On Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, the California Black Women’s Health Project (CABWHP) and Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance will proudly host the inaugural Black Elders Appreciation Day Ceremony and Black Eldering Bill of Rights Community Celebration in the City of Compton. This powerful intergenerational event will take place at the City of Compton Housing Authority, located at 700 N. Bullis Road, Compton, CA 90221.
The event will be co-hosted by Compton Mayor Emma Sharif, with special remarks and a keynote address by Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (2nd District)—a longtime champion of equity, dignity, and justice for historically excluded communities.
The celebration will uplift Black elders as vital knowledge-keepers, caregivers, organizers, and spiritual anchors of the community. Through the Sankofa Elders Project, CABWHP and its partners are engaging Black seniors across California to reclaim space, power, and voice in decisions that impact their well-being, futures, and legacies.
The centerpiece of the celebration will be the public unveiling and community reading of the Black Eldering Bill of Rights—a living, community-driven document that affirms the cultural, spiritual, and societal value of Black elders while outlining key demands around health, safety, housing, care, and respect.
Rooted in the West African principle of Sankofa—to go back and reclaim that which was lost—the event will also feature cultural performances, community dialogue, and calls to action that honor the past while building toward a more just and elder-inclusive future.
“Black elders are not invisible. They are the backbone of our families and communities, and we must ensure their rights, dignity, and wellness are non-negotiable,” said Carlene Davis, co-founder of Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance. “This celebration is about joy, justice, and generational healing.”
The event is free and open to the public with special invitations extended to local seniors, caregivers, elected officials, and community leaders.
Event Details:
What: Black Elders Appreciation Day Ceremony & Black Eldering Bill of Rights Celebration
Who: California Black Women’s Health Project + Sage Sistahs
When: Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: City of Compton Housing Authority, 700 N. Bullis Road, Compton, CA 90221
Keynote Speaker: LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell
Co-Host: City of Compton Mayor Emma Sharif
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About California Black Women’s Health Project
For over 30 years, California Black Women’s Health Project (CABWHP) has been the only statewide, non-profit organization that is solely committed to improving the health of Black women and girls through advocacy, education, outreach, and policy. We believe a healthier future is possible when women are empowered to make choices in an environment where equitable access and health justice are community priorities.
About SAGE Sistahs
SAGE Sistahs is a grassroots collective founded by and for Black women elders to affirm their power, wisdom, and lived experiences. Rooted in community, healing, and liberation, SAGE Sistahs engages Black women over 50 in critical conversations, storytelling, and activism to dismantle systemic barriers impacting their health, well-being, and quality of life. Through intergenerational dialogue, community organizing, and cultural events, SAGE Sistahs creates sacred space for Black women elders to be seen, heard, and celebrated as vital architects of social change.
