Leaders vow to continue Sandy William's work

Community leaders shared reflections at a celebration of Sandy Williams' life on Sept. 13

• Betsy Wilkerson, Carl Maxey Board chair, said: "Sandy was a storyteller. She articulated a vision people bought into and united around."

• Toni Lodge, The NATIVE Center: "Sandy did good trouble, manifested by will and determination. We sat together—mothers, sisters and grandmothers—to figure out how to get the BIPOC community vaccinated. We partnered 12 weekends to vaccinate 10,000 people of color. We saved people's lives.

"We were a practical matriarchy of color, loving and nurturing communities and families. We were truth-telling matriarchs of color building buildings and getting work done."

• Kiantha Duncan, NAACP Spokane president: "Sandy was not just a community leader, but a friend, educator, sister, mother, daughter and mentor. Sandy is the reason I am still here....She spoke to let black people not just speak but triumph."

• Breean Beggs, City Council President: "Sandy registered people to vote for a beloved community based on justice and not tolerating racism. She spoke the truth and had radical empathy."

• Lisa Brown, Washington State Commerce Department: "Sandy was a transformational leader and a skilled activist."

• Theresa Cronin of the Law Office of D.C. Cronin described Sandy as "our storyteller. She created a place for us to belong. She prioritized the needs of her family and community."

After unveiling a portrait of Sandy beside a portrait Dennis Cronin commissioned Jacob Johns to paint of Carl Maxey, Dennis said: "Carl Maxey and Sandra Williams are two leaders of courage struggling against racism. Who is willing to carry on their struggle for justice?"

The portraits will hang on the wall of the Carl Maxey Center.

• Rob Curley, editor of the Spokesman-Review, made a commitment to carry on The Black Lens, because he and Sandy had applied for and received a grant for a reporter.

"For Sandy, fairness mattered. At Cheney High School, she wanted to be in the shop class. She wrote the principal that it was stupid that girls could not take shop. She was the first to be in shop. She realized young that words matter and can bring change."

With the Black Lens, words matter, he said.

• Curtis Hampton of the Carl Maxey Board, who knew her growing up in their hometown, Greenville, S.C., named her a "Social Justice Warrior" and called for people to help continue her dream.

For information, visit carlmaxeycenter.org.