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The first African American woman pediatrician in the state of Washington was Dr. Blanche Seller Lavizzo. She and her husband, a general surgeon, left their medical practices in New Orleans, Louisiana seeking better opportunities here in the Pacific Northwest. Arriving in 1956, Lavizzo practiced pediatrics privately until 1970 when she became the first medical director for the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in Seattle's Central District.
Lavizzo was a friend and schoolmate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She graduated Spelman College in 1946, and from Meharry Medical College four years later. In 1975, she received a Masters in Public Health from the University of Washington. Her gentle care of her young patients across Seattle’s Central Area became widely known. She created the clinic’s motto, “Quality Care With Dignity."
After her death in 1984, the Yesler Atlantic Pedestrian Pathway was renamed the Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park in her honor. The children's water feature at nearby Edwin T. Pratt Park is also named for Dr. Lavizzo.
Sources: BlackPast.org; Seattle.gov; Historylink.org, SeattleTimes.com; Wikipedia.org
Redistricting / Voter Registration
The 2022 Washington State Primary
The election cycle is here! The Washington State Primary is Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Becoming a registered voter is easy - just go to https://www.sos.wa.gov and click on the box in the top right-hand corner! If your address has changed since the last election, use the same link to update your information.
YOUR VOTING DISTRICT MAY HAVE CHANGED! Some districts have new boundaries because of the 2020 United States Census results. This means you may have different candidates than in years past. Be informed - voter pamphlets and ballots are being mailed this week.
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