 "A community that is engaged and working together can be a powerful force."
- Idowu Koyenikan –
"For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other."
- Millard Fuller –
I thought this week deserved two great quotes about community because Auburn came together in an amazing way on Tuesday night!
(Click the photo to view the video)
Tuesday evening, Auburn joined cities nationwide in celebrating National Night Out!
Before heading out to visit over 40 neighborhood gatherings across Auburn, City staff and elected officials came together at City Hall Plaza for a quick group photo. As you can see, we showed up in full force!
 A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible, especially Police Commander Cristian Adams and Director of Equity, Engagement & Outreach Brenda Goodson-Moore, and Jenn Francis and Emerson Folker, who did a great job organizing the City Hall Plaza event. Coordinating site visits for hundreds of people is no small task, but Cristian, Brenda and their teams did an amazing job!
I am grateful to all the residents who took the time and effort to host neighborhood gatherings, too. The goal of National Night Out is to build and strengthen relationships between neighbors, law enforcement, and City staff. At the events I visited on Tuesday night, it was heartwarming to see how close neighbors are. How they are willing to help one another. I heard stories of how they came together during COVID, fun gatherings they have throughout the year, and yes, I heard the fears for those who live in neighborhoods that have been hit with juvenile gun violence in recent months.
As I mentioned last week, we are scheduling six neighborhood meetings to bring everyone together to discuss the recent violence, what the City of Auburn is doing, and what we can all do together. Please refer back to this week’s two quotes if you need to. I think it’s incredibly important that we work TOGETHER! Each of us has strengths and weaknesses (yes, the City, too), and if we combine our talents, we can go farther and make a bigger impact.
 Back to National Night Out - these events always leave me feeling more connected to each of you—the true heart of our city. At the end of the day, it's all about people coming together to create something special. There are so many behind-the-scenes efforts that go into making Auburn the community it is, and I’m sure many of you discovered something new on Tuesday.
I can’t wait to do it all again next year!
If you missed the event, view our photo gallery below or watch our recap video.
 OK, what a fun afternoon this was! Kids of all ages gathered at Cedar Lanes Park for the official opening of the Cedar Lanes Bike Park!. A special thank you to Parks, Arts & Recreation, for their dedication to making this park a reality, and to Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, who designed the park and built the skills track, and Cycle Therapy, our program partner for the summer ride series.
 Thanks also to Acting Deputy Mayor Trout-Manuel and Parks Commissioner Hassen for attending. I was reminiscing about my times walking home from Pioneer Elementary School and cutting through the “park” when it wasn’t such a fun and lively place to be.
 Over the years there have been many dedicated individuals, organizations and events that have helped bring to life the great park that we now have. I hope you’ll come by and check it out – bring your bike AND helmet and be ready for a fun adventure!
And if you missed the event, no worries! You can still watch our recap video.
 On Thursday, a delegation of youth ambassadors from Tamba -- Auburn and Kent's sister city -- alongside Auburn’ youth ambassadors (this year all from Auburn Riverside High School), visited City Hall. We talked civics, favorite school subjects, future plans, how someone gets into politics, and much more!
 It was just one of many stops the Tamba delegation had planned during their nine-day trip and I'm always so grateful when they swing through Auburn.
It was perfect timing, too! We borrowed them for a video celebrating Tamba's 20th year as a city! Here's to many more.
 The Almost 5K Poker Fun Run & Walk is an easy run around the big loop at Les Gove Park -- five loops around is “almost” a 5K (short of a 5K by 1,138 feet). For each lap around the loop, participants stop, choose a card, and try to get the best poker hand with the five cards drawn!
During and after the run, listen to the songs from Prom Date Mixtape (self-described as "The Greatest Tribute Band in the PNW!") and catch the Friday Night Flick, which is the Wizard of Oz! The weather should be perfect, so come join us and enjoy!
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Friday, Aug. 9
7 - 8:30 p.m.
Les Gove Park, 910 9th St. SE
Register
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