Nikki Paxton knows the power of community. She still remembers the day her child came home from school and said they were the only Black child in their class. Paxton immediately thought “Oh no, you need people.”
So the next day when she was driving through her neighborhood and saw another Black family enjoying a walk and scooter ride, she pulled over and introduced herself.
“It comes out of a selfish need to have people to be with, to commune with,” Paxton says with a laugh.
Paxton is a Black, queer single mom of four boys and the Development Director for Imagine Black. She’s been called a connector and collector of people by those who’ve entered her orbit of community, bringing folks together across various backgrounds.
“I’ve always cared about work that is community-based and community-driven,” Paxton says.
VIDEO: Stories of Salem – Nikki Paxton
Previously, she worked at Family Building Blocks to raise money for essentials like diapers and formula. When she began her new role as the Development Director at Imagine Black, she had to learn how to sell the idea of equity and political power while encouraging people to become civically engaged.
“You’re more political than you think,” Paxton says.
The mission of Imagine Black is to provide tools and resources for Black Oregonians to imagine a future where they can thrive. Originally founded as the Portland African American Leadership Forum in 2009, Imagine Black provides leadership development and training and has launched numerous campaigns to create equity in Oregon.
Their childcare campaign and public safety campaign aim to build safer futures for Oregonians. Both of these issues, whether it be a lack of affordable childcare or over-policing of minorities, were heightened during the pandemic.
“There are dollars that can be better spent to keep our community safe,” Paxton says. She’s now working with Imagine Black to disperse badly needed funding to childcare providers.
Paxton knows it may “ruffle some people’s feathers” when they hear how Imagine Black focuses on building power primarily for Black Oregonians. They may ask, “What about everyone else?”
Paxton has a simple answer.
“We have decision-makers in spaces and places and all of them, most of them, none of them sometimes look like me. And so if no one there looks like me, then they’re probably not considering issues that would matter to me and my children. And everyone deserves that representation.”
Helping people become more civically engaged opens a door that allows them to make meaningful, lasting changes in their communities. “Whatever you’re passionate about, figure out a way to plug that in,” Paxton says.
Even if someone doesn’t see themselves as “political,” Paxton says, they likely care about things like accessible roads, clean water, and safe schools. She believes that everyone should have a say in what is being provided to their community and how it’s being provided.
Building equity through community can be as simple as stepping out of your bubble and looking outwards at the people around you. “I know it sounds corny, but talking to your neighbors… I mean that really is how you build community,” Paxton says. “It takes a village.”
“Basically I’ve turned into my grandmother Dorothy,” Paxton says with a laugh, describing the types of relatives that will stop and talk for ages whenever they see someone they know at the grocery store. But those moments are how she’s created a network of people to connect with one another.
She may meet someone who makes tiny figurines out of wine corks, and months later will meet someone else looking to get rid of boxes of them. Suddenly, two strangers find a common thread and are connected. It’s serendipity.
When Paxton moved to Salem in 2012, she discovered that a lot of advertising for fun, family-friendly events were spread through word-of-mouth. She started a website, Honey Mustard Lane, to connect families with activities and provide a community calendar for different events. Though the website is no longer active, Paxton is playing with the idea of bringing it back, with a rebrand that is geared toward adults.
Paxton is involved with various community groups that keep her connected. She’s been a part of event planning committees, local queer meetups, and is even making an appearance in Shrek the Musical at Pentacle Theater.
For those looking to build community, Paxton encourages them to talk to people, even if they feel socially awkward. Even though she sees herself as socially awkward, that doesn’t outweigh her need and desire to form meaningful connections with those around her.
Time with her friends gets her through the week, Paxton says. She has surrounded herself with people that understand and uplift her, and she does the same for them.
“I just know we all need each other,” Paxton says.
Stories of Salem is a production of Capital Community Media and shared in collaboration with Salem Reporter. Learn more about CC Media HERE.
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