What is your happy place? What is your safe place? Why are these places important? These are a few of the questions we asked attendees at The Power of Place event at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) earlier this month.
Kaiser Permanente was a main sponsor of the event on October 20th, which explored the personal geography of place. More than 6,000 attendees enjoyed activities that celebrated the places and spaces of personal geography.
Our sponsorship included three different activations:
- The Power of Movement: Three different performers were featured on an outdoor stage doing everything from Karib Fit (Caribbean and African dance fitness) led by KPMAS employee Katrina Brown, MAS Total Health Labor Lead, to line dancing and a cardio blast workout.
- The Power of Healthy Eating: Celebrity Chef Marvin Woods showed the audience how to prepare a traditional Caribbean dish, pepper pot, and collard greens. Download the recipe here. Diane Saade, a KPMAS nutritionist, also answered questions about diet and nutrition.
- Reflection Wall: The wall asked people to think about the power of place in relation to various aspects of life, such as your safe place, your happy place, or the places you carry with you. Attendees wrote their answers and posted on the display’s bulletin boards. “It was very engaging and informative, and it made us realize that people just want to be heard,” said Jane Edwards, Director, Brand Engagements and Corporate Events.
The event was an overall success, and we thank the nearly 65 KP volunteers who helped make it great!
KP and the NMAAHC
As you may already know, Kaiser Permanente is a founding donor and grand opening sponsor of the museum, and title sponsor of the museum’s Sweet Home Café, which showcases the rich culture and history of the African-American people with traditionally authentic offerings that support Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to healthy living. A few of our own current and former KPMAS employees also have ties to the NMAAHC. KPMAS employee Donna Adams’ husband, BK Adams, is an artist who has a sculpture on display at the museum, and former employee, Maritha Gay, was surprised to see an exhibit dedicated to her grandfather, jazz pianist Fats Waller. Former mental health assistant, Michael Taylor, is part of a go-go group that has an exhibit at the museum.
Additionally, more than 70 years ago, Kaiser Permanente’s founders Henry J. Kaiser and Sidney Garfield recognized African-American employees for their invaluable contributions to the workplace. This set the foundation for our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We are proud to help preserve African-American history and culture through our continued support of the NMAAHC, which opened in September 2016.
See more of our past coverage of our support of the NMAAHC below:
New Smithsonian Museum Celebrates African-American History and Culture
