Events

ENJOY 2nd Annual celebration of Black Comics, Sci-Fi, Afrofuturism, and Astral Blackness during the week of San Diego Comic-con! The Afrofuturism Lounge is the first of its kind and back again for another round; Part After Party, Part Black Artists Showcase. Proceeds from this event will benefit DETOUR (Depositing Empowerment Through Outreach & Urban Redevelopment). DETOUR is a mentoring program for girls of color whose mission is to increase access to education and employment opportunities for girls through our Focused And Naturally Confident Youth (F.A.N.C.Y.) Leadership programs (Expo, Leadership Academy, and Ambassador Internships). Our message is it is never too late to reposition yourself to passionately seek and fulfill your purpose! This ties in perfectly with the Afrofuturism and the principle of Sankofa. It’s never too late to go back and fix it.

Free Entry to Exhibitor Hall.

$10 General Admission includes panels and workshops fee as well as contest entry option on ticketed day.

$20 VIP access includes General Admission as well as guaranteed access to receptions and contests.

Want to volunteer? Message event organizers or send email to info@firyali.com with Volunteer in the subject line to express interest.

This year, we have added:

Workshops and Panels

Cosplay Competition Friday evening

Hero/Villain Lair Design Competition Saturday evening

Key56internetradio.com will broadcast live from onsite with music and interviews.

Complete with Drinks & Music! If you can’t get into the SDCC, or are looking for something fun to do in the Gaslamp District after the doors of SDCC close, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU! And it’s FREE ADMISSION! Come experience Black Comic Book Creators and Artists all in one spot, July 19th and 20th from 5pm-11pm both nights.

After being overwhelmed last year by the level of support and demand for this event, we have moved to a more accessible venue to better accommodate you. We prevail upon you for patience and grace as we assure you we have taken into consideration all of our lessons learned from last year so that the lounge can be even better the 2nd time around.

DISCLAIMER: Capacity limits apply. Volunteers are encouraged though positions are limited.

We have a right to know how law enforcement interacts with our communities. The public should be able to trust that when an officer stops a person, it is for a legitimate and justifiable reason. However, officers entrusted to enforce our laws disproportionately stop, question and search Black and brown people in our community.

Please plan to attend our upcoming event, Data Driven: Advancing Racial Justice & Police Accountability in San Diego on Tuesday, December 3, for an analysis of policing practices in the San Diego region.

On December 3, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties will release a commissioned report that analyzes traffic and pedestrian stop data from the San Diego Police Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

You are invited to attend a special event to learn about this new report and to explore ways to address racially-biased policing, reduce police violence, improve accountability and make San Diego safer and more just for all.

The report’s author, Samuel Sinyangwe, data scientist and co-founder of Campaign Zero, will present on the report’s findings and recommendations.

When: Monday January 20th, 2020
Time: 12 pm- 8PM
Where: WorldBeat Cultural Center
2100 Park Blvd.
San Diego CA 92101
www.worldbeatcenter.org | info@worldbeatcenter.org
Cost: FREE

Martin Luther King Jr is one of the most respected African-American leaders in history, this celebration is to honor Martin Luther kIng Jr. Even forty six years after his presence, his messages keep being relevant in the United States of America and all around the world.

Worldbeat Cultural Center, located in Balboa Park, is celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr with a family festival. With live music, dancing, vegan food, an outdoor cultural arts & craft vendors marketplace, and more.

Live performances will include reggae revival artist Hempress Sativa, Caribbean artist Rob Symeonn, San Diego’s Maka Roots and with a Mexican influence SGT Remo.

Celebration also features multi-cultural performances and blessings. Including Native American Blessing, Danza Azteca, West African Dance, Afro-Cuban Percussion and Dance. There are also, Middle Eastern Belly Dance, Hip Hop Performance By Junkyard Dance Crew and more!

Join us as we pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His words and selfless actions continue to be an inspiration and never-ending call-to-action for tolerance and peace with each new generation.

The Human Dignity Award annually honors an individual or group who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement and commitment in promoting the value and importance defined by the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

We were proud to announce last year’s Human Dignity Award Winner, the San Diego-based Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF). The foundation was founded in 1995 after Tariq Khamisa, a 20-year-old college student, was killed by 14-year-old gang member Tony Hicks. Hicks was tried as an adult for murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

This event will sell out, so reserve your spot early! Visit https://www.ymca.org/get-involved/events/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-award-breakfast to reserve your table(s) online.

Fill out your nomination for the 2020 Human Dignity Award here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020YMCASDMLKHDANominationForm