On April 18th, the BUF Black Lives Matter Action Ministry team welcomed councilwoman Kristina Michelle Martens as our monthly guest.
Ms. Martens started the conversation with her background and personal experience with white supremacy living in Southern California, which ultimately led her to move to Bellingham. She explained that in Bellingham, she is often the only person of color in a given environment, a very different experience to what she was used to. Once in Bellingham, Kristina became involved in social justice organizing, with help from the Chuckanut Health Foundation. Her community organizing skills propelled her to greater visibility within Bellingham, ultimately leading to a recommendation that she run for city council, which she succeeded in doing in 2020.
The conversation shifted to examining the question of how to encourage diversity in the area. It was noted that students of color attending Western Washington rarely stay in the area after graduation. Ms. Martens suggested that a community gathering place for people of color is missing and could be very beneficial for existing communities of color and would create a welcoming environment. Finally, Ms. Martens discussed a memorial for George Floyd at Fouts Park on May 25.
