Seattle, WA. Pacific Science Center (PacSci) is a famously hands-on place of learning. Despite closures for the pandemic, the organization established online programming through Virtual Field Trips, Curiosity at Home, Science in the City. This summer, PacSci will be expanding those programs and administrators are excited to welcome more than 1,500 youth to camps that will fully occupy the facility. Another 1,700 youth will participate in camps provided at four other locations in the area as well as virtually. PacSci administration says that, “Just as science continually evolves, so too will our programs and operations.”
PacSci launched Curiosity at Home, a portfolio of free, interactive, and fun digital programming that ignites curiosity and supports STEM learning. It includes videos of live science shows, hands-on STEM activities, tutorials, and more. Curiosity at Home has received more than 350,000 visits from more than 140,000 individuals. Check out the Science in the City video below. It can be found on the Pacific Science Center’s YouTube.
PacSci’s virtual learning opportunities provide a wide array of STEM related programs.
This past fall, PacSci launched Virtual Field Trips to continue to serve educators, students, and families during the school year. Virtual Field Trips are interactive programs that bring the fun and excitement of a PacSci field trip to wherever students are learning. During the 2020-2021 school year, PacSci served more than 28,000 students, half from Title I schools or low-income communities through Virtual Field Trips.
The response to both programs has been “overwhelmingly positive.” Teachers and schools are appreciative that Virtual Field Trips support NGSS standards, which makes it easy to integrate into their lesson plans.
According to PacSci administration, COVID-19 has been a catalyst for innovation. Digital and virtual programming is something PacSci staff has always wanted to incorporate but didn’t know how or didn’t have the resources. COVID also removed all the geographical barriers and allowed expanded access to science education far beyond Washington State. Now people from all over the world can experience PacSci programs and offerings, and ignite their curiosity for STEM.
Tens of thousands of fans of all ages have participated in the new virtual education programming provided in the last year.
From Pacific Science Center:
PacSci is preparing for the world premiere of a very exciting in-person hockey exhibition in October. Additional focus areas include anti-racism work, resuming private event rentals this summer, and installing a state-of-the-art lighting system on the iconic arches. Other developments include finalizing joint programming with community organizations, plans to resume Science on Wheels, and a re-envisioning of the membership program.
PacSci relies on philanthropic support from the community, and with this help can ignite curiosity in more students. Goals include further prioritizing systemically underserved communities and providing even more scholarships for summer camps.
Some elements of renewal, such as building a modern maker and innovation lab and transforming the courtyard, will require additional philanthropic investments.
PacSci is almost entirely dependent on support from the community, including individual donors and corporate partnerships. Now more than ever, PacSci is reliant on the community “to ensure that Curiosity Never Closes!” Find where to make a donation today.
Our Mission
Pacific Science Center ignites curiosity in every child and fuels a passion for discovery, experimentation, and critical thinking in all of us.
Our Guiding Principles
Delight our guests: We offer warm hospitality and highly-engaging interactive experiences. People of all ages and levels of science sophistication find their time with us entertaining, enriching, and memorable. Our guests recommend us and seek to visit often.
Model science as a process: We show that science is a boundless and timeless process of inquiry, discovery, and problem solving. We inspire people to ask questions, develop hypotheses, conduct experiments, and evaluate evidence in all aspects of their lives.
Embrace experimentation and innovation: Experiments and innovation are central to the experiences we provide and the work we do. We also demonstrate that failure is a key ingredient of progress.
Enable access for all: Our facilities, programs, experiences and the benefits they provide are accessible to people of all backgrounds and financial, social, physical, and intellectual abilities.
Support educators and education: We support high-impact science education, focusing on PreK-12.
Serve as a community laboratory and living room: The community gathers at Pacific Science Center to discuss, debate, and collaborate on opportunities and challenges in which science and technology play roles. People come here to learn about and celebrate scientific and technological achievement. We pay special attention to the issues relevant to our city and region.
Run a smart and responsible business: We invest to sustain and grow our long-term impact. Our work attracts investment from public and private sources. We are leaders in socially and ecologically responsible behavior.
Expect and nurture excellence in our people: We attract, develop, and retain exceptionally talented people who believe deeply in our mission and who reflect the community we aim to serve. We expect excellence, and we inspect what we expect. Our culture is collaborative, creative, joyful, and fun.
Seattle, WA. Pacific Ballroom Dance has reopened its studio. The dance organization is a nonprofit focused on the performance of a variety of ballroom dances such as Latin and the Waltz. Pacific Ballroom Dance has been closed due to pandemic regulations, but now the organization is following covid-19 safe protocols. Teachers are able to coach in either private one-on-one lessons or small group lessons.
Ballroom dancing students of Pacific Ballroom Dance at a recent competition
Recently, sixteen students from Pacific Ballroom Dance, specializing in international Latin dance were asked to perform on an online platform with music chosen from the organizer for the California Open. In order for the judges to properly evaluate each couple (the leader and the follower) the body contact and each competitive dance per heat must be measured while being they are followed by a camera within a certain frame, at all times. And no post-recording editing is allowed to ensure fairness, and couples are judged by a live audience of judges who scan each frame carefully.
There are a lot of protocols to follow. For one-on-one instruction for a private lesson, there cannot be more than three individuals per studio space for two private lessons. All professional dancers, including beginners and instructors, are required to wear a CDC regulated mask at all times, complete Covid-19 screening questions for admission into the space and signing safety waivers forms, and must arrive already prepared in their training clothes/outfits as bathrooms and changing rooms are closed-off until further notice due to constrained space. They must also bring any personal supplies, as regulations have put a stop-onto sharing (such as utilizing the water fountain), and must social distance at all times until dismissed. Pacific Ballroom Dance has mitigated the pandemic quite well, particularly with strict enforcement of social distancing procedures, anyone with a temperature of over 100.4 degrees will be asked to stay home, and any use of public equipment or spaces will be thoroughly disinfected. For small group lessons, a similar premise arises for safety procedures. A large student capacity of no more than 14 people can use the large studio. Covid-19 screening questionnaire is heavily enforced, the temperature is taken, and regardless of an increase in space, students are not allowed to be accompanied by outside guests.
Couples on the dance floor must social distance for each heat.
Ballroom dancing is an interesting sport. Like other sports, students go through a similar process with nationals, finals, any type of competition-based performances called “opening’s” to increase their overall ballroom dancer rank. But due to the global pandemic, how did the dancers still stay in the game–dance professionally in front of judges, participate in front of judges amid the safety procedures called for?
Ballroom dancing students who participate in competitions must perform for an audience of judges while following safety protocols.
Recently for the 2021 Nationals for Ballroom dance, students from Pacific Ballroom Dance, although not in official formations, still performed for the National DanceSport Championships, and were able to successfully showcase their skills to win a couple of awards and medals. For most of the open events, the participants were smoothly able to make it to the quarter-finals. Ranging from Youth Smooth (waltz, tango, foxtrot) and Latin Dance to Adult Smooth and Latin Dance championship.
One of the many couples of the ballroom dancing contestants to perform in front of judges.
Due to recent positive developments from the global pandemic, Pacific Ballroom Dance offers free ballroom dance workshops on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 PM, an adult Latin dance night on Thursdays at 8:30 PM for the special month of July, and are hosting an upcoming event called the “Mid-summer extravaganza” from 7:30-10:00 PM on Saturday, July 31st for a chance for collective social dancing.
From Pacific Ballroom Dance:
Our mission is to build character in youth by providing a positive ballroom dance experience. And their vision is to provide youth with a positive artistic, social and athletic experience designed to help them be productive community members.
For the Youth Performing and Competition Teams, The Pacific Ballroom Dance Performing Company now includes more than 150 dancers on 10 Performing Teams of various ages and skill levels (Stars, Preteen, Junior, and Youth) and 16 Competition Teams! Dancers learn choreographed “formation” pieces involving many couples. As the largest ballroom dance organization in the Pacific Northwest, these young people serve as ambassadors and positive role models for youth today.
Pacific Ballroom Dance also has an Adult Academy that provides ballroom instruction for beginner to advanced level adult dancers. Classes run in five-week sessions year-round on weekday evenings. Daytime Tea Dances bring ballroom to our retired community members, and weekend social dances for the public round out the program.
Seattle, WA. Seattle Theatre Group (STG) is preparing to reopen doors for limited in-person events in July. There are restrictions in place to keep patrons safe. Virtual events will continue, such as the upcoming DANCE This Virtual Performance, above. STG includes the Paramount, Moore, and Neptune Theatres.
For all STG theatres, proof of full COVID vaccination and matching photo ID required at the door. Face coverings are required for all attendees, regardless of vaccination status. Any individual who cannot wear a face covering due to an exemption should contact [email protected] for more information. Requests for accommodations to the face covering requirement will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. COVID policies are subject to change.
Proof of full COVID vaccination includes one of the following: (1) vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided and date last dose administered); OR (2) a photo of a vaccination card as a separate document; OR (3) a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device; OR (4) documentation of vaccination from a healthcare provider, electronic health record, or state Immunization Information System record.
This informational video regarding current safety precautions at The Neptune provides further insight.
STG is banding together in a national campaign with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), Event Safety Alliance, Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP), Coalition of Performing Arts Centers, and National Independent Talent Organization (NITO), to endorse and adopt this “Safe In Sound” reopening guidance checklist. This CDC-reviewed checklist of safety protocols is being adopted across the industry as the recognized standard for safe and healthy event operations as the live entertainment industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the transition to in-person events, online opportunities remain available. The virtual RE:DEFINITION gallery is up online. Tariqa Waters, owner and curator of Martyr Sauce, and the late Jonathan Moore founded the RE:DEFINITION gallery at the Paramount Theatre bar in 2015, a partnership with STG to redefine historic cultural space. The goal of the space was always to elevate underrepresented artists and issues of equity in the community.
This mural was commissioned for RE:DEFINITION by STG during the COVID-19 pandemic and coincides with the 5th anniversary of the gallery at The Paramount.
The events calendar provides a list of virtual and in-person opportunities coming up at all three theatres.
From Seattle Theatre Group:
Seattle Theatre Group® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.
Mission:
To create enriching experiences in the arts, engage diverse communities, and steward historic theatres.
Vision:
STG is the people’s theatre. All are welcomed and represented.
Values Statement:
We value Art: Art connects us. It allows us to explore all aspects of our humanity, to debate, to celebrate and to grow.
We value Community: It is our role to advocate for greater participation in the arts, reduce barriers, and include diverse People, Cultures and Perspectives on our stages, in our audiences and within our staff, volunteers and board.
We value Service: We are committed to caring relationships with patrons, partners, artists and staff.
We value Learning for All: We deepen connection to art when we inspire the greater community through education, performance opportunities and healing.
We value our Team: We believe in the power of passionate people who care for our mission and each other.
We value Stewardship: We make the best use of our resources, effectively and sustainably serve our mission, and preserve our assets.
STG presents an average of 700 events annually at The Paramount, The Moore, and The Neptune Theatres as well as at venues throughout the region. Broadway productions, concerts, dance, theatre, lectures, education, community, film, and other enrichment programs can be found in our venues.
A multitude of artists and performers, partner organizations, donors and foundations, volunteers, and most of all – our patrons, make it possible for STG’s mission to be fulfilled.
Seattle, WA. The Asian Counseling and Referral Services, or commonly known as ACRS, is a non-profit organization based on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, in Seattle. The Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped this organization from providing health services, such as mental health and behavioral support and community-building activities and social events for the Asian-American, Pacific Islanders, and underserved immigrant and refugee communities in Seattle. The global pandemic has not hampered the organization’s operations, and yearly events, if anything, have made it as equally as accessible for social promotion and justice advocacy via their online social platforms and web streaming their events for others who could not join physically, could in a remote location.
ACRS has largely impacted the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community for almost 50 years. There are currently over 25 individuals on their Board of Directors.
ACRS, which has recently celebrated its 45th anniversary in celebrating the large network, foundation, and bond within the Asian community in Seattle, was founded in 1973. Wanting to bring social awareness and injustice to the inequities that the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities in the Pacific North West have faced, to recount for years of mistreatment and misdiagnoses due to inability to understand these individuals on a cultural level, ACRS developed 14 programs. Their health services and programs include chemical dependency treatment, comprehensive mental health services, consultation and education for children and families, aging and adults services, and domestic violence batterers treatment. For communities that are struggling financially and economically, ACRS is connected with the local food bank to provide congregate meals and emergency feeding. The other services range from information and referral services that include a legal clinic, citizenship/immigration assistance, and civic engagement, and training services to prepare those seeking employment.
Going from walk-in takeaways, ACRS, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic now delivers hot meals, groceries, and other basic needs to families in the King County area.
So what’s currently happening at ACRS? Every year, for the past 31 years, ACRS holds the event “Walk For Rice” where participants register online and help raise funding for the ACRS’ Food Bank to provide enough culturally nostalgic, familiar foods, and hot ready-to-go meals for King County residents (immigrants, refugees, and other families who have been hit hard by the pandemic) for two months: April 5 – June 26th. However, since this year’s Walk For Rice event was conducted fully remote and virtual, ACRS has been able to strategize competently. Instead of their normal walk-in distribution, they have decided to do home deliveries (at a safe distance). Despite this large success, and the countless volunteers, helpers, and community partners, to keep maintaining such an efficient scale, ACRS is in need of more support from the community. As seen in the photo above and below.
ACRS volunteers and community partners helping out with the ACRS Food Bank.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ACRS has not stunted their services. They have managed to continue providing countless and accessible support for those who need it (particularly consultation services) through an appointment-based system from 9 AM – 4 PM Mondays to Fridays to protect those immunocompromised, and for more immediate services, they have a hotline that can be contacted: Crisis Connections.
From Asian Counseling and Referral Services:
ACRS promotes social justice and the well-being and empowerment of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities – including immigrants, refugees, and American-born – by developing, providing and advocating for innovative, effective, and efficient community-based multilingual and multicultural services.
Our agency’s largely bilingual and bicultural staff of about 280 collectively speak 40 languages and dialects. ACRS staff, many of whom speak the same language and come from the same cultures as the people we serve, touch the lives of more than 35,000 people annually.Asian Counseling and Referral Service helps clients attain the highest levels of self-sufficiency in Western society while maintaining their cultural identities. In most cases, clients are served by professional staff who speak the same language and come from the same culture. ACRS provides programs and services listed below in a culturally appropriate setting in order to improve the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, whether immigrant, refugee or native-born.
Seattle, WA. ROOTS (Rising out of the Shadows) Young Adult Shelter has remained in operation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and successfully moved locations. Now located in the University of Washington’s Greek community, the shelter houses up to 45 individuals experiencing homelessness every night, aged 18-25. Above, volunteers pose in front of the repurposed fraternity house.
ROOTS began looking for a new location in April 2018. After several months with no success, an article ran about the search in 2019. The next day, the owner of what is now the new ROOTS building reached out. The deal closed in August 2019. The shelter officially opened its doors after renovations in March of 2021.
The shelter space is thoroughly cleaned daily before guests arrive in the evening.
According to Volunteer Services Manager Jordan Beaudry, the COVID-19 pandemic changed “every facet of operations, from top to bottom.” ROOTS implemented a 6-8 pm cleaning slot that assures “every square inch of shelter space” is safe for guests. This cleaning window will likely stick around as part of the daily procedures, Beaudry says.
To keep guests and volunteers safe, ROOTS has adhered to strict social distancing measures. Before the pandemic, guests were able to eat communal meals. Guests now eat at their individual mats to promote social distancing. Everyone who enters the building is required to wear a mask, have their temperature checked, and complete a COVID-19 screening. It is because of these measures that ROOTS has been able to remain open throughout the pandemic with no closures.
ROOTS has five individuals showers, five individual toilets, and a laundry facility for guests.
Beaudry says ROOTS is “always looking for volunteers,” particularly in the overnight or overnight adjacent shifts. The ROOTS team has hopes to expand the facility to include drop-in daytime services, transitional living, mental health resources, and wraparound services. To implement these goals, donations are necessary. Cash donations of any size “go a super super long way,” according to Beaudry.
The ROOTS team is excited to provide expanded services like transitional housing in the future.
ROOTS emphasizes the peer-led approach to foster connectivity and shared humanity. For those looking to get involved, click to learn about donations and volunteer opportunities.
From ROOTS:
Founded in 1999 with the vision that everyone deserves a safe place to call home, ROOTS (Rising out of the Shadows) was Seattle’s first overnight shelter designed to meet the unique needs of homeless young adults ages 18 – 25 years old.
The organization’s mission is to build community and foster dignity through access to essential services and a safe place to sleep for young adults experiencing life on the streets.
Since its inception, ROOTS has served over 8,500 unique guests and provided them with hot dinner, breakfast, laundry, showers, clean clothing, hygiene items, and referral services.
In 2017, ROOTS added onsite case management that resulted in 87 guests exiting shelter into housing, and in 2018 showed an increase of over 100 guests exits to housing. With young adults and other low-income persons in mind, ROOTS advocates for social justice and long-term solutions for the communities it serves.
On any given night, ROOTS has 45 overnight shelter beds open for young people ages 18-25.
Seattle, WA. The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services is a Filipino nonprofit organization based in Beacon Avenue, South Seattle. The Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped the nonprofit from serving the elderly community, underserved immigrants, and vulnerable families. Currently, most of the nonprofit’s services have shifted online via appointment for information and housing assistance, but the nonprofit is still offering no-contact meal delivery for seniors in need as seen above.
Launched in 1973 as a small daycare, the nonprofit now provides multiple services to the Filipino community. The organization advocates for healthcare benefits, social security assistance, and other concerns the elderly Filipino community members may experience.
Volunteers of the IDIC help out with bagging groceries and supplies for delivery.
The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services has been faring well despite the Covid-19 crisis, but the community they served still needs more help. One positive development is that volunteers have managed to shift their priorities to delivering food meals and bags to the seniors of the community most impacted (seniors are more vulnerable to getting harsher health issues to recover from due to Covid-19) with the help of the local food bank.
Once a week, the organization delivers prepared food. Volunteers serve more than 200 individuals over the age of 55 and adults with disabilities.
The IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services hopes to expand its efficiency to provide more adequate care to underserved communities. As a result, they now have two more vehicles to help out with transportation. A bus for the elderly to get to and from the center, and a car to deliver the food bags around the Beacon area.
The organization is still very much in need of more volunteers (drivers and baggers) to help provide warm meals for the most vulnerable seniors and are grateful for the support they have received to continue their services.
From IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services:
At the present home of IDIC on Beacon Hill in South Seattle, a broad range of services available to members and county residents include information and assistance, veterans’ advocacy and benefits assistance, health seminars, estate planning guide and referrals, subsidized housing advice, disability and social security benefits advocacy, and other concerns that seniors citizens encounter. To combat mild depression there is PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors), courtesy of the City of Seattle’s Human Services Department.
The IDIC is managed by an Executive Director who reports to a 15-member Board. With its current resources, the IDIC has a total of nine full and part-time staff. They work closely with community-based organizations like the Sound Generations, Food Lifeline, Filipino War Veterans of Washington (FWVW), Asian Counseling & Referral Service (ACRS), the Filipino Community of Seattle (FCS), Muckleshoot Tribe Foundation, King County, City of Seattle Human Services Department Aging & Disability Services, and the Seattle Foundation to name a few.
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