Seattle Department of Neighborhoods

A Black man smiling, standing in a garden plot

“All Are Welcome:” Ethiopian Immigrant, Girma Toke, Embraces Community Gardening at Westcrest P-Patch

We recently caught up with community gardener, Girma Toke, to chat about using his plot to grow some of the foods unique to his home country, how he has transferred farming techniques from Ethiopia to the P-Patch, and the warm welcome that was extended to him and his family from the garden community. 

Read the full story on the Front Porch Blog.

Other City News

Mayor Harrell Announces 2023-2024 Budget Proposal: The budget proposal focuses on addressing the urgent needs of Seattle’s communities, getting the basics right, and delivering the essential city services that residents expect as we continue to build One Seattle. (more)

Enjoy Public Art Installations at Seattle Center through the End of the Year: The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Art Interruptions program has commissioned four artists to develop public art activations for the Seattle Center Sculpture Walk. (more)

Detective Cookie Chess Park Opens in Rainier Beach: Officially opened on Saturday, September 24, this new, permanent chess park honors Seattle Police Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin and her passion for bringing the strategy game to South Seattle youth. (more)

Paid Internship with the City Available for High School Youth: Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Career Exploration program is currently accepting applications for an 11-week stipend-based internship for students interested in gaining professional experience through work applications. (more)

Apply to Join the Watershed Protection Team: Seattle Public Utilities is looking for people who enjoy working outdoors to help ensure the source of Seattle’s drinking water remains protected from unauthorized access and any other threats. (more)

Discovery Park Environmental Learning & Visitor Center Closed for Improvements: Seattle Parks and Recreation is working on awarding the construction contract for an Accessibility and ADA Improvement project. Construction completion is anticipated in June 2023. (more)

Home Repair Loan Program Provides Affordable Loans to Homeowners: Is your side sewer broken? Do you need help paying for emergency repairs? The Seattle Public Utilities program provides 0% loans for income-qualified homeowners to perform sewer repairs. (more)

In The Community

A young Japanese boy wearing a hat, waving from a window

The Time Capsule in Seattle’s Panama Hotel

Built in 1910, the Panama Hotel and Tea House was designed by Japanese immigrant Sabro Ozasa, the first Asian architect in Seattle and served as a single-room-occupancy hotel serving immigrants and transient workers. When Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps during World War II, hotel manager Takashi Hori allowed Japantown residents to leave their belongings in the hotel’s basement. Today, eight decades later, many of the possessions remain in the still-standing Panama. A powerful symbol of a tragedy that was long ignored by the rest of the population.

Read the full story in Crosscut.

 


An illustration of a a person with brown skin leaning out of a window in a brick building picking up a potted plant

Three Seattle Organizations Permanently Acquire Space for Queer and Trans BIPOC Housing

When it comes to housing resources for their own communities, queer and trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) are doing it for themselves. Three different Seattle-area QTBIPOC organizations, Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, Lavender Rights Project, and Queer the Land have worked to permanently obtain buildings to house QTBIPOC individuals facing housing insecurity. In addition to providing temporary and semi-permanent housing, the facilities will also offer gender-affirming health care, harm reduction, mental health care, mutual aid pantries, and more. 

Read more in the South Seattle Emerald.

 

Share Your Feedback

Help Shape the Future of Transit on Rainier Ave South: Seattle Department of Transportation is expanding bus-only lanes and are looking for community feedback on two options to help improve travel time and reliability of busses in South Seattle. (more)

Provide Feedback on Amended Draft Map of City Council Districts: The Seattle Redistricting Commission recently voted to amend the previously adopted draft map outlining new City Council Districts. Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the proposed adjustments and amended draft map. (more)