Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Newsletter

City of Seattle sent this bulletin at 06/17/2021 12:31 PM PDT
Headshot of a Black woman smiling under soft stage lights. She is dressed in a gold sequin shirt and feather fascinator hat and gold earrings

Kibibi Monié's "Take a Knee" Highlights Pain of Racism, Promotes True Liberty and Justice for All

Our new storytelling project, Seattle Histories, highlights the places, people, and events that have shaped the history of Seattle’s communities. Each piece, created and told by community members, emphasizes experiences, communities, and stories that have not been prioritized in mainstream media or have been left out of the historical narrative. For her submission, Kibibi Monié shares a poem that underscores the pain, violence, and denial of our racist history. Monié is a Seattle native and Executive Director of Nu Black Arts West Theatre. She wrote, directed, and performed her first play at the Neighborhood House in Yesler Terrace at the age of nine and grew up performing at prominent Black venues throughout Seattle. 

Read more about Monié and watch her video on the Front Porch Blog. 

Other City News

International Special Review District Board Improves Language Access for Virtual Meetings: The Historic Preservation Program’s new virtual meeting platform will allow for simultaneous interpretation during meetings in the International Special Review District. (more)

City of Seattle Seeks Community Members to Serve on the Community Involvement Commission: Commissioners help hold the City accountable for increasing outreach and engagement to underserved communities. The application deadline has been extended to June 30. (more)

$30 Million Available for Community Projects and Anti-Displacement Efforts: The Strategic Investment Fund is seeking proposals for land and property acquisition to respond to disproportionate displacement pressures impacting Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. (more)

ORCA Card Recovery Program Offers Up to 2,000 Seattle Workers Unlimited Free Transportation Passes: The program aims to support food service and grocery workers commuting to and from Pioneer Square, Chinatown, Little Saigon, and Japantown. (more)

Improve Seattle’s Food Access and Racial Justice Efforts by Joining the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board: There are currently three positions open to help advise the City on food equity and education programs funded by the Sweetened Beverage Tax. (more)

Vaccination Opportunities for Students 12 and Older: Throughout June, Seattle Public Schools will be hosting a series of vaccination clinics for students and their family members. (more)

Funding Available to Help Community Based Organizations Address Racism and Intolerance: Applications are open for community-based organizations engaged in strategies and activities to fight racism and intolerance against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. (more)

Trailhead Direct Provides Season Transit Service to Local Hiking Destinations: King County Metro and King County Parks have partnered to address transportation barriers by providing rides to popular trailheads throughout the summer. (more)

In The Community

A woman and her daughter stand on playground equipment at a park with their hands raised in a fist.

Juneteenth Celebration in Othello Park Offers Music, History, Resources, and More

Local non-profit, It Takes A Village-AMSA Edition, will be hosting its fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration this Saturday, June 19, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Othello Park. The festival was started in 2016 after creator Ann Okwuwolu noticed a distinct lack of Black representation at community events in her New Holly neighborhood. She decided to take matters into her own hands and develop an event to celebrate Juneteenth. As she began organizing the festival, she realized just how little people actually knew about the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This inspired her to incorporate historic discussions and opportunities for people to learn more about the significance the holiday holds for Black Americans.

Read the full story in South Seattle Emerald.

Share Your Feedback

Community Input Needed for Future Improvements at Magnuson Park: Two events provide an opportunity for community review of the Magnuson Park circulation plan and comfort station feasibility study. (more)

Provide Feedback on Site Designs for the Mount Baker Station Area Development: Help build a more vibrant Mount Baker by providing feedback through an online survey or by attending a virtual Q&A. (more)

Design Review Survey Open for South Park Plaza: The South Park community is invited to provide input for schematic designs to help determine the future of the South Park Plaza.(more)

Share Your Ideas for Improvements to Highland Park Elementary School: Learn about play area improvement opportunities and provide feedback on existing features. (more)