Don't scroll past the next segment. Read it and click that image to see the mayor deliver another resounding virtual speech about Juneteenth.

(All videos are from the KBAC Website)

Juneteenth is only one of the important events and activities of KBAC skillfully orchestrated under the leadership of Ms. Gwen Allen Carston, to benefit the community at large. In no way can all of Ms. Gwen’s work, and that of KBAC be documented here, and, neither can the details of staging such a wonderful Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration. To learn more about the work of KBAC try this link KENT BLACK ACTION COMMISSION – "LAUNCHING A LEGACY". Meanwhile, suffice it to say that the three videos gathered here go a long way toward explaining the importance of Juneteenth Celebrations. For the moment however, Synrgy’s focus is briefly on Ms. Gwen, the obvious “synergy” she fostered with the city of Kent as evidenced by the videos, and what successful leadership looks like in the 21st century.

In the video, Ms. Gwen acknowledges the origins of KBAC as having begun in a meeting of only Black Americans. This is significant, especially during a time when celebrating an historical event in US History—Juneteenth. Just as pertinent however, is what Ms. Gwen’s leadership has done with those most humble KBAC origins in Reverend James' garage right there in Kent. . Whereas the garage meetings are important and certainly deserve more attention at some point, the critical point at the moment is to say, the garage meetings did “Launch a Legacy”, but Ms. Gwen’s leadership, and the teams she gathered, are among the cornerstones in the foundation upon which that legacy is built.

Additionally, the Juneteenth Community Celebration in Kent exemplify what it means to focus on Black American issues but not separate Black Americans from other Americans. In one of the videos Mayor Dana Ralph reads a Proclamation Day for Juneteenth in the City of Kent. In the other video, she joins in the virtual celebration of Juneteenth in 2021 with an illuminating speech indicating her understanding of the reason for Juneteenth. She emphasizes the resilience, successes, and contributions of Black Americans locally and in the USA. Also, in the videos presented here from the KBAC website, Ms. Gwen and Mayor Ralph personify the qualities needed of leaders in the 21st century, which demands such synergy as a way forward. Their synergy is similar to that between Blacks and Whites historically, which was the backbone of Black Americans' rise “From Slavery to Freedom” in our nation. MLT 5/31/24, rev 6/16/24 (Photo courtesy of Kent Reporter, 2011)

KBAC Candidate Forum
Meet Kent Candidates for 2021 – KENT BLACK ACTION COMMISSION

PAID members interviewed individual candidates in the Kent Youth and Family Services Board Room. Ms. Gwen and her team established “Candidate Forums” that included candidates from around the region competing for the same positions, taped the forums, and provided seating for audiences. The statement about the forums on the KBAC site reads like this:

 “Meet City of Kent Candidates Forum 2021 Produced By Kent Black Action Commission and Directed By Davies Chirwa. Our forum is non-biased, and questionnaires are constructed to help Kent City voters make informed decisions ahead of Election Day. All candidates are given equal time and opportunity to speak freely and fairly. Our presentations feature Candidates for the City of Kent Mayor’s Position, Kent School District Board and Kent City Council. Thank you for joining us.“

The candidates forum is another example of Ms. Gwen and her KBAC team interacting with the larger community for the common good, of Black folks and the communities at large.

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