The Coalition of Black Men (COBM) hosted four Graffiti removal/covering events this past summer.
The first event was in partnership with the House of Umoja. The House of Umoja is a long standing community based education organization focused on educational programs and services for African American youth. The COBM participated in the House of Umoja’s Malcolm X Birthday celebration.The celebration was held for youth and their families that participate in the House of Umoja programs. The activities included talks by community leaders on topics such as history, civic engagement and health, plus educational games and a vegetarian meal. The graffiti abatement coordinated by the COBM was the community service portion of the event. Approximately 15 to 20 youth participated, along with staff from the House of Umoja and 10 members of the COBM. The group divided into teams and removed graffiti from the brick surface and conducted light landscaping and general clean up of the site.
The second was on June 16 at the Wonder Bread Bakery outlet on the corner of Cook and N. Vancouver. That event included youth and adults that were part of the EMBODI mentorship program for elementary and middle school boys.
The third event was conducted on July 7 and included graffiti removal activities at three locations, Deans Barber Shop, re-painting Wonder Bread and a vacant house across from Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church on North Vancouver Avenue. All of the business owners provided their consent to have the COBM remove the graffiti.
The fourth graffiti event was held at the Black United Fund building on Saturday, July 21 at 29th and Alberta. In addition to four COBM members there were three youth from Y2ABC, three Portland State University students and two members of the local Graduate Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
For the remainder of the summer, COBM members visited and painted over several of the site where we conducted initial abatement efforts on at least two occasions. Local neighbors were appreciative of COBM’s diligence in the removal of the graffiti from the buildings.
If this event, or others like this, are the kinds of things you would like to do in regards to helping our young people…please consider joining up with us. We look forward to meeting you.