Community and Connection: BSU Hosts Inaugural Block Party

Yene Bereket smiled thinking about all the Spokane organizations and individuals who came to support Black students at a Block Party organized by the Gonzaga Black Student Union and other partners.

“It's just really nice for people to see we have a community here,” Bereket said. "We can get engaged with them. We can be together in this and work towards progress for a better tomorrow.”

In partnership with Spokane’s NAACP chapter, community organization EEG (Educate, Entertain, and Get Stuff Done), and University administrators, Gonzaga BSU hosted the Block Party on Oct. 4 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Spokane. It was a chance for students and families to connect and learn more about nine Black-centered organizations and resources in Eastern Washington.

Spokane offers resources and “people who want to help and get connected with us. But because of a lack of connection, we find ourselves in harder places than we need to be,” said Bereket, president of BSU at Gonzaga and a fourth-year student studying marketing and psychology.

The event, which capped off Gonzaga’s Fall Family Weekend, brought together students from Gonzaga, Whitworth and Eastern Washington universities, Spokane Community Colleges and WSU Spokane.

Nick Wright, Gonzaga vice president of diversity (right) enjoying the party with students.

Melissa Mace, executive director of Spokane NAACP and owner of Discovery Counseling Group, helped bring the Block Party to life. The NAACP chapter began partnering with Gonzaga BSU in 2025 following incidents of racism involving students.

“We've got this inaugural Block Party to introduce community to all of the universities and colleges so that students who are part of the global majority know that you have a home away from home,” Mace said. “And that's what this neighborhood means and stands for. People show up for you.”

Mace would like to see this event continue. She emphasized the importance of gathering to celebrate joy in community, not just when pain occurs.

Gonzaga Interim Provost Mia Bertagnolli spoke at the Block Party, sharing her support for the event and its alignment with Gonzaga's Presidential Task Force on Accompaniment, Safety and Belonging.

“We have a shared responsibility to confront prejudice, foster understanding and ensure that every person feels seen, respected and safe,” Bertagnolli said.

Representatives from the universities and community organizations lined the event space, hosting informational tables and chatting with eventgoers.

Abak Anei represented Eastern Washington University’s Africana Studies program. Events like the Block Party are important for sharing historical and cultural knowledge and being present in community, she said.

“We're strong when we all work together, and I think it's important to show up and realize that maybe change starts smaller,” Anei said. "We're not going to see it tomorrow, but we can see it day by day.”

Amos Atkinson serves as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Washington. He was also there representing the Carl Maxey Center.

“It's about support and letting (students) know they're not alone,” Atkinson said. “This event will show them and show people here that there are leaders here in the community that are here to help.”

Students also had the opportunity to connect with representatives from EEG (Educate, Entertain, and Get Stuff Done), Spokane NAACP Youth Council and Blackish Spokane.

A DJ provided a soundtrack all afternoon at the BSU Block Party.

Gabriela Rodriguez and Ellesia Corona, third-year students at Gonzaga, stopped by the Block Party after hearing about it on social media and through cultural clubs at Gonzaga.

“They're doing this to promote organizations that can help us, but it's also something fun,” Rodriguez said. “I think that's really nice they're doing it in a way that’s not forcing you but actually giving you the choices and wanting you to reach out to people."

Corona and several other eventgoers said they'd like to see more gatherings like the Block Party.

“Right now is just a time where we're all really siloed and living in our own bubbles and own worlds,” Corona said. “Anything that we have in common or anything that we have to learn about from each other is great. Putting ourselves out there and trying to connect with people is really important to feeling like we belong everywhere.”