Kent-based Mother Africa’s 2021 I am an artist camp. COURTESY PHOTO, Mother Africa

Kent-based Mother Africa’s 2021 I am an artist camp. COURTESY PHOTO, Mother Africa

BECU awards $145,000 grant to Kent-based Mother Africa

Part of BECU’s Black Community Development Project for nonprofits

Kent-based Mother Africa will receive a $145,000 grant from BECU’s Black Community Development Project.

As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, BECU announced Nov. 18 the 2021 nonprofit recipients of its Black Community Development Project, a $5 million commitment over the next five years ($1 million per year) to support racial equity in its communities in Washington and South Carolina, according to a BECU press release.

Mother Africa, based in Kent since 2013, works with immigrant and refugee women and their families that face unique challenges in their adopted home, according to the nonprofit’s website. It works directly with the African community to improve access to health, education, safety and independence while celebrating diversity and engaging leaders.

“In our second year of this project, BECU is even more resolved in our commitment to invest in programs that help lessen economic disparities and promote equitable opportunities in our communities,” said Benson Porter, BECU’s president and CEO. “I am inspired by the work of these organizations and by our employees leading this project. Guided by our purpose and by working together, we can make an impact on the emotional, physical and financial well-being of BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) communities.”

Driven by the project’s focus, BECU is partnering with local nonprofits focused on improving the well-being of the Black community, are led by Black leaders and employ a predominately multicultural staff that is representative of the communities being served.

The program distributes funds to deserving organizations focused on promoting equitable opportunities in areas such as education, housing, civic advocacy and more.

Mother Africa was one of six groups that will receive an invitation-only community impact grant. The two years of funding ($72,500 per year) will be focused on reducing barriers and creating opportunities to improve the financial health of the Black community in one or more of the following categories:

Financial stability (education or workforce development), financial resilience (entrepreneurship or credit repair/wealth building) and financial education and literacy (homeownership or under banked communities).

In addition to Mother Africa, this year’s recipients of the invitation-only grant include Seattle based Brothers United in Leadership Development (B.U.I.L.D.); Charleston (South Carolina) Area Urban League; Foundation for Tacoma Schools; Seattle-based Technology Access Foundation; and Auburn-based Your Money Matters Mentoring.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the correct grant amount. An earlier version had a slightly higher amount due to a source error.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

t
Kent firefighters fight three fires in three days | Photos

Puget Sound Fire responds June 10-12 to camper, house and apartment fires; no injuries

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO, Kent Reporter
Man receives 10-year sentence for Kent parking lot killing

Fatally shot man in 2023 after he approached vehicle with baseball bat as part of ongoing feud

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Kent Police Blotter: May 26 to June 8

Incidents include domestic violence, store robbery, vehicle pursuit, copper wire theft

Washington State STEM Signing Day 2025 honorees in a group photo at a celebration event on June 6, at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center (VMAC) in Renton. Courtesy photo.
Select Kent seniors, grads honored on STEM Signing Day

Two Kentridge High students, one Kent-Meridian student receive recognition

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Man’s death in Kent warehouse ruled a homicide

Kent Police Department is under investigation.

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Kent Police arrest 2 suspects in 2024 murder of Kent-Meridian student

Auburn man, Auburn juvenile under investigation in shooting of 18-year-old Cristopher Zelaya

t
Federal Way woman, 61, killed in Kent hit-and-run crash on I-5

State Patrol has a suspect in June 9 crash and are asking that he turn himself in

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO, Kent Reporter
Kent mother pleads guilty to fentanyl death of 3-year-old daughter

Enters plea to second-degree manslaughter after child ingested drug in 2022 at Kent apartment

U.S. District Courthouse in Seattle. COURTESY PHOTO, U.S. Department of Justice
Ex-Kent woman sentenced in 2nd fraud case stealing from employer

Christin Guillory, 41, stole money from new employer while awaiting sentencing for stealing from past employer

File Photo, Kent Reporter
Man fatally shot in Kent at his 21st birthday party | Update

Medical examiner identifies Federal Way killed in early Saturday morning, June 7 shooting on West Hill

Owen Unger. COURTESY PHOTO
Kentridge High’s Owen Unger wins National Merit Scholarship

Plans to pursue mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas

This insignia will be on King County Park Rangers’ uniforms, vehicles, and mountain bikes. Inage courtesy King County
New King county park rangers to begin patrolling Saturday

Council members hope the increased presence of officials will deter break-ins at trailheads.