors.