Carl Maxey Center Grand Reopening - Sept 13-17
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
SPOKANE, Wash., August 24, 2022 — The Carl Maxey Center announced today that it will officially re-open its building in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood with a five-day public celebration from September 13 – 17. The 1920s building that houses the African American focused cultural center was closed in early 2020 to begin a four-phase remodel process. Phase 1 of the remodel wrapped up earlier this year, but COVID’s impact on the nation’s supply chain delayed the arrival of an electrical component needed to complete the final inspection. As a result, a soft opening was held in late February. The long-awaited part finally arrived last month and this week the Maxey Center passed its inspection.
“I am excited that we are finally able to announce the official re-opening our remodeled Carl Maxey Center to the community! It’s been a long time coming,” said CMC Executive Director, Sandra Williams. “This is only the beginning, and we continue to seek contributions for the work that still needs to be done on this multi-year project, but we’re off to a great start thanks to support from our donors and the Spokane community.”
The Carl Maxey Center is both a neighborhood cultural center and gathering place, as well as a community based non-profit organization that provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane's African American/Black community. The Center will be a resource for communities of color in Spokane, as well as for the greater Spokane community by creating opportunities for residents to gather, interact, celebrate, network, share experiences, discover resources, receive services, gain support, and make connections in an environment that is uniquely African American.
Each day of the Carl Maxey Center’s Grand Re-Opening celebration will highlight programs and services that are available in the center. The festivities will begin on Tuesday, September 13, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 4pm, followed by an open house from 4:30 – 6pm featuring the works of local artist Bertoni Jones-Bey, and a dominoes competition from 6-8pm. Wednesday, September 14, will focus on Health & Wellness. The Carl Maxey Center will partner with Molina Healthcare, Amerigroup, and Red Cross of Spokane to host a community health clinic and wellness fair from 4-8pm. A Black Business Reception on Thursday, September 15, from 5-8pm will celebrate Spokane’s Black business owners and entrepreneurs and launch the Black Business & Professional Alliance of Spokane. Friday’s focus (September 16) will be on celebrating Black Culture as the Carl Maxey Center’s 5th Avenue Spotlight will feature Alethea and Friends in a private concert from 7-8:30pm. The Grand Re-Opening celebration will culminate in a partnership between the Carl Maxey Center and Fresh Soul Restaurant for a community barbeque and soul food cook-off on Saturday, September 17, from 2-6pm.
The Carl Maxey Center is located at 3114 E 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202. For more information about the Grand Re-Opening contact the Carl Maxey Center at 509-795-1886, visit the CMC website at carlmaxeycenter.org or find us on Facebook. All events are free and open to the public.
About the Carl Maxey Center
The Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a Black-led, Black-centered non-profit, 501c3 organization, based in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. The mission of the Carl Maxey Center is to inspire, empower, uplift and advocate for Spokane’s Black community. The vision of CMC is for the Black community in the Spokane region to be a model for building generational wealth, educational excellence, justice, and cultural vibrancy. Visit www.carlmaxeycenter.org for more information.
