Thursday • September 3 • 6:00 • 8:30 PM • Ticketed Event
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH)
705 Front St • Santa Cruz • w/c accessible
Black Surf Santa Cruz’s First Ever Fundraising Celebration
The Beach Ball will be an unforgettable evening of art, music, storytelling, food, and community. Together, we’ll celebrate the people, programs, and vision that have shaped BSSC over the past six years while raising critical support for the future of their work.
Some History
Black Surf Santa Cruz was born from a moment of reflection and possibility.
In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, its founder, Esabella Bonner, participated in a community paddle out held in solidarity. Standing on the shoreline, she witnessed the ocean’s incredible ability to foster healing, connection, and collective care. At the same time, she recognized how rarely Black and other BIPOC communities were welcomed into or represented within surf and coastal spaces.
That moment became a question:
What would it look like if everyone truly felt they belonged in the ocean?
From that vision, Black Surf Santa Cruz was created.
Today, BSSC is a year-round nonprofit providing free, culturally grounded programs through surfing, swimming, recreation, education, and wellness. Since our founding, they’ve welcomed more than 1,800 Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color into the ocean, many experiencing surfing or swimming for the very first time.
Through programs like our Pop-Up Program, Prepare to Pop-Up, Liberation Paddle Out, and our Swim Pilot Program, they’re helping people build confidence in the water, develop lasting community, and experience the coast as a place of joy, healing, and belonging.
Showing Up for Racial Justice-Santa Cruz County, CA 