Snohomish County, Wa. YWCA has opened a small library aimed at helping educate people about African/ African American women and their history. The library is located at 6027 208th St. S.W., Lynnwood. YWCA Seattle, King, Snohomish is focused on helping and lifting up women, so this new library is right up its alley. “YMCA wants to give people of color more opportunities and with housing and education, to break down barriers,” explained a YWCA Pathways the staffer.
Brand New Library, Filled With Books Written and About African American Women.
YWCA’s mission has always been to eliminate racism and empower women, so recent events and protests over the murder of George Floyd has resonated with members of the organization. On June 4th a letter to the community was issued explaining that “YWCA stands in solidarity with Black Americans, who are disproportionately incarcerated, assaulted and killed.” When it comes to public protests YWCA is not new to these showings of strength, annually the organization holds an event called “STAND AGAINST RACISM.” This event provides the “opportunity for communities across the United States to find an issue or cause that inspires them to takes a stand”.
Recent “Stand Against Racism” event hosted by YMCA.
YWCA works to make an impact on communities, to uplift women by giving opportunities and resources to help better themselves as well as the people around them. To learn more about YWCA and its work, visit its website, where you will find opportunities to help volunteer and events hosted by YWCA.
MISSION STATEMENT:
YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. A healthy community transformed by racial and gender equity, where women and girls of color have equal access to opportunity, and there is social justice for all people.
The YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish helps women and families find shelter, safety, stability & success. Dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women.
Headquartered in Seattle with 20+ locations, our YWCA serves 49,000 women, men and children in the region each year with a diverse array of housing, economic empowerment, health, domestic violence and youth development programs.
Burien, WA. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program has continued to serve the King County community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Of course, our activities and events have changed,” says Grace Stiller, the program’s President. Volunteers with the Weed Warriors must maintain social distancing protocols, but according to Stiller, the program is still active and engaged.
While the COVID-19 crisis has forced many organizations to close their doors, the Weed Warriors continue to do essential work in Burien’s New Start Community Garden, pictured above. The community garden includes personal patches as well as many feature gardens, and a stage that, before the COVID-19 crisis, was used for community events. According to Stiller, the Weed Warriors’ work in the community garden is “an important part of being able to plant and harvest food for the food bank.” “Volunteers are always needed,” says Stiller, “we always need help in the community garden, and at Mathison Park in Burien.”
Earth Day event 2019 – Students installed Native Plants in the New Start Community Garden, Edible Native Plant Section.
2018 – Produce harvested from the New Start Community Garden for the food bank.
The Weed Warriors program also partners with the National Wildlife Federation to provide the Gardens for Wildlife program. The program includes Zoom Workshops on topics like sustainable gardening practices and controlling invasive, non-native weeds, as well as a restoration event at a community garden or park. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, this year’s restoration events will follow social distancing protocols and forgo large group interactions. According to Stiller, the National Wildlife Federation’s goal to protect wildlife complements the Weed Warriors’ mission to “protect the habitat that gives the wildlife homes.”
Kid’s Native Bird Workshop and Birdhouse Building project 2019 – Kids built their birdhouses at Seahurst Park.
Stiller co-founded the Weed Warriors in 2008 to help students meet their community service requirements, and the program has grown since then. The Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program provides educational workshops, habitat restoration, and community service opportunities. Stiller explains that “when people understand our relationship to nature they’ll respect and advocate for nature and advocate for policies that continue to allow for harmony with nature.”
From Weed Warriors, Nature Stewards Program:
We’re advocates for healthy habitats for both people and wildlife. We connect kids to nature through education and the arts, empowering them to steward the earth and change the world. Our vision is to see the world living in harmony with nature.
Seattle, WA. Velocity Dance Center is offering online dance classes to the public and plans to continue doing so until its annual summer festivals starts on July 12th. Communication manager Vladimir Kremenović explains that Velocity is “offering a variety of online classes through Zoom.” There are classes on Velocity’s website for dancers of every skill level, from beginners to professionals. Single classes can be purchased, or packages of multiple sessions. (Photo above from pre-pandemic performance.)
Dancers explore floor work at Velocity Dance Center before the Covid pandemic.
Velocity Dance Center is located at 1621 12th Ave. in Seattle. It’s one of the largest centers for adult dancers in the Seattle area and acts as a source of creation for many individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest. Velocity’s resources include classes, workshops, performances, residencies, discussions, screenings, as well as two annual international festivals: Strictly Seattle and Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation. When Washington governor Jay Inslee announced the stay-home order throughout the state, many dance studios closed, and Velocity Dance Center was no exception. According to Velocity’s communications manager Vladimir Kremenović, Velocity staff “realized that to protect [their] community [they] needed to close down studios.”
Promotional photo for Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation 2018
Following its closure, Velocity partnered with local artists to stream its works online as a way to connect with the community remotely. These streams included commentary and conversations with artists via Zoom about their creative processes.
Velocity also offers classes for an array of dance genres including modern, contemporary, hip-hop, improvisation, and more. Payment for these classes is donation based. Kremenović states that it didn’t “make sense to charge for classes since many community members have lost their jobs” due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Velocity not only supports its community by providing access to dance resources but also through aiding local activists. Velocity Dance Center is located in Capitol Hill, a Seattle neighborhood amid Black Lives Matter protests. A couple of blocks from Velocity is the Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP), otherwise known as the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ). CHOP is one of the main sites of protests for the Black Lives Matter movement that ignited throughout Seattle following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Kremenović shares that Velocity “wanted to provide resources for people on the street” to support the activism transpiring throughout Seattle and the United States. In early June, Velocity opened its lobby to provide activists with access to restrooms, charging outlets, and water fountains. Velocity recognizes that they are a predominantly white-led organization and as a result decided to take a step back from self-promotion on Instagram to amplify anti-racist sentiment and highlight the voices of BIPOC activists and artists. Additionally, Velocity has partnered with Northwest Film Forum to stream the films, Avivaand Cunningham,through the next month. All proceeds from June film screenings will be donated to organizations that empower Black lives.
Through Velocity’s transition to remote work, Kremenović reports that the organization is “really proud and happy to have so many teachers in their community willing to make the jump” to online teaching. Through online classes and festivals, Kremenović wishes for Velocity to continue making dancers “come together, dance, and create beautiful art.”
From Velocity Dance Center:
There are many ways to support Velocity Dance Center now and throughout the summer. People can sign up for Velocity’s online classes, as well as register for its online summer festivals. Both Strictly Seattle and Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation will be conducted online this year. However, Velocity recognizes that there are more important organizations to spotlight other than its studio at the moment. Velocity encourages people in its community to direct donations towards cultural organizations that support Black lives.
Velocity is Seattle’s center dedicated to contemporary dance, and an essential incubator for new dance in our region. With artist-driven, community-responsive programming, Velocity provides vital resources and advocacy for one of the most active dance communities in the nation. Velocity’s programming includes classes, workshops, residencies, performances, discussions, and two annual international festivals.
Seattle, WA. An impressive group of performers joined forces for a virtual concert on June 24th. It was the “All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief” event and viewers pledged over $45 Million to Washington State COVID relief fund during the broadcast. Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, and his wife Ciara also spoke during the broadcast. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Dave Matthews performs during All In WA: A Concert For COVID-19 Relief. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Courteney Cox, and Tatum Dahl speak during the concert For COVID-19 relief. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Sir Mix-a-Lot performs during All In WA. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for All In WA)
Bill Gates joined the broadcast.
The extensive lineup of entertainers also included Dave Matthews, Macklemore, Pearl Jam, Ciara, Allen Stone, Ben Gibbard, The Black Tones, Joel McHale, Mary Lambert, Pete Carroll, Bill Nye, Candice Wilson, Chad Charlie, Courteney Cox, Dove Cameron, Edouardo Jordan, The Head and the Heart, Jeffery Dean Morgan, Jessica Dobson, Prometheus Brown, Joshua Karp, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Diamond, Mimi Jung, Nancy Wilson, Noah Gundersen, Rainn Wilson, Ryan Lewis, Sleater-Kinney, and Travis Thompson. Presented by Amazon and produced by Anonymous Content and Done + Dusted, the All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief was streamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch channel (www.twitch.tv/amazonmusic and through www.AllInWA.org.
From All In WA:
All In WA hopes to help all Washingtonians find a way to give back. You can support the All In WA fund, created to fill the gaps in funding across the state and governed by an advisory board you can see here. You can also support a Cause Fund, focused on issues of most need, or donate to a Community Fund near you to support a place you love, or use the PowerOf tool.
Please donate today and join us in celebrating the strength of this state by tuning in to All In WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief by Presenting Sponsor Amazon, a virtual event to bring attention to our state’s needs and resilience. This concert will be broadcast live here and on Twitch, KREM, KING 5, KONG, and KSKN. Sign up to learn more.
Seattle, WA. United Way of King County is thanking sponsors who are contributing to its Community Relief Fund. Supporters like the Seahawks are helping to provide immediate access to food, rental assistance, and the support needed for those suffering because of the COVID-19 crisis.
United Way King County writes:
“We would like to recognize our amazing sponsors @Seahawks for their help and support during this crisis. The Seahawks continue to be a strong leader and motivator in our community and we appreciate all of their help fighting hunger and homelessness. Thanks to the many generous donors to the Community Relief Fund: COVID-19, people are receiving rental assistance and help with food.”
You may consider joining them to help make these sorts of things happen:
Rental Assistance. Help is going to King County residents who have lost part or all of their income due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are behind on their rent.
Access to Food. United Way team is helping get food to people who need it through extra support at food banks and community meal sites. Plus, roughly 1,800 families will receive two grocery vouchers of $400 each.
Here’s a video about the United Way’s work:
From United Way:
Next up: We have exhausted initial funding for rental assistance, if you would like to join this impressive group of donors and keep this work going, please connect with James Modie at [email protected]This link will take you away from uwkc.org or:
Seattle, WA. Over 200 people attended ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery’s RED Auction and Gala on July 27th. The event was held in the Canvas Event Space, with decorations inspired by the color red. Patrons Todd Green and Jim Loder posed with smiling dancing girls at the gala which raised over $200,000. The proceeds support ArtsWest’s work producing artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as an agent of change. ArtsWest is located at 4711 California Ave in West Seattle. (Photo credit, Michael Wallenfels)
Sandy Adams, BJ Buller, Jim Guenther, Katy Hannigan
Ivonne Ward
ArtsWest Patrons
Shannon Flora, Todd Green, Jim Loder
Walter Reese, Gary Ambrose
The annual auction and gala featured performance art inspired by the color red. To ArtsWest, red symbolizes life, love, desire, and determination. The event began with a full hosted bar, wine, and hors d’oeuvres. Guests also received three dining options for a meal at the gala. The auction involved bidding on silent auction items and live auction items and experiences such as decadent desserts and exciting vacations.
From ArtsWest:
ArtsWest produces artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as a powerful agent of change.
Theatre
ARTSWEST | MILK LIKE SUGAR
Each year, ArtsWest presents a full mainstage theatre season in our 149-seat space. We selectchallenging, progressive plays designed to spark conversation about relevant topics. Your support helps us offer pay-what-you can preview performances for all mainstage productions, free or discounted tickets for other nonprofit organizations and individuals in need, and general ticket prices that makes the ArtsWest theatre experience accessible to everyone! Your support also helps produce our FIRST LOOK events, which are free and open to the public. Click here to see our current theatre offerings.
Gallery
THE EPIC AND THE PUNY | LAUREN BOILINI & PATTY HALLER
The Runnings Family Gallery at ArtsWest provides community members, theatre patrons, and art enthusiasts with an opportunity to experience high quality, contemporary visual art. Each year, ArtsWest produces exhibitions featuring professional Pacific Northwest artists, providing these artists with an opportunity to showcase their work. Your support helps ensure the Gallery remains free and open to the public.ArtsWest hosts receptions and Artist Talks with each exhibition, and participates in the West Seattle ArtWalk the second Thursday of each month. Click here to learn more about our current exhibition season.
Education
ArtsWest is well known for its Theatre Education Program and is one of only three arts organizations in the United States to receive three successive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of the Arts’ Summer School in the Arts program. Students in ArtsWest’s Education program learn more than how to sing, dance, and act. They learn how to think creatively, take calculated risks, and work as a team. Students with this kind of training become the leaders of tomorrow, and your support helps nurture these young people into becoming community leaders. ArtsWest also offers comprehensive, full-time and part-time apprentice programs for high school, undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates from around Seattle and the country. ArtsWest is dedicated to creating apprenticeship opportunities that maximize an apprentice’s specific skill set and developing future professionals in their chosen field.Click here to see our current education offerings.
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