The Black Lens

08/18/2025

The community is the breath that gives life to The Black Lens and the legacy of Sandy Williams. We do not take it for granted. Come see us on display, celebrate our youth and community contributors.

The exhibit opens tomorrow at Northtown Mall next to Famous Footwear at Diverse Roots and a community reception will be held on Saturday, September 6th.

08/17/2025

08/17/2025

Gain the tools you need to build your vision — come out next Saturday to get much needed insight. See the flyer for details.

08/13/2025

Come see us at Northtown Mall next Tuesday.

📰 The Black Lens is on Exhibit ✨

We’re at Northtown Mall in partnership with Shades of Motherhood Network’s Diverse Roots Community Space!

If you’ve ever contributed to The Black Lens or been featured in our pages, this is your moment to celebrate 🖤. The exhibit highlights mental wellness and the powerful voices of our youth and community members.

📅 On display through August
📍 Northtown Mall

Come see our stories, our art, our truth.

08/13/2025

📰 The Black Lens is on Exhibit ✨

We’re at Northtown Mall in partnership with Shades of Motherhood Networks & Diverse Roots Community Space!

If you’ve ever contributed to The Black Lens or been featured in our pages, this is your moment to celebrate 🖤. The exhibit highlights mental wellness and the powerful voices of our youth and community members.

📅 On display through August
📍 Northtown Mall

Come see our stories, our art, our truth.

08/11/2025

Get The Black Lens mailed directly to your address. Subscribe today!

08/11/2025

Great things happened in Spokane yesterday.
SERA and The Way to Justice hosted another successful Back-to-School Shoe & Backpack Giveaway—complete with raffle prizes, a talent show, a DJ, dancing, and plenty of community love.

This annual August celebration is proof that many hands make light work. 💪🏾

Thank you to all the volunteers, performers, and organizations who came together to make sure our kids start the school year with confidence and joy. 🖤

📸 Here’s a look at the day in photos—community power in action.

08/11/2025

Only 20 years old and shaping how we learn Black history.

Kyler Winston-Kendricks is a college student and budding historian, serving as a resident intern and gallery manager at the Apex Museum in Atlanta, GA. She shares history, heritage, and hope—uncovering the lesser known narratives of Black people that have shaped history.

Inspired by a professor, Kyler shifted her major from History to Africana Studies, diving deeper into preserving and amplifying our stories.

✨ History in her hands. Future in her vision.

📖 Learn more about Kyler’s journey at BlackLensNews.com

08/06/2025

If you have seen Zakaya Andrews — please notify Spokane police.

Missing From: Spokane, WA. Missing Date: July 30, 2025. Both photos shown are of Zakaya.

08/05/2025

🥊 Jacob Ruffin is building more than boxers.
In another August feature, he talks about purpose, motivation, and the power of discipline and hustle—lessons that go far beyond the ring.

Read more about his journey and vision in at blacklensnews.com.

08/04/2025

Spokane’s own Mona Lake Jones inspires through words and affirms Black identity.
Poet and Poet Laureate of Seattle and King County, she uses storytelling to pass down wisdom, preserve culture, and keep Black identity relevant for today’s generation. Black art matters—it is the connective tissue that links history, stories, and purpose. 🖤📖✨

Head over to blacklensnews.com to read the full feature article.

07/31/2025

✨ Community-grown.
Legacy-driven. ✨

In the heart of Spokane’s historic Browne’s Addition, Jewel of the North is more than a restaurant—it’s a statement. Co-owned by Brooks Thomas and A.J. Hansen, this culinary gem opened its doors in May 2025 with a bold vision: to carve out space for ownership, creativity, and connection in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.

Rooted in the belief that legacy work comes with vision and creativity, every dish, every detail, and every gathering at Jewel of the North reflects a commitment to building something that lasts.

If you haven’t had a chance to stop by and grab a plate, don’t wait. This is more than food—it’s food with purpose.

📍 Jewel of the North | Browne’s Addition, Spokane
🖤 Community-Focused | Culture-Infused

👉 Head over to BlackLensNews.com to meet A.J. and Brooks and learn more about their story.