Cookout celebrates second year
SANTA CRUZ >> From live musical performances from local artists to free food and a variety of activities, the second Santa Cruz Cookout event gives families and community members the opportunity to connect and enjoy themselves at San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz this Saturday afternoon.
“I want people to feel like they are walking into a family reunion,” said Santa Cruz Cookout founder Ayo Banjo. “The first year, we were only able to cover food for about 75 people but this year I was able to fundraise and cover the food cost for everyone attending, so anyone who comes can grab a plate and as many barbecue ribs as they want.”
The Santa Cruz Cookout was envisioned by Banjo, a local influencer and community organizer, who was inspired by the many neighborhood cookouts he attended growing up in Southern California, and with the hope to unite disparate community groups and remedy the political divisiveness and disconnection in Santa Cruz and society-at-large.
“The first cookout was put together to fight back against the polarization of our communities and to give people opportunities to build intentional relationships with one another,” said Banjo. “I also want to build a new tradition in Santa Cruz.”
Banjo has stepped up his organizing efforts since the
first event and has partnered with numerous local organizations such as his alma mater UC Santa Cruz, Black Health Matters Initiative, NAACP Santa Cruz County, Arts Council Santa Cruz County, Black Surf Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Rotary Club, Santa Cruz Black. Liminal Space Collective and the city of Santa Cruz.
The event will feature numerous games and activities such as an obstacle course, sack race and dodgeball tournament, which will be facilitated by the Santa Cruz-based nonprofit Reggie Stephens Foundation.
“Reggie Stephens and his team have put together a comprehensive field game tournament for the whole family,” said Banjo.
Barbecued culinary delights
will be provided by Ken Brown's Lip Smack'n Soul Food & BBQ and the event will feature musical performances from local artists such as Phreeborn, Alwa Gordon, August Lee Stevens and Isaac Collins or as he also known, “Lyrical I.”
Although Banjo is slightly concerned that the barbecue may run out at some point Saturday, he is happy that all the organizations and artists and local officials he reached out to such as Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley, who will be speaking at the event, were
eager to help him manifest his vision and ensure that the Santa Cruz Cookout becomes an annual tradition for decades to come.
“I hope that the people who come to the cookout are inspired to create their own event,” said Banjo. “The whole goal is to show everyone and particularly people of color that not only can you thrive here, but when you have a vision, people will support it. That's so much more than just belonging, that is being at the center of the community, the root of the community.”
Banjo is still welcoming volunteers who can help with the event Saturday. All volunteers will be given a free T-shirt.
For information about volunteering, contact Banjo at ayosbanjo@gmail.com.