Maxine Mimms, founding director of Evergreen's Tacoma campus, has died, college announces
Maxine Mimms, a longtime faculty member at The Evergreen State College and a founding director of the college's Tacoma campus, has died, the college announced.
Mimms, who was 96, died Tuesday morning in her sleep.
Her passing was announced to the Evergreen community in an email from Evergreen President John Carmichael, Noah Coburn, Provost and Vice President for Academics, and Dexter Gordon, Executive Vice President.
'It is with a deep sense of loss that we write to share news that Evergreen faculty emerita, Dr. Maxine Buie Mimms, passed away peacefully (Tuesday) morning,' they wrote.
She joined Evergreen as a faculty member in 1972 and retired in 1992.
Mimms was passionate about making a college education available to everyone, 'especially historically underrepresented communities like her neighbors in the heart of Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood,' they wrote. That helped prompt the creation of Evergreen's Tacoma campus.
'Dr. Mimms remained an active mentor and supporter of Evergreen Tacoma, and the broader South Sound African American community until her death,' they wrote. 'Her counsel was sought at all levels of her community to the end of her long, remarkable life.'
Mimms was twice interviewed by the History Makers, a nonprofit creating the 'digital repository for the black experience.' As part of that work, they produced a biography of her life.
She was born March 4, 1928, in Newport News, Virginia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Akoma Gospel Choir celebrates 30 years of service and song
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — In 1995, a female gospel group was formed as part of a day long celebration for the 75th anniversary of the women's right to vote. Today, that group known as Akoma is still together, celebrating their love for God, sisterhood and community. Akoma Gospel Choir began singing together three decades ago. 'African American women from different walks of life… all different denominations,' Dr. Arlette Miller Smith told News 8. Some 40 Rochester women from Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches devote their time, talent, and treasures to this choir with a West African name. Akoma means 'patience,' 'endurance,' 'consistence,' and 'faithfulness.' News 8's Theresa Marsenburg: They know it's a committment. Dr. Arlette Miller Smith: It's a passion. In 1995, a group planning the 75th anniversary of the Women's Right to Vote wanted to end the all-day city-wide celebration with a special performance. Dr. Arlette Miller Smith was among the organizers. 'We were all sitting around the table and someone says 'I think we need to have a gospel choir.' And everyone looked at me and said, You make that happen.'' So — she did — with the help of a local church musical director, who called on other choir directors and members from various churches around town. 'And as we say, 'And the rest is the herstory,'' Dr. Miller Smith said. 'It's truly the Glory of God,' Evelyn Greenwade Boatwood said. 'And our community,' Dr. Miller Smith said. Evelyn Greenwade Boatwood is part of the 1995 'Original Recipe' — as they called themselves. 'We're not a traditional choir. It's a broader perspective,' Dr. Miller Smith said. 'We are passionate about our educational arm.' Each year, Akoma awards college scholarships to young African American women graduating from area high schools, some $30,000 to date. 'For me, it's about a mentorship as well. I've learned so much in faith and just being a woman. A Black woman,' Vice President Colette Hardaway said. They call it a sisterhood, and their prayer is to sustain Akoma so their story… and their song, never ends. The 30th annual Akoma Scholarship Concert this Saturday evening at Monroe Community College is free and open to the public. Each member of the Akoma makes a financial commitment to the scholarships. They also ask for donations and welcome sponsorships. For more information, visit the Akoma website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
3 days ago
- Axios
Charlotte homelessness is on the rise
Each January, volunteers go out across Charlotte and count the number of people living on the streets, in cars, parks and tents. Why it matters: This year's point-in-time survey shows that homelessness is rising in Charlotte, underscoring a national trend. With 444 people identified as unsheltered, it was the highest count since 2010 and more than double the total from 2020, just before the pandemic. By the numbers: Those 444 people represent a 16% increase from last year, with 116 new people identified. Four families had children, the highest number of unsheltered households with minors ever recorded during the local point-in-time count. The survey is widely considered an "undercount" due to the difficulty of finding unsheltered people. Zoom out: According to Mecklenburg County's tally of people across homeless programs, 2,415 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness as of April 30. 164 are veterans. 147 are unaccompanied youth. 75% are Black/African American, representing a disproportionately high figure. 3% are Hispanic/Latino, although that demographic makes up only 14% of the county population. The big picture: Unsheltered homelessness is rising at record levels nationally due to rising rents, a lack of affordable housing, gentrification and other issues prevalent in Charlotte.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Are banks closed? All about the federal holiday
It's known as America's Second Independence Day, and it's coming soon. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. It's the longest-running African American holiday, and it became a federal holiday a few years ago. Here's what to know about the holiday. Yes, Juneteenth is a federal holiday in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. It is one of 11 federal holidays observed every year. The others are: New Year's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day Memorial Day July 4 Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Christmas Day Juneteenth will be marked on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Unlike other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving, which are observed on a specific day of the week, Juneteenth is celebrated on the actual day. Juneteenth commemorates the day — June 19, 1865 — when federal soldiers arrived in Galveston to take control of Texas and ensure the slaves were freed per the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the History Channel. Juneteenth — short for June nineteenth — marks the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June 19, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston. It became known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed slaves of Texas, according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture at the Smithsonian. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. But its effect was limited, according to the National Archives. It only applied to states that seceded during the Civil War, leaving slavery intact for slave states that stayed with the Union. It also could not be enforced until Confederate states were under Union control, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Therefore, it took until June 19, 1865, for slaves in Texas to be freed. Slavery in America was formally abolished with the 13th Amendment, which was ratified Dec. 6, 1865. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 17, 2021, according to USA TODAY, after Congress passed The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act that same month. Juneteenth began rising to prominence in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, sparked protests across the country against police brutality, USA TODAY reports. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., first introduced the Juneteenth bill in 2020 following the killings of Floyd and Breonna Taylor of Louisville, Kentucky. His initial attempt to pass the bill was unsuccessful. No. As a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service is closed that day, and there will be no mail delivered. FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available on June 19, according to the company's website. FedEx Office locations will also be open, USA TODAY reports. Juneteenth is a Federal Reserve bank holiday, meaning the organization that regulates the nation's banking system is closed, according to Banks aren't required to close for Federal Reserve holidays, but they often do. Transactions made during these holidays won't be posted until the next business day. Branches of Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, CitiBank and JPMorgan Chase will be closed on Juneteenth, USA TODAY is reporting. Capital One Cafes will remain open. The New York Stock Exchange is closed on federal holidays and will be closed on Juneteenth, according to its website. Trash pickup may be delayed because of Juneteenth, depending on the hauler. Contact your municipality or private provider to learn more. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is Juneteenth 2025? Is there mail? Will banks be open? What to know
