The time to build community and power has always been now! Gather with us to learn more about how we can show up for each other - not only in moments of crisis, but in the ongoing struggle towards liberation. We'll break bread and organize our ideas, relationships, and skills to create the communities of care we long to live in.

Come through and bring your people. All are welcome and food will be provided. Please RSVP to help us plan the gathering HERE. We look forward to connecting with y'all! #ThePeopleGotThePeople

ACCESS AND SAFETY NOTES

🌱 Main entrance into the library is accessible by curb ramp on Tacoma Ave. Our meeting room is accessible by elevator. We will have volunteers present to guide you to the right place. All-gender restroom stall is available on-site and is located nearby our meeting room.

🌱 COVID, flu, and other airborne viruses are active currently and year-round. Please keep your mask on at all times except when eating or drinking in the designated, separate eating area.

• Surgical masks & respirators will be provided, but please note that respirators with a tight fit are most effective at preventing spread and inhalation of airborne particles.

🌱 Air purification will be provided to increase indoor air quality.

• We will be using multiple HEPA filtered air purifier units and Corsi-Rosenthal air purifiers with MERV-13 filters. A separate, nearby area from our main meeting room will be designated for eating and drinking.

• Please enjoy food and drinks safely and in the designated areas only (not our main meeting room).

🌱 We will have a comfortable nook with books, toys, plushies, and simple crafts in the main meeting room for families with young children or anyone looking for a "flex space" to chill out without having to leave our space. Our volunteers will be making sure the nook is cared for and attended to throughout the event.

Questions? Submit a question to us through the RSVP form HERE.

We’re putting on a youth vendor market at @parabletacoma on Sat, 8/3 from 12-3pm featuring QTBIPOC youth entrepreneurs and creatives! Calling all youth 18 and under — apply to vend by 7/21 at tinyurl.com/youthmarket253. Tacoma-based applications will be prioritized and *no vendor fees* will be charged to selected applicants. Thank you to Parable for sponsoring this special event and for being our dreaming partner!

Market details:
💛 Free and open to all
💛 Good vibes and refreshments
💛 In the interest of collective care, masks will be required and provided; air purification will be provided for maximum indoor ventilation. ADA-accessible space and entrance on 35th st. All gender, single stall restroom on-site.

Address: 3502 McKinley Ave #A, Tacoma WA 98404

Lock in the date and come shop from local young entrepreneurs this summer!

Join us for live performances by the contestants of our Abolition Art Slam. There will be a community panel of judges and a live People’s Vote to determine who takes 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. All contestants will receive a special recognition gift.

The event is free and all community members are invited. Light refreshments will be provided.

Parable is located at 3502 McKinley Ave and is accessible via a paved sidewalk. The space is ADA-accessible and offers all-gender, single-stall restrooms. In the interest of collective care, masks will be required (and provided) and air purifiers will be utilized for maximum ventilation. Questions? Email us at thepeoplesassembly253@gmail.com.

Sign up here!

We’re excited to bring you our 5th annual Know Your Rights Youth Summit on Saturday , February 11th from 12 - 3pm PST! The day will be packed with live performances and dynamic youth and community-led workshops on how to use your voice and power for creating, healing, and organizing for change. The summit is free and open to youth ages 10-19* and will be hosted at Tacoma Community College (Building 11 - ADA-accessible. Enter through Parking Lot D for most accessible pathway to the building.).

In the interest of collective care, masks will be required (and provided) and air purifiers will be provided throughout the spaces for maximum ventilation. All-gender restrooms are provided and a quiet “sanctuary” room will be available for breaks and breathers. If you need transportation to the event, let us know in the registration form - we’ll be providing a private bus to and from Tacoma Community College at designated pick-up points on the Hilltop, the Eastside, and South Tacoma neighborhoods.

(*Siblings outside of the age range are welcome; we’ll also consider other youth outside of the age range - please just email us so we can ensure a supportive learning experience and engagement Questions about access? Please email us a message.)

Interested in volunteering? We’ll need help with set up, take down, food prep/lunchtime duties, and general all-day support. Sign up here.

Open to youth interested in the Abolition Art Slam, this free online workshop will include a space to learn more about the art of past/current activists, artists, and freedom fighters. This is a great opportunity to brainstorm and bounce ideas off of each other. This session is OPTIONAL, but youth are encouraged to attend! The workshop will be hosted on Zoom in the English language and will be closed captioned.

Sign up at: tinyurl.com/practice253.

Register at the link HERE!

We’re excited to bring you our 4th annual Know Your Rights Youth Summit, The Virtual Edition on Saturday 12/18 from 12 - 3pm PST! The afternoon will be packed with live performances and dynamic youth and community-led workshops on how to use your voice and power for creating, healing, and organizing for change. The summit is free and open to youth ages 10-18* and will be hosted on Zoom.

*Siblings outside of the age range are welcome; we’ll also consider other youth outside of the age range - please just email us so we can ensure a supportive learning experience and engagement.

As a bonus to our Pierce County youth, we’re hosting a summit “eve'“ event the night before where you can pull up to grab some dinner, t-shirts, and giveaways. Swing by Mattice Beauty Supply shop (3906 S 12th St, Tacoma 98405) where we’ll be set up with swag and food to share on Friday, 12/17 from 5-7pm!

Program will be closed captioned; content will be written and oral, delivered in English. Please email us for additional questions or requests around access/accommodations.

Family! Call to action from our youth comrades, Youth Against Policing!

Youth Against Policing is organizing a protest to get police out of Tacoma Public Schools! Police use fear and intimidation to harm our community and students, especially those who are Black or Brown. They have no place in our education system and we must urge the school board to create real community-based safety and restorative justice by and for the community. More info at: youthagainstpolicing.carrd.co

*TPS administrative building front entrance is on a flat surface. There are ADA parking spaces in the parking lot. The school board meeting occurs in a meeting room with limited capacity. Reservations must be made to secure a seat. We are actively working to get more information and will update this as soon as possible. The meeting is live-streamed at tacomapublicschools.org/about/school-board/watch. Email youthagainstpolicing@gmail.com if you have any questions or requests regarding access.

Alongside our unhoused comrades, we'll rally by caravan through the city and elevate the following messages:

- No to Ord. 28756

- Stop the sweeps

- No bans on public survival

- Housing justice, nothing less!

All are welcome to bring posters/signs, megaphones/noisemakers, and hang banners alongside your car. Those who need a ride will be provided carpool/vanpool options within our caravan (first come, first serve - or email us in advance to save you a seat). The starting point of the caravan is a street intersection which has sidewalks with wheelchair ramps. For any questions or requests around accessibility, please feel free to email us and we'll work to accommodate.

Join us on the city hall steps at 747 Market St. on Tuesday 4/20 at 4:30pm to protest Ordinance 28756 which legally bans “unauthorized camping and storage of personal property” within any public property. The ordinance illegalizes, penalizes, and charges a fine to unhoused people for existing in public space and gives full authority of enforcement to Tacoma Police.

Read our full statement and view all action items here.

The People’s Assembly proudly launches youth-led art exhibit, “Abolition: Imagining How We Get Free” which runs at the Milk Gallery from February 8-28! We invite community to join us for a virtual celebration event on Saturday, 2/20 at 6pm PST for a chance to meet the artists, engage in community dialogue, and witness/share through open mic. This event will be devoted to uplifting the stories of our featured artists/youth curators and holding space for community members to join us in deliberate discussion and dreaming around creating a police-free world.

Event will be hosted on Zoom and will be closed captioned. Performances and presentations will be made in English and may utilize text and graphics.

RSVP for this event here.

This February, we're presenting "Abolition: Imagining How We Get Free" - an art exhibit featuring youth stories, visions, and dreams of a world where freedom is real. We're grateful to Alma Mater's Milk Gallery for the opportunity to showcase. This gallery will run for 3-4 weeks next month and present personal experiences, calls to action, and art to compel us to dare to imagine widely around a world free of police and oppression.

We are accepting submissions of art from youth/young adult artists who wish to have their art displayed at this exhibit. If you're interested, please submit ASAP as space is limited: tinyurl.com/abolitionart253. Deadline is Sunday, 1/24.

Led by youth organizers from Pierce County, WA and beyond — The People’s Assembly elevates a youth-led platform and performances exploring the charge for and the opportunities in a world free of police.

The program will be hosted on Zoom (webinar mode) and is free and open to all. RSVP here.

When: Saturday, 12/19 from 4-5:30pm PST

Event will be hosted on Zoom and closed captioned.

We’re excited to bring you our 3rd annual Know Your Rights Youth Summit, The Virtual Edition on Saturday 12/12 from 12 - 3pm PST! The afternoon will be packed with live performances and dynamic youth and community-led workshops on how to use your voice and power for creating, healing, and organizing for change. The summit is free and open to youth ages 10-18* and will be hosted on Zoom.

*Siblings outside of the age range are welcome; we’ll also consider other youth outside of the age range - please just email us so we can ensure a supportive learning experience and engagement.

As a bonus to our Pierce County youth, we’re hosting a summit “eve'“ event the night before where you can pull up to grab some dinner, t-shirts, and giveaways. Mask up and drop by! More info here.

Register by 12/5 at tinyurl.com/kyrtac2020 and spread the word to your friends and fam!

Program will be closed captioned. Please email us for additional questions or requests around access/accommodations.

When: December 11th from 5-7pm PST

Where: New Covenant Pentecostal Tabernacle (2156 MLK Jr Way, Tacoma, 98405)

Open to KYR registrants, youth, and families in Tacoma/Pierce County. Come through for free dinner plates, t-shirts, and giveaways! While supplies last.

Mask up and drop in!

Entrance into building is on a flat surface and is wheelchair accessible.

Supported by The People’s Assembly, Thy Nguyen hosts Rhythm & Rhyme Instagram Live sessions to convene community in healing and celebration. Featuring the voices and talents of artists across the U.S., Rhythm & Rhyme reminds us of the power of creativity and our resilience as communities. This show will include spoken word poets and musicians, and will lift up the stories of local organizing in Tacoma. 

On August 15, 2020, Rhythm & Rhyme will feature:

• Tashawn Deville

• Nakanee Monique

• Horacio Perez

• Katherine Felts

• Brittany Middlebrooks

• Odalys Sanchez

Supported by The People’s Assembly, Thy Nguyen hosts Rhythm & Rhyme Instagram Live sessions to convene community in healing and celebration. Featuring the voices and talents of artists across the U.S., Rhythm & Rhyme reminds us of the power of creativity and our resilience as communities.

On June 13, 2020, Rhythm & Rhyme will feature:

• Miriam McBride

• Paige

• Gloria Muhammad

• Marcel E.C. Augustin

• Grae Violett

Supported by The People’s Assembly, Thy Nguyen hosts Rhythm & Rhyme Instagram Live sessions to convene community in healing and celebration. Featuring the voices and talents of artists across the U.S., Rhythm & Rhyme reminds us of the power of creativity and our resilience as communities.

On May 30, 2020, Rhythm & Rhyme will feature:

• Renee Sims

• Ephren Taylor

• Brianna Jones

• Saiyare Refaei

• Thy Nguyen

Supported by The People’s Assembly, Thy Nguyen hosts Rhythm & Rhyme Instagram Live sessions to convene community in healing and celebration. Featuring the voices and talents of artists across the U.S., Rhythm & Rhyme reminds us of the power of creativity and our resilience as communities.

On May 2, 2020, Rhythm & Rhyme will feature:

• Lennee Reid - a Creole grand slam winning poet, activist, mystic, single mom, community organizer, survivor, healer and all around goddess. She has 2 books published by thegirlgod.com, called "Universal State of Mind" and "Qi Woo Mojo Juju".

• Sharonda Shaw-Brown - a wife, a minister, a singer, songwriter, worship leader, a rapper, etc. A South Seattle native, she currently lives in LA with her husband where she works in Special Education and runs her candle making business.

• TJ Millspaugh is a part of our Youth Activism Camp, and is working with his peers to organize around cycles of incarceration, stigma, and racism. He has been drumming for five years and it’s one of his passions.

• River Jones began rapping for the first time during her parents wedding reception, at the age of three. Her challenging upbringing led to her passion of being a mental health coach. Currently living in Atlanta, GA. studying for a PHD in Metaphysics at the university of Sedona.

• Baylei Jones is from Tacoma and she is currently in the 6th grade. She loves singing and the performance arts. Baylei enjoys soccer, was on the bowling team at her school, and plays the clarinet! 

• Christa Jones is 7 years old and is currently in the first grade! She dominates in the game of basketball, is highly competitive, and is learning to play the guitar and piano.

  Both Baylei and Christa are daughters of Brianna and Chris Jones - shout out to you both!

• Reals Harris is an artist and tarot reader from Tacoma. Their work involves using visual art, poetry, and music to highlight black spirituality, navigate queer identity, and to heal themselves and others.

Supported by The People’s Assembly, Thy Nguyen hosts Rhythm & Rhyme Instagram Live sessions to convene community in healing and celebration. Featuring the voices and talents of artists across the U.S., Rhythm & Rhyme reminds us of the power of creativity and our resilience as communities.

On April 18, 2020, Rhythm & Rhyme will feature:

• Kellie Richardson - Tacoma’s 2017-19 Poet Laureate, author/creator of The Art of Naming My Pain, and overall creative extraordinaire whose work explores the intersection of race, class, and gender with specific emphasis on themes of love, loss and longing.

• Meta Sarmiento - Filipino rapper and poet born and raised in Guam, who now calls Denver, CO home. His work often reflects on family, identity, love, loss, masculinity, and healing.

• Marquis McCrary -  Tacoma-based emcee who has been writing poetry and lyrics for 14 years. He wants to be the Kendrick Lamar his city and the voice of artists and young people trying to find themselves with their art.

• Georgena Frazier - From Battle Ground, WA, Georgena has created and built with communities across Seattle, Tacoma, and now in Oakland where they now reside. Georgena is passionate about hair, STEM, and community and they are an amazing poet with a huge heart.

• Brandyn Jones - an upcoming artist from Tacoma, WA. He attends Spanaway Lake High School and has been rapping for five years

• Thy Nguyen is a co-organizer of TPA. She persists in gratitude to her ancestors, dreams nightly of freedom, and builds daily on the power of the people.

A powerful day for youth to imagine, dream, and build strategies for change! Join us on Youth Action Day to learn about and share your ideas for creating change around issues that impact you.

Where: People’s Center (1602 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma 98405)

When: 1:30-4:30pm

FREE

We’ll be hosting:

• Gallery Stroll (various media displays that highlight some local issues, stories, and movements)

• Presentation on community organizing and strategies

• Strategy / Project Session (break-out groups for project development and youth-led discussions around issues that matter to youth)

• Panel (youth and adults from Tacoma share their stories and ideas around community-building, organizing, and activism)

• Networking (an opportunity for youth to connect with one another and collaborate on future ideas and projects)

Snacks and refreshments as well as writing/art supplies will be provided! Youth Action Day is open to all youth. This program is curated and led by The People’s Assembly. Thank you to People’s Center for sponsoring and supporting the event!

Notes: The facility at which we’re hosting is wheelchair-accessible. There are gender-specific multiple stall restrooms near the classroom that we’re using and gender-neutral, single-stall restrooms on the other side of the facility (by the pool area).

Our presentation portion will be cast on overhead projector in PowerPoint format. Our gallery stroll will be mixed media, with various images and text displayed. The programming and panel will be delivered in English.

Content will be tailored to be palatable to youth ages 10 and up, but some content may be more familiar to middle and high school youth.

Adults and elders are welcome to attend, with the goal of supporting youth voice and leadership.

For questions/requests regarding accommodations, please email us at thepeoplesassembly253@gmail.com.

A free youth summit for 4th-12th graders to build knowledge and power. The summit will include:

• Dynamic and interactive workshops presented by youth, young adults, and community organizers/leaders themed around Colin Kaepernick's 10 Points of Know Your Rights.

• A youth-led panel

• Keynote performances

• Talent show/Open Mic

• Sack lunch and refreshments

Register by 12/1 here!

The summit will be held at People’s Community Center on 1602 Dr. MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma 98405.

This summit is curated by The People’s Assembly and inspired by Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.

A free youth summit for 4th-12th graders to build knowledge and power. The summit will include:

• Dynamic and interactive workshops presented by youth, young adults, and community organizers/leaders themed around Colin Kaepernick's 10 Points of Know Your Rights.

• Keynote performances

• Talent show/Open Mic

• Sack lunch and refreshments

The summit will be held at Centro Latino on 1208 S. 10th St., Tacoma, WA 98405.

Register by 9/21/18 at tinyurl.com/kyrtacoma. More exciting details will be announced here.

TPA's Youth Voice Team is hosting a family-friendly paint and sip on Saturday, May 5th from 12-2:30pm! 

"Hands In: Envisioning Freedom" is a community gathering for family, friends, and community members to enjoy painting, conversation, an art gallery, and open mic! This event inspires to dream of freedom through connecting generations and communities of families and people in storytelling, creativity, and critical imagination. 

This event is at no-cost and is alcohol-free. Food and painting supplies will be provided.

Questions or requests regarding space or accommodations? Please contact us at thepeoplesassembly253@gmail.com.

Thank you to Oasis Youth Center for hosting us!