Sankofa Community Connection will officially open a location in Newport with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, November 30 at 3 pm.
The ceremony will take place at its new location at 2 Broadway in Newport, RI. Due to Covid 19 restrictions, organizers say the ribbon cutting will be held outdoors, socially distanced and attended by Executive leadership of Sankofa, Mayor Jamie Bova, Newport Chamber of Commerce, media to capture the event and a few local dignitaries.
Sankofa Community Connection’s mission is to “increase pride of place within the African American Community of Newport County , through a community-led initiative with 3 main focus areas: 1. Community events and gatherings to increase our social cohesion 2. Community Meetings where we discuss the impact of institutional racism and racial oppression to promote dialogue and create solutions to the issues 3. Historical Education to reveal, honor and celebrate the cultural heritage of African Americans of early Newport”.
Niko Merritt, Founding Executive Director said “It has taken four years and I am so proud to have a physical location where we can host our community gatherings and conduct our trainings. We will meet virtually until it is safe to resume in person meetings. For local organizations and businesses, we will offer anti-racism and implicit bias training on a regular basis. We will also continue to host community events. Sankofa is a place of pride and a space that welcomes and centers the Black Community. We have a unique relationship as both the board members and leadership of Sankofa live in, work in or are from the community that we serve. We are different than the traditional, larger non-profits as we look like the people we support, we have common lived experiences and are empathetic in situations that we have not experienced personally. The community has come to trust us, they feel safe and supported and we see them more like family than community. We will continue our support, the only thing that is different is the dedicated space to do so in.”
Board President, Ellen Pinnock said “It is with great pride that I have been asked to be a part of Sankofa Community Connection, the only Black woman run organization on Broadway. Sankofa is a much-needed space, we finally have a safe place, right in the heart of downtown Newport- where we can be our authentic selves and do the work that needs to be done to uplift our community and educate others.
Find out more about Sankofa Community Connection at www.SankofaNewport.org.