Dr. Angela Griffin on Black Power, Eradicating Poverty, and Why Saturday’s Gala is a Must-Attend Moment
When The Big O Show goes live on Converge Media, it isn't an everyday occurrence. We save it for moments of immense gravity and community significance. Sitting down in the Black Media Matters Studio with Dr. Angela Griffin, Chief Executive Officer of Byrd Barr Place, delivered exactly that.
With Byrd Barr Place’s annual Legacy in Motion Gala taking place this Saturday, October 10th, at the Hyatt Regency Seattle, Dr. Griffin joined host Omari Salisbury to discuss over six decades of grassroots resistance, the evolution of Seattle’s Central District, and why this weekend’s gathering is far more than a traditional fundraising dinner.
A 62-Year Legacy Rooted in the Central District
To understand Byrd Barr Place today, you have to understand where it started. Founded in 1964 as the Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP), the agency emerged during the height of the Civil Rights Movement.
"We were founded in the Central District 62 years ago by the Black Panthers, the Urban League, and the NAACP," Dr. Griffin said. "It was at a time when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had convinced the federal government to put money towards anti-poverty work in communities like the Central District... CAMP was a hub. It was a place where people went to laugh and dance and play and learn."
From providing youth programs and reentry support to being the lifeline for utility and heating assistance, a service thousands of Seattle residents still rely on today, CAMP was the heartbeat of Black Seattle.
When the organization transitioned its name to honor Roberta Byrd Barr, it anchored itself in the legacy of a true trailblazer. Byrd Barr was not only a renowned educator and the first Black principal at Lincoln High School, but she also made history as the first Black television host in Seattle with her 1960s show Face to Face.
"She was an activist, an advocate, an educator," Dr. Griffin said of Byrd Barr. "She was the author of CAMP's newspaper, which was called The Trumpet. We’ve brought The Trumpet back, but we're doing it with media now... Carrying her legacy forward is central to everything we do."
What Does Thriving Actually Look Like?
While emergency utility relief and food security remain key safety nets, Dr. Griffin made it clear that Byrd Barr Place’s ultimate goal is much larger: eradicating generational poverty.
"I have people who come into Byrd Barr Place all the time, and they tell the story about how 'my mother and my grandmother and my great-grandmother came here for services, and now I'm here for services,'" Dr. Griffin said. "That says to me that we haven't eradicated generational poverty."
For Dr. Griffin and her team, shifting toward a "Whole Family Approach" means measuring success by how families transition out of crisis and into economic self-determination.
"What thriving looks like is that individual coming in the door and saying, 'Can I volunteer?' or 'I'm looking for a job here. I want to be a part of giving back to the community because I have been able to use the brilliance of the shoulders that I've grown up on to transcend that into work, volunteerism, or philanthropy,'” she said. “It's really about breaking down those structural things that keep our community impoverished, but also giving people hope that they can live beyond what their generational past may have been."
Standing Unapologetically Bold for Black Washingtonians
In a national political and economic landscape where many organizations are scaling back their focus on racial equity due to fear of pushback or lost funding, Byrd Barr Place is doing the exact opposite.
"We actually put 'Black' back into our mission statement when we were told that there was a potential we could lose funding," Dr. Griffin said. "You give me a challenge, I'm going to take it. The opportunity to stand firmly on our foundation, our roots of being a 'by and for' Black organization, was critical at this time.”
Through quantitative policy research, statewide community needs assessments, and direct advocacy in Olympia and Washington D.C., Byrd Barr Place continues to ensure that Black families across King County and the entire state of Washington are not left out of key legislative and economic decisions.
Why You Need to Be in the Room This Saturday
The annual Legacy in Motion Gala is an intentional space created to convene, celebrate, and activate community power.
Past galas have featured icons like political activist Angela Davis and civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. This year, Byrd Barr Place is bringing renowned scholar, author, ordained minister, and public intellectual Dr. Michael Eric Dyson to the stage for a fireside chat facilitated by Converge Media co-founder Omari Salisbury.
"We are bringing Dr. Michael Eric Dyson to the stage to really activate community," Dr. Griffin said. "With what's happening within our local community, we need to hear from him... It's really less about the raising of money, and more about celebrating our community and activating people to make real change happen."
And when it comes to the vibe of the evening? Expect nothing less than Black excellence.
"We're asking people to dress up as Black Tie formal. Come dressed to impress!" Dr. Griffin said. "We're going to impress people, we're going to have fun, we have our Dessert Dash, great food, and an afterparty with a DJ and dancing. We just celebrate our Blackness. We are so brilliant, and we need time to be with each other and remind each other that we can have fun and that we are great."
Event Details & Ticket Information
Tickets are moving fast, and this is a night Seattle will be talking about for years to come. Join community leaders, advocates, visionaries, and neighbors for an unforgettable evening of purpose, connection, and celebration.
Event: Byrd Barr Place Legacy in Motion Gala 2026
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 5 PM – 9 PM (Afterparty from 9 PM – Midnight)
Location: Hyatt Regency Seattle (808 Howell St, Seattle, WA)
Attire: Black Tie / Black Excellence
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Michael Eric Dyson
Fireside Moderator: Omari Salisbury
Visit byrdbarrplace.org or get tickets directly at onecau.se/legacyinmotiongala to secure your seat today.
Looking to book a space for your upcoming event? Check out Colman Commons for all your event space needs at colmancommons.com
