Nick was honored to join Grammy Award-winning artist Thara Memory and community members at Emmanuel Church last night for the City of Portland’s Creating Community Artfully celebration.

This year marked the celebration’s second year, and community members enjoyed an art sale, live music, kids’ activities, and more in honor of Black History Month.

This year, the celebration also paid tribute to the late great Obo Addy - musician, composer, and band leader.

Obo Addy was one of Portland’s famed African musical composers and performers. Addy was one of the key originators of the seminal music movement known now as “worldbeat.” Addy was also a prominent member of the first generation African musicians to bring their tradition and popular music to Europe and America.

His legacy lives on with other prominent African and African American artists, including Grammy Award winner Esperanza Spalding.

Creating Community Artfully was a great success, and we hope it will continue for years to come. Thank you to the Portland Water Bureau’s Tim Hall, and creative visionary S. Renee Mitchell for organizing this wonderful event.