Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Newsletter

A Black woman sorting bunches of kale at a community garden.

Seattle’s P-Patch Program Celebrates 50 Years of Community Gardening

P-Patch Community Garden members across the city use their garden spaces to connect with neighbors, grow culturally relevant food, and pass agricultural knowledge and techniques down through generations. Over the past 50 years, the P-Patch program has grown to serve more than 3,600 people and has restructured guidelines to include a more diverse community of gardeners.

Read more in The Seattle Times.

Other City News

National Search Launched for Permanent Director of the Office of Arts & Culture: To help guide a rigorous selection process, Mayor Harrell has appointed a 16-member committee of Seattle arts leaders and stakeholders. Learn more about the position and selection process.

Seattle Parks and Recreation Facilities Closed March 23 for In-Service Day: All recreation programs, community centers, environmental learning centers, and swimming pools will be closed Thursday, March 23, due to a Recreation Division in-service day. View facilities and services not effected by the closure.

Attend the Race & Social Justice Initiative Summit on March 24: Community members are invited to join City staff, artists, activists, change makers, and city leaders for a livestream discussion about healing and belonging as we recover from COVID. Learn more and RSVP.

Seattle Youth Employment Program Seeks Employer Partners: The Human Services Department’s Seattle Youth Employment Program has a goal to place 250 youth & young adults in internships this summer and needs your help connecting with potential partner employers in developing these opportunities. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

New Cherry Blossom Trees to be Planted Around Pike Place Market: Twenty-four new cherry blossom trees will be planted near the market, including the replacement of eight trees planted along Pike Street in the 1980s that are currently in decline. Read more about these trees and other efforts to expand Seattle’s tree canopy.

Celebrate Earth Week with Programs and Festivals Across the City: Join Seattle Parks and Recreation for a variety of public nature programs and gatherings to celebrate Earth Week! Volunteers with Green Seattle Partnership are needed for restoration and planting events at parks and green spaces. See a list of Earth Week events.

City of Seattle Announces Digital Equity Grant Funding Opportunities: Organizations and community groups working to close the digital divide are encouraged to apply for the Technology Matching Fund. Grants of up to $45,000 will be awarded and require a Community Match of 25% of their funding request with cash, time, or other contributions. Read more about this funding opportunity and apply today!

In The Community

A scene from the Marvel movie, Wakanda Forever, with actors draped in blankets with Indigenous designs

Marvel Film, Wakanda Forever, Features Blankets Made in Seattle by Native-Owned Business, Eighth Generation

This past weekend, the Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever designer Ruth Carter took home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Part of the costumes featured in the film included Native-designed blankets designed and made by the Seattle-based Indigenous retail business, Eight Generation. Director of Product Development at the store says they were approached by Marvel with designs that they programmed into a high-tech knitting machine at their SoDo facility.

Read full story in Crosscut.


A portrait of a Black woman with media length hair and a brown and peach blouse.

Local Playwright’s New Work Examines Legacy of CHOP

Playwright Nikki Yeboah delves into the history of the site at 11th Ave and E Pine St. that was once the Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone (CHOP) in a new play based on interviews with 29 community members. The show examines the legacy of CHOP and the ramifications for its participants. Sound Theatre Company will stage a public reading March 17-19 at Erickson Theatre.

Read more in The Seattle Times.

Share Your Feedback

Community Comments Welcomed Regarding Street Changes on Bell St.: Waterfront Seattle is hosting an online open house through March 19 for community members to view two early design concepts for street improvements on Bell St. between 1st and Elliot. View the concepts and share your thoughts.

Public Feedback Wanted on Initiative Aimed at Ending Traffic-Related Fatalities: Seattle Department of Transportation has recently published a draft review of their Vision Zero initiative to better understand a recent rise in serious injuries and deaths on Seattle streets. Take a short survey to help identify opportunities to reduce traffic-related harm.

Share Your Thoughts on Side Sewer Maintenance Incentives: Seattle Public Utilities is asking for public input about maintenance incentives for side sewers to learn what options the community is most likely to use as the program is developed. Provide feedback on maintenance incentives by taking this short survey.