Join us to listen and enjoy community, or to share a poem, song, or reading. Please limit presentations to 5 minutes. No registration required to attend. If you want to sign up to present, contact Kevin Murphy at 360-734-8158, ext. 313, or kevinm@communityfood.coop.
Bakery Cafe Open Mic
Tune up your instrument and warm up your voice! Time for another open mic night at the Bakery Cafe. Join us to play, sing, or just to listen.
Performers can call 360-734-8158, ext. 300, before 4 pm Sunday to sign up in advance.
Of course, we'll have lots of good eats and drinks available for purchase, so come hungry. Everyone welcome!
21st Annual MLK, Jr. Day Event – Keeping the Dream Alive!
21st Annual MLK, Jr. Day Event – Keeping the Dream Alive!
Monday, January 21, 7 pm
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship (New location!)
1207 Ellsworth Street
Free. Everyone welcome.
In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Community Food Co-op hosts Keeping the Dream Alive! On this evening, we celebrate Dr. King’s notion of a “Beloved Community,” with ceremony, song, presentations, and community sharing. King envisioned the Beloved Community as a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one’s fellow human beings.
As this annual event continues to evolve, we are excited to move to Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship to better accommodate presenters, musical performances, informational tabling, and increased attendance.
As always, we invite the community to share a poem, story, or song focused on diversity, human rights, or related issues. Please limit your presentation to three minutes or less, to leave time for others to share. Contact karlm@communityfood.coop to sign up.
We are extremely grateful for all the talented and inspirational people participating in this year’s event.
Host Amanda Grelock
Amanda is the Co-op’s Equity Diversity and Inclusion coordinator, a position designed to assist and enable the Co-op to make healthy food accessible to all and to create a more inclusive community hub. Her passions include waging peace through a combination of creative thinking, community building, conversation, social justice standing, and more.
Opening Song – Joshua Olsen
Joshua is from the Nooksack Nation and works at the Co-op bakery. We are fortunate to have Joshua share the Nooksack Honor Song with us tonight.
Welcoming Presentation – William L John (Xwelwelat’se)
William is a Lummi Elder, storyteller, and retired Lummi language teacher from Ferndale High School and Northwest Indian College. He will share a cross-cultural experience welcoming all to the territory of the Coast Salish people.
Special Musical Guest – Checo Tohomaso
Checo Tohomaso has previously toured with Motown legend Marvin Gaye playing keyboards, percussion, and singing background vocals. He has performed with Lionel Richie and the Commodores, Celine Dion, New Kids on the Block, and Reba McEntire, among others. Checo keeps busy as the musical director of the Vancouver Outreach Community Sweet Soul Gospel Choir and the Victoria Soul Gospel Choir. He is spirited, authentic, and true to the music as he pursues his talents. His current focus is to communicate the positive, healing qualities of soul music to as many people as possible. Checo has a goal of uniting people of different cultures and beliefs to deliver a message of love, joy, peace, hope and healing through singing. Checo selected four well-known songs to sing with audience participation —Everyday People, Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around, People Get Ready, and Love Train. We are extremely grateful for his contribution to the progression of this event.
Keynote Presentation – Terrance Morris
Moving Diversity Forward: How to Go from Well-Meaning to Well-Doing by Terrance Morris, diversity advocate, founder of A Connection, co-facilitator of Black Lives Matter Bellingham, and Whatcom Human Rights Task Force Board director. Terrance is passionate about leading conversations about diversity and inclusion. You can see his work in action with the Bellingham Juneteenth event and the Unity Ball on January 19. He brings community together by diving into hard conversations and willingness to lean in.
Open Mic Community Sharing
Share a poem, story, or song focused on diversity, human rights, or related issues. We look forward to continuing this traditional part of the evening. Presentations limited to three minutes or less, to leave time for others to share. Contact karlm@communityfood.coop to sign up.
Other participants – Peter Ali, Native American flute; The 60-voice Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship Chalice Choir; and Peace and Justice community information tables.
The Community Food Co-op would like to thank event co-sponsor, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship’s Social & Environmental Justice Committee.
20th Annual MLK Jr Day Event at the Co-op
Join us to celebrate Dr. King’s notion of a “Beloved Community,” envisioned as a society based on justice, equal opportunity, and love of one's fellow human beings.
Musical guest—
Checo Tohomaso communicates the positive, healing qualities of soul music.
Presentations—
“Healing Must Start with Actions” by Vernon Damani Johnson, director of the Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education, professor of political science at Western Washington University, and co-founder of the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force.
“Racial Equity Work at the Co-op” by Amanda Grelock, Community Food Co-op Racial Equity co-chair and Human Resources assistant manager.
Open Mic—
Share a poem, story, or song focused on diversity, human rights, or related issues. Presentations limited to three minutes or less. Contact karlm@communityfood.coop to sign up.
Children’s Art Walk at the Co-op
Stop by the Co-op during Children's Art Walk for art and live music.
Erin Corday and the Young Talent will perform in the Downtown store mezzanine from 6 to 7:30 pm.
Art from Geneva Elementary School students will be on display in the Downtown store and across the street in the Co-op bakery cafe.
Citrus Fest III
Cordata store: 11 am to 2 pm
Downtown store: 3 to 6 pm
Meet a citrus farmer. Samples galore. Screaming deals. Live music in the Downtown store.
First Friday at the Co-op
Join us from 6 to 8 pm in the Downtown store for music, art, and samples!
Entertainment: JP Falcon Grady with poet Betty Scott
Art: Robin Wassong
Tasty treats and sips throughout the store.
Open Mic in the Bakery Cafe
Join us for the Bakery Cafe Open Mic to sing a song, play a tune, share a poem, or just to listen while you enjoy some tasty treats and refreshing sips.
Hosted by Alice. Everyone welcome. RSVP on Facebook to get an event reminder.
Open Mic Night in the Bakery Cafe
Tune up your instrument and warm up your voice! Open mic night returns to the Bakery Cafe (405 E Holly St). Join us to play, sing, or just to listen.
Performers can call 360-734-8158, ext. 300, before 4 pm Sunday to sign up in advance.
Of course, we'll have plenty of good eats and drinks available for purchase, so come hungry. Everyone welcome!
Open Mic at the Co-op Bakery Cafe
Choose a favorite tune or song (or a few favorites), tune your guitar, warm up your vocal cords, and sign up for our monthly open mic! Or, just stop by the cafe for an espresso drink, smoothie, tea, or a tasty bite to eat and enjoy the talents of our community of musicians.
