The History of the Black Community in Santa Barbara - 2/27/2023

Conversation Overview

The history of Black lives in Santa Barbara and the history of the city itself are one and the same; the founding of the city of Santa Barbara as we know it was overseen by many Black founders, alongside Mexican and indigenous Chumash leaders as well. From the late 1700s until now, the Black community has been at the very heart of Santa Barbara, as evidenced by the genealogical records on display at El Presidio State Park and the street names dedicated to the Black soldiers and their families, to the modern day movements from the NAACP and Healing Justice SB to promote and uplift Black community members within our county. Please join us for a discussion event to further delve into the rich and integral history of Black lives within Santa Barbara.

Connie Alexander, a Santa Barbara resident for over forty years, has been involved in grassroots organizing for years and has a rich background in creating opportunities to better the lives of those around her. Connie serves as President of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People), where her mission is to ensure that Black communities are given equal and equitable access while pushing back against systemic racism within the Santa Barbara community. In addition, she serves on the grantmaking committee for the Racial Equity Fund through The Fund for Santa Barbara. Connie also leads the Coalition for Nonprofit Leaders of Color in Santa Barbara County.

Connie Alexander’s profession is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Gateway Educational Services, a center dedicated to creating access and equity through education for students at all levels since its founding in 2009. On top of maintaining the daily operations of the Gateway, she is responsible for developing the curriculum, training staff, and running the College Readiness Program and the Summer Camps. Her 25 years of experience in higher education and her degrees in Political Science and History have brought her the wisdom and knowledge necessary to ensure student success at all stages of their paths.

The Rev. Dr. David N. Moore, Jr. is a pastor, human rights advocate, adjunct university professor, and author living in Santa Barbara, CA. David  gets joy from kissing his wife, breathing while sitting on his patio, and traveling and meeting diverse populations worldwide. David is a UCSB  alum, leading Santa Barbara’s Beloved Community Church, and also Jesus Collective, which is a non-geographically specific online  community. These communities foster wholeness and equity by healing relationships and cultural divides, honoring the dignity of all peoples  and protecting our planet's biodiversity through actively listening, understanding, partnering, and serving. He serves on several local advocacy  organizations, including Central Coast Planned Parenthood of the California Central Coast. David is 1st Vice President of the NAACP Santa  Barbara affiliate. His Master’s degree is from St. Stephen’s University in New Brunswick, Canada. He earned his doctorate in theology at the  University of South Africa. David and Diane have been married for 45 years and have five adult children.