Los Angeles County set for 2nd Black Elders Appreciation Day

By AI, Created 4:50 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Community leaders will gather May 16 in Inglewood for the 2nd Annual Los Angeles County Black Elders Appreciation Day, honoring Black elders, Altadena families affected by last year’s fires and the Black Eldering Bill of Rights. The event comes after the county made the observance official last year and aims to push aging equity, caregiving and policy change.

Why it matters: - The event centers Black elders in Los Angeles County policy and community life. - Organizers say the gathering is meant to advance dignity, care, well-being and belonging for older Black residents. - The program also spotlights the Black Eldering Bill of Rights, which is aimed at addressing health and social inequities affecting Black elders. - The celebration includes recognition for Black families in Altadena who were impacted by last year’s fires.

What happened: - Community leaders, advocates, elders and partner organizations will gather Saturday, May 16, for the 2nd Annual Los Angeles County Black Elders Appreciation Day. - The event will take place in Inglewood, California. - The Sankofa ECO-Group is organizing the celebration. - The program will honor Sankofa Elder Ambassadors and recognize Community Heroes. - The event will include tributes to Black women and families in the historic Black Altadena neighborhood.

The details: - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion last year designating the third Saturday in May as Black Elders Appreciation Day during Older Americans Month. - The observance is meant to recognize the contributions of Black elders across Los Angeles County. - The Sankofa ECO-Group is a community outreach, engagement and mobilization initiative focused on empowering Black elders to identify and advocate for solutions to health disparities. - California Black Women’s Health Project and Sistahs Aging With Grace & Elegance collaborate on the project. - The initiative is funded through the SCAN Foundation’s Advancing Equity in Aging initiative, in collaboration with the California Health Care Foundation and the Metta Fund. - The coalition includes Sankofa Elder Ambassadors, Black elders, caregivers, advocates and community members. - The Black Eldering Bill of Rights calls for equitable healthcare, culturally reflective services, housing stability, elder care access and financial and social support systems. - The bill of rights was developed through community engagement and leadership from Black elders themselves. - The document aims to address housing insecurity, chronic illness, barriers to healthcare access and inadequate community resources that disproportionately affect Black seniors.

Between the lines: - The county designation gives the observance formal backing, which can help keep Black aging and caregiving in public policy discussions. - The Altadena tributes connect elder advocacy to the broader impact of last year’s fires on Black communities. - The focus on a community-created bill of rights suggests organizers want more than symbolic recognition and are pushing for concrete service and policy changes.

What’s next: - The May 16 gathering will serve as a public marker for the second annual observance. - Organizers are positioning the event as part of a larger effort across Los Angeles County, California and beyond to support Black elders through community care, policy advocacy and collective action. - The initiative is expected to keep building support for the Black Eldering Bill of Rights and related equity efforts.