NAAM Announces Unity Benefit Honorees

The Northwest African American Museum is hosting the 2026 edition of its Unity Gala at 6 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle.

This year, the benefit is promoting the theme “Together,” with a focus on preserving history, strengthening community, and advancing justice, according to a press release from the organization.

NAAM will be honoring artist, designer, activist, and philanthropist Sandra Jackson-Dumont and Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion Michael Bennett. Jackson-Dumont has worked in leadership positions with institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Seattle Art Museum. Bennett was a key player in the Seahawks’ 2014 Super Bowl win and has since gone on to use his platform to promote social-justice issues.

“At a time when so many forces seek to divide us, ‘Together’ is a declaration of purpose,” NAAM President and CEO Brandon Bird said in a statement. “It affirms that our histories are connected, our futures are shared, and our greatest possibilities emerge when we choose to act collectively. Sandra Jackson-Dumont and Michael Bennett embody that conviction. Through their creativity, courage, and leadership, they have expanded how people encounter culture, understand one another, and imagine what is possible.”

The Unity Gala is the museum’s signature fundraising event, with proceeds raised going directly toward NAAM exhibits, educational initiatives, community events, youth programs, and more.

Tickets can be purchased here. Read our April 2025 profile of Bird here.