Board proclaims February 2026 Black History Month, community leaders outline events

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 adopted a resolution proclaiming February 2026 as Black History Month, honoring the national theme and highlighting local organizations and events. The resolution cited the national theme "a century of black history commemorations" and recognized groups including the Santa Barbara Black Culture House, Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Healing Justice Santa Barbara, Gateway Educational Services, and local NAACP branches.

Lawanda Lyons Pruitt, president of the Santa Maria‑Lompoc NAACP branch, thanked the board and outlined several upcoming community events: a Santa Barbara Black Culture House panel on Feb. 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the CEC Hub; a Umanja Black History Timeline exhibition at Santa Barbara City College; an HBCU fair in Pomona on Feb. 14; and celebrations in Lompoc and Guadalupe later in the month. Connie Alexander (Santa Barbara NAACP) and Audrey Gamble (co‑founder, Gateway Educational Services) also addressed the board, urging attention to the continuing work on health equity, STEM education and services across the county.

Supervisor Capes and Supervisor Hartman, co‑sponsors of the resolution, thanked local organizers and stressed that celebrating Black history is accompanied by ongoing work to improve health, education and civic opportunity year‑round. The resolution was adopted by unanimous vote.