Dear District 5, Thank you to the community members who joined the District 5 Civic Summit last Saturday! It was heartening to get together with members of the community and connect over how we can make a lasting impact for Tacoma. At the end of the event, we all joined in committing to actions we could take going forward. I wanted to give a special shoutout to all the city staff who helped me put this event on, Baker Middle School for hosting and all the groups that came to table and have a panel discussion. Thank you to the Community Council of Tacoma, Tacoma Tree Foundation, Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Oscar’s Enemies, Tacoma Transportation Commission, the Tacoma Police Department, and Tacoma Emergency Management! One commitment I made was to share out some opportunities to make a difference in Tacoma based on how you would like to show up. Below I outline some policy shaping opportunities, some hands-on activities, and even some events that you can take the kids too. I’ll make sure to continue sharing different activities and events in my newsletters so you can plug in! Thank you, Council Member Joe Bushnell City of Tacoma, District 5

• Volunteer with the City of Tacoma
• Community Clean Up Opportunities
• Find and Attend Community Activities
• Connect with your neighbors on National Night Out!

Volunteer with the City of Tacoma

Get Involved and Serve Tacoma. The City is always looking for applicants for its volunteer committees, boards, and commissions. These critical roles help advise the Council on policy decisions and review applications for City funding opportunities. Ensuring we have representation from across the City is important, and I would love to see more District 5 representatives in these roles. Below are groups that are specifically seeking a District 5 representative.

Tacoma Creates Advisory Board
The Advisory Board advises Tacoma Creates Administration on funding programs. Its purpose is to guide program development and approve funding recommendations for the benefit of all residents of Tacoma. The primary responsibility of the Advisory Board is to ensure compliance to Tacoma Creates guidelines and accountability standards. The Advisory Board’s functions are outlined in the Tacoma Municipal Code.

Equity in Contracting Advisory Committee
The Equity in Contracting Advisory Committee is an advisory panel to staff as it pertains to the City’s Equity in Contracting (EIC) policy. The Committee is responsible for monitoring compliance with all provisions and regulations of Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 1.07, promoting awareness of the EIC program, and providing advice to the EIC Program Manager on overall EIC program performance effectiveness. The EIC Advisory Committee is not involved in procurement decisions or administration of the program.

Visit our Committees, Boards, and Commissions webpage to see all the current available volunteer roles, and sign up to learn about new openings here.

Community Clean Up Opportunities

You can be a part of making your neighborhood beautiful! The City of Tacoma provides resources for Community Cleanup Programs. We also work with community partners, like Oscar’s Enemies, which organizes large group cleanups throughout the city once a month. They’re known for saying “We pick up litter and make the city glitter!” and bring together groups of over fifty volunteers to clean up some of our most littered areas in the city. It’s a great first (second, third, or twentieth) way to try out a litter clean up if you’re curious about getting started. Oscar’s Enemies has held 8 clean ups in District 5! Get connected to their group on Instagram or email oscarsenemies@gmail.com. For the month of May they’re picking up trash on Saturday 5/17 from 9 AM -11 AM. The RSVP link will close at 7pm tonight to allow them to plan for the best event possible. Our neighborhood councils also work hard to coordinate litter events like Litter Free 253. You can join the South Tacoma Neighborhood’s next event this Saturday 5/17 from 2 PM – 4:30 PM. Learn more at Clean Up Tacoma: Scott Pierson Trail in South Tacoma. Tools, gloves and snacks provided. All ages and abilities welcome. Wearing closed-toed shoes is recommended.

Find and Attend Community Activities

One consistent theme at the Civic Summit was the need to get to know our neighbors. A great way to do that is by attending community events. We’re so lucky in Tacoma to have Parks, business districts, and many other organizations put together amazing neighborhood-based activities. I particularly want to shout out Tacoma Public Libraries for creating free family-focused, hands-on learning events.

Come with me to the Fern Hill Library on Saturday June 28 to Join the Science Heroes for a Day of Experiments, Laughter, and Learning! 🔬✨ This isn’t your average science show. Science Heroes combines storytelling, science, and supercharged fun to spark curiosity in kids and adults alike. Each of the six experiments begins with a lively story that gets everyone moving and making sound effects—because science should never be boring.

Check out all the events at our libraries, and start getting connected today!

Connect with your neighbors on National Night Out!

National Night Out (NNO) is more than just an event — it’s a nationwide initiative designed to foster neighborhood spirit, enhance police-community partnerships, and strengthen cross-generational connections. Every NNO event is unique, reflecting the diverse communities that participate. Some celebrations are potlucks on the sidewalk, others are resource fairs and barbecues at a central community site. You & your neighbors decide!

Ready to Get Started on Your Neighborhood NNO Celebration?

If you’re ready to take the next step, Safe Streets is here to help. The first step is to register your NNO group–then you will be able to access resources like flyers, indicate if you’d like your event to be visited by community workers, and find activity ideas. Let’s work together to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live!