Nearly one hundred Black women, community leaders, elders, and youth recently gathered for Excellence in Advocacy 2026 at the Mt. Baker Community Club, marking a convergence dedicated to honoring grassroots service, intergenerational solidarity, and long-term political power.

Organized by Colorful Communities founder Emijah Smith, Excellence In Advocacy celebrated the unsung heroines who pour into their neighborhoods daily, like community organizer Mary Smith, Elder and former State Representative Dawn Mason, and Rev. Harriett Walden. Blending holistic care like acupuncture and sound baths with strategic legislative discussions, the event exemplified how sustainable activism requires both community healing and organized action.

Reflecting the spirit of Sankofa, Jackie Vaughn of Black Women Empowerment for Life and Liberation (BWELL) highlighted an intergenerational room united to build political power. Community organizer Mary Flowers emphasized that movement work is not simply about passing a baton, but carrying it together.

Other speakers included Therapy Fund Foundation founder Ashley McGirt-Adair, Community Day Center for Children Director Lois Martin, spoken word artist Monique Franklin, and community advocates Carol Mensah, Teroshuah Thomas, and LeJayah Washington.

Anchored by Mason's moving declaration that the room represented "our ancestors' wildest dream," the gathering was both a sanctuary and a launching pad for ongoing action. As Emijah Smith made clear, Excellence in Advocacy 2026 went beyond celebration, unifying the community to wield their collective power for good.