Local Exhibit Highlights African American History Of East Pasco (Photo) - 02/25/26

PASCO, Wash. — An exhibit in downtown Pasco is bringing renewed attention to the largely overlooked history of East Pasco’s African American community. “Eastside Temporalities,” on display at Cafe con Arte through the end of March, blends art, archival materials and multimedia storytelling to document life in the neighborhood from World War II through the early 1970s.

Just blocks from the 150-acre railyard that once divided Pasco along racial lines, the exhibit traces how Black families built a thriving community despite discriminatory housing policies that restricted where they could live. The project is the latest milestone in a multiyear, grant-funded initiative led by Washington State University Tri-Cities faculty in collaboration with community partners.

“By 1950, Pasco is about 20 percent Black, which per capita, is one of the largest Black populations in the West Coast,” said Robert Franklin, WSU Tri-Cities assistant professor of history and associate director of the Hanford History Project. “But it’s relegated to East Pasco.”

Franklin, the project’s principal investigator, has spent nearly a decade gathering photos, essays, oral histories and personal artifacts that anchor the exhibit. The materials illustrate both the opportunities and challenges that shaped the community, from Hanford-related job growth to the lack of basic infrastructure, exclusionary business practices and the impact of sundown policies in the region.

The exhibit also highlights stories of resilience, including the rise of Black-owned businesses and community organizing during the civil rights movement, as well as the lasting effects of 1970s urban renewal that displaced many families.

As part of the research project, Franklin's team made plans to facilitate two public workshops aimed at community engagement. The first was an Aug. 30 mapping event at Morning Star Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in the Tri-Cities. That event gathered surviving members of the old East Pasco community to mark up a giant map of the neighborhood with the former locations of homes and businesses. The exhibit itself serves as the second workshop, blending historical essays and photos with original artwork by East Pasco-raised photographer and mixed-media artist Joel Nunn-Sparks.

“Eastside Temporalities,” also features digital components, including audio and video stories accessible by mobile phone. Kyley Canion-Brewer, a WSU Tri-Cities doctoral candidate and Hanford History Project intern who helped organize the workshops, said the exhibit represents the work and efforts of many contributors, including business owners, WSU Tri-Cities students and more.

“This is a labor of love, but it’s very collaborative,” she said. 

If future funding allows, the team hopes to develop an interactive web application based on the community mapping project. For now, an artistic rendering of the map is included as part of the exhibit.

The exhibit is free and open to the public through March at Cafe con Arte in downtown Pasco. 

Additional background information on the history of East Pasco’s African American community can be found on the WSU Tri-Cities website: https://tricities.wsu.edu/local-exhibit-reclaims-the-african-american-history-of-old-east-pasco/

Washington State University, Tri-Cities Celebrates 40th Annual National TRIO Day, Honoring Student Achievement And Educational Opportunity - 02/19/26

Richland, WA —Washington State University Tri-Cities will join colleges and universities across the United States in celebrating the 40th annual National TRIO Day which falls on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, recognizing the transformative impact of the Federal TRIO Programs and honoring the achievements of first-generation, income-eligible students, students with disabilities, and veterans pursuing higher education.

Established by Congress in 1986, National TRIO Day encourages communities to focus on educational access, academic persistence, and the power of college opportunity to change lives and strengthen the nation. This event celebrates the work of the Federal TRIO Programs, which were first created through the landmark Higher Education Act to remove barriers to postsecondary education.

As part of the celebration, Washington State University Tri-Cities’ TRIO SSS programs will host a recognition ceremony and networking event, on from 9 – 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 in the Consolidated Information Center room 120. The event will honor students’ accomplishments, alumni will share their success stories, and campus leadership will highlight ongoing support for student achievement. The event will bring together students, alumni, campus leaders, and community partners to highlight success stories, deepen public understanding of TRIO’s mission, and promote a culture of educational opportunity.

“TRIO students are driven scholars, engaging with real-world problems, and preparing themselves to make a lasting impact in their fields and communities,” said Alondra Castaneda, program director for TRIO SSS Classic, STEM and Health Science Programs “National TRIO Day is our opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments, acknowledge their hard work, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring every student has the support and resources to achieve their academic and career goals.”

“For forty years, National TRIO Day has served as a powerful reminder that talent is universal, but opportunity is not,” said Kimberly Jones, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). “This milestone year honors the millions of students and alumni who have turned their dreams into degrees, careers, and lifelong contributions to their communities. As we celebrate this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to protecting and strengthening TRIO so future generations can continue to thrive.”

WSU Tri-Cities currently serves 260 TRIO students through Student Support Services. TRIO programs provide academic guidance, tutoring, advising, mentoring, college readiness services, financial aid support, and career development opportunities for eligible students.

Nationally, TRIO serves more than 800,000 individuals each year, including middle school, high school, and college students, adult learners, veterans, and graduate scholars.

National TRIO Day began in 1986 when Congress passed a resolution recognizing the Federal TRIO Programs and calling for a National Day of Celebration, community service, and advocacy in support of students who face systemic barriers to higher education. This year marks the fortieth annual National TRIO Day and celebrates the legacy of programs that have helped more than six million students earn college degrees.

For more information about WSU Tri-Cities’ National TRIO Day events or to learn more about TRIO services on campus, please contact TRIO Student Support Services at tricities.trio@wsu.edu.

WSU Tri-Cities Cougar Tracks Launches Resilient Business Builders Network To Strengthen Small Business Leadership In The Tri-Cities - 02/05/26

• Richland Chamber of Commerce members may qualify for full cost reimbursement through the Chamber’s Business Boost Grant, reducing barriers to participation and accelerating business impact.

• City of Pasco residents and businesses are eligible to apply for Workforce Training Scholarships through Cougar Tracks, expanding access to professional development opportunities across the region.