Our history. Since 1976.
50 years of arts, education, and community · 1976–2026. WAFI’s history connects classroom learning, public performance, and the preservation of Black Oregon’s stories.
1976 · Founded by educators
African American teachers formed One World Arts Foundation to deepen understanding of Black history and create opportunities for artistic expression. Co-founder Michael “Chappie” Grice brought a lifelong commitment to public education and community participation.
1977–1978 · History on stage, scholarships for students
DuBois, An Oral History Program drew on W.E.B. DuBois’s work in 1977. The next year, From the Pulpit, From the People brought Dr. King’s words to the stage, raised scholarship funds for African American students attending Catlin Gabel School, and reached audiences through KGW-TV.
1970s–1980s · A 24-piece jazz orchestra
With WAFI’s assistance, the Creative Jazz Orchestra, directed by Thara Memory, performed thematic concerts across the Pacific Northwest. Its repertoire reimagined 20th-century jazz through soul music and international influences.
1983–1985 · Youth music and railroad oral histories
WAFI founded the Cultural Recreation Band in 1983. In 1985, it produced Black Families and the Railroad in Oregon, directed by Michael “Chappie” Grice and funded by Oregon Humanities, preserving the experiences of African American railroad porters.
1992 & 2015 · Two neighborhood surveys, 23 years apart
WAFI and local high school students documented Alberta Street’s residents, businesses, and neighborhood conditions. Supported by Portland Public Schools, Prosper Portland, and Black United Fund of Oregon, the cultural resource inventory examined displacement, gentrification, poverty, and employment and offered recommendations for the neighborhood.
2009–2013 · Partnerships in cultural memory
WAFI and McMenamins supported Ron Craig’s Portland African-American Film Festival, featuring cinema from the 1920s through the 1980s. With Meyer Memorial Trust, WAFI funded research for Raymond Burrell III’s 2009 book on Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church. It also supported Sherman: A Jazz Opera with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and served on the advisory committee for Central City Concern’s permanent Golden West Hotel exhibit.
2011 · A founding partner in Race Talks
WAFI joined Donna Maxey’s community forum at its founding, supporting conversations that build cross-cultural connections.
2024 · Hundreds of archival items shared
Co-founder Ken Berry contributed hundreds of items from his personal collection to the Albina Community Archive, launched by Albina Music Trust, opening generations of Black Portland’s creative life to new audiences.
“…being able to take 50 years of collection of information and begin to start passing it on.”
— Ken Berry, WAFI co-founder. Hear his story on OPB →
2026 · Marking five decades
WAFI’s 50th-anniversary listing announced a free, all-ages Documentary Showcase at Hollywood Theatre on September 12, 2026, bringing documentary film, music, community voices, and memorabilia together around five decades of service.