Bettye Davis Summit brings representation and resources to Anchorage community

The annual Bettye Davis Summit commenced on Feb. 18 at East Anchorage High School. The summit is run by Alaska Black Caucus, a reestablished community activism group. 

The summit is named after late state senator Bettye Davis who served as ABC Chair of the Board. It provides a platform for discussion between professionals and the public on community issues. 

The summit held four public forums including an Economics Business Marketing forum, a Healthy U forum, an Education forum, and a Justice and Policing forum.

The Education Forum held a conversation on race and education with ASD superintendent Jharret Bryant and Judge Pamela Washington. Teacher and ABC’s Education Chair Jessica Cook led the talk.

The Healthy U forum featured a number of local health professionals including two UAA faculty members, Rei Shimizu and Amana Mbise, both Assistant Professors in the school of Social Work.

This interactive forum focused on addressing the health needs of people of color. There were many other healthcare and wellness vendors present at the summit as well. 

One vendor represented the recently established family practice clinic AlaskaVIP Health & Wellness. Aderonke “Ade” Akindipe said she saw the need for resources in Anchorage. 

“Where I came from I noticed that gap, that sometimes the care is not necessarily individualized. It’s just based on the normal values,” she said, “And I don’t believe that there is a normal value for everyone.”

Akindipe said care needs to take into account a patient's background and environment. “I think when people feel like you hear them, it makes them feel better already,” she said.

According to the president and CEO of the Alaska Black Caucus, Celeste Hodge Growden, nearly 70 vendors were in attendance. The The ABC Economics Committee aims to economically empower black people. The committee led the Business Marketing forum with state offices.

Civil rights organizations such as the Anchorage NAACP and ACLU of Alaska were present.

The Anchorage NAACP had open recruitment for new members, including its youth program. Ashleigh Gaines, Chair of the Anchorage NAACP Youth Council, named a number of youth programs investing in black futures. 

“The Act-So program is an academic enrichment program for high school students,” Gaines said. Students are mentored in special interests to compete locally and nationally for college scholarships, she said.

Gaines said being a member means exposure and education on black American history and civil rights. “Like any other city, we have our own history, our own legacy.”

The NAACP helped host the Justice and Policing Forum which held a conversation about the recent police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis. 

“I was appalled that it was five black officers involved,” one commenter said, “I was equally appalled to see the administration's response to those black officers.”

“We’re taking what we learned from all of these experts in the various areas of health, education, economics, injustice, and moving our communities forward,” Growden said, “we can’t stay where we are.”

The Alaska Black Caucus will host multiple community conversations on zoom in March.