AfroVillage’s first event and block party, Sneaker Week PDX, celebrated Black Portlanders turning their dreams into a reality. The party was rooted in the aesthetics of early 90’s Jordans and Hip-Hop culture, featuring music from House of Sound PDX, food from our partner and friend Everybody Eats PDX, live painting by artist Alice Price, a photobooth from Booth of Bass, and tons of art, apparel, and more from local vendors. While shining a spotlight on local small businesses, we raised awareness around, and funds for, the AfroVillage project.

OurAfroVillage booth featured merchandise for sale, informational brochures, and in-depth presentation boards illustrating our mission. At the AfroVillage booth, we encouraged attendees are encouraged to bring a pair of new or gently used sneakers for our Sneaker Drive in an effort to get fresh kicks back to the community. We wanted to get the community hyped for the AfroVillage Movement and creating a safe space for Black and Brown Portlanders in the Pearl.