Flowers for Black Elders

"Flowers for Black Elders" was a 2022-2024 placemaking initiative incorporating unconditional cash payments in Northeast Portland’s historically Black Albina neighborhood. We archived, showcased, paid, and honored five Black musicians who co-founded the creative scene in Northeast Portland.

This intergenerational, multidisciplinary project was led by community–based organization Future Prairie leaders Onry & Liam Whitworth. We transformed the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC) into a vibrant hub of art, culture, and memory for local Black elder artists. 

We celebrated five Black musicians who co-created the creative soul of this community. These five artists, whose influence spanned decades and resonated internationally, shaped Portland’s musical landscape while championing social justice, community outreach, music education, and hope for displaced residents. Through "Flowers for Black Elders," we reimagined placemaking by archiving their stories, honoring their legacies, and fostering a space where their contributions thrived. We interviewed each musician about their lives, careers, and impact on Portland and beyond, and paid them a living wage for their time—a step that corrected the historic undercompensation of Black Portlanders.  

By centering Black artists in a gentrifying neighborhood, we cultivated a creative sanctuary that reflected the richness of its past and present. Housed at the IFCC, "Flowers for Black Elders" reactivated this historic site as a cultural anchor, bridging generations and communities. The exhibit shone a spotlight on five trailblazing musicians whose work countered gang violence and nurtured resilience, offering them their first career retrospectives in a city often dominated by a predominantly white and able-bodied art scene.  

Future Prairie remains committed to equity in this placemaking effort. BIPOC and queer-identified artists were at the heart of our cast and crew, bringing lived experience to a project that amplified marginalized voices. We recognized the racial tensions that linger in Portland’s historically Black neighborhoods, yet we believed in the power of art to heal and unite. This initiative challenged the status quo, created opportunities for underrepresented talent to flourish, and invited the broader community to engage with a space that mirrored our diverse world.  

As artists in residence at the IFCC, alongside Kwik Jones, Machado Mijiga, Lauren Modica, Domo Branch, the Abioto family, Breana DePriest, Aaron Spriggs, James Bullock, Brian Parham, and others, we breathed new life into this landmark. Our vision was to sustain it as a gathering place for creativity and connection. To make it happen, we sought help raising funds to host open office hours, welcoming visitors to experience "Flowers for Black Elders" firsthand. Support from OCF’s Creative Heights program laid the foundation, empowering more Oregonians to encounter innovative arts and culture. Community contributions ensured we could continue paying artists fairly, preserving their legacies, and keeping this space alive for all.  

We at Future Prairie are grateful to everyone who joined us in this journey to honor the past, reimagine the present, and build a future where every voice has a place.  

Read more at: 
https://www.nationale.us/flowers-for-black-elders-2023