Organizers at the D.A.S.H. Center and members of Z53 Zulu Nation have been hard at work preparing a Back To School Jam for Tacoma area families.

The event takes place noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, and includes a potluck, school supplies giveaway, free haircuts, DJs, breakdancers, a graffiti wall, markers, paint and paper and an open mic.

"School supplies are expensive and many families could use help obtaining these items," says Josh Rizeberg, event coordinator. "The list of school-supplies has grown since I was a kid and they just need so much stuff nowadays. They need a lot more than just paper, pens, pencils, and a binder. We'll hopefully have flash-drives to give-out to the older students."

This is a debut event for the Tacoma chapter of Zulu Nation, which was founded seven months ago. Rizeberg said they plan to organize many more community-oriented events.

"It's important to have events like this because it builds community and strengthens connections," he says. "Zulu is a multi-generational movement. So, we always have grandparents and the babies at all our events. We will always have a safe environment full of art and food for anyone to come partake in. Zulu events are neutral territory where everyone from gang members, to artists, to religious folks, can come together to build."

BACK TO SCHOOL JAM, noon to 5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31, D.A.S.H.  Center for the Arts, 1504 MLK Jr. Way, Tacoma, free, @z53universal