Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Newsletter

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 05/15/2026 12:46 PM PDT
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A Chinese woman wearing sunglasses and a straw hat smiling with Chinese architecture in the background

One person as a social agent: Constructing the Community Liaison role for the City of Seattle

In a recent opinion piece published in the Northwest Asian Weekly, DON Community Liaison (CL) Linda Li discusses how the matrilineal culture of the Mosuo people in southwest China helped her challenge assumptions and understand the vital role CLs play in moving local governance closer to equity and humanity. "The Community Liaison program, within Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods, is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: Government works best when it honors the lived experiences of the people it serves," says Linda. "My colleagues and I bring our own languages, histories, and cultural frameworks into public service. Our diversity is not incidental; it is the foundation of how we communicate, find solutions, and build trust."

Read the full story on the Front Porch Blog. 

Other City News

Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board announces candidates for Annual Election: Community members who are registered for this election will receive a ballot and self-addressed stamped envelope by mail and must be received by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods by Tuesday, June 9, 2026. See a list of candidates.

Fresh Bucks retailer, Mendoza's Mexican Mercado, brings traditional Latin American flavors to Greenwood: Visiting Sonia Mendoza's business feels more like coming home than entering a store. Sonia started Mendoza’s Mexican Mercado to share the joy and belonging that food offers, and was one of the first independent grocers to join the City's Fresh Bucks program. Read more about the Mercado and the Fresh Bucks program.

Celebrate the reopening of Westlake Park on May 28: Community members are invited into the heart of the city for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, crafts, music, and more to celebrate this beloved public space and showcase recent improvements. Learn more about the gathering and the park's new amenities. 

Get the inside scoop on Seattle's World Cup traffic strategy: Hear from the Seattle Department of Transportation about what’s happening behind the scenes to keep people moving during what we expect to be a very busy summer. Read the interview with SDOT's division director of Construction Coordination and Mobility Management.

Seattle Parks and Recreation announces 2026 Summer Aquatics hours: Whether you’re looking to swim laps, cool off, or spend time at the beach, SPR offers a variety of ways to enjoy the water across the city all summer long. Explore the 2026 Summer Aquatic schedules.

Help shape the future of funding for Seattle infrastructure; join the Transportation Funding Task Force: The volunteer advisory group develops recommendations for the Mayor and City Council on how to generate funding for Seattle’s transportation system. Learn more about the Task Force and how to apply. 

In The Community

Plants and beds in a community garden with a chair and a sign that says "Bailey's Garden"

At P-Patches, communities come together over gardening

In Seattle, you don’t need yard space to garden. All it takes is a little urban ingenuity. P-Patch community gardens offer far more. Community gardens provide a neighborhood oasis where participants grow food and flowers on small plots of land. Managed by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and run by those who are doing the growing, known as plot holders, the gardens give neighbors a way to slow down, share space and see what grows. “That’s the No. 1 draw for being here,” says Cindy Krueger, chair of the leadership team at the P-Patch garden in Ballard. “To be part of a community and make friends.”

Check out the Seattle Times to learn more about the City's community gardens.
A view of single-family homes up an urban hillside

Here's how Seattle neighborhoods can be even more resilient

In celebration of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods 35th Anniversary, Acting Director Quynh Pham and the department's first director, Jim Diers teamed up to draft an opinion piece about the importance of community connections and neighborliness. The duo discuss Seattle's history of community organizing, the formation and ongoing role of DON, and how human connections shape the way communities respond, adapt, and recover when systems are strained. 

Read the full story to hear how simple acts build resilient neighborhoods.

Share Your Feedback

Help make Seattle streets more accessible: Seattle Department of Transportation is updating their Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan and need community input to make Seattle's right-of-way more accessible. Take the ADA Transition Plan Survey. 

Share your thoughts on important climate issues and solutions: The Office of Sustainability & Environment seeks community input to inform updates to Seattle’s Climate Action Plan, map out strategies to reduce pollution, prepare for climate impacts, and build a healthier city for everyone. Take a quick survey to share what's most important to you.

Provide input for the future of the North Aurora cooridor at community pop-up parties: Meet neighbors, connect with City staff and local organizations, and learn about future planning in North Aurora. Upcoming Events:

  • Licton Springs: Robert Eagle Staff Middle School, Wednesday, May 27 5 and 7:30 PM
  • Bitter Lake Community Center, Saturday, June 6,11 AM and 1:30 PM

Can’t make it in person? Explore an online StoryMap about the past, present, and future of North Aurora, and share your vision for the future through our community visioning survey.