Seattle, WA. Skate Like a Girl Seattle will conduct its summer skate camp online for 2020. Chapter co-director Soph Elden says that “since COVID-19 hit, [the organization] decided to switch to an at-home virtual skate camp.” The camp now gives skaters of all skill levels a variety of online tools to improve their skating and connect with mentors from the comfort of their homes. Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals, especially young women, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding.
Each camp session is a week-long (Monday to Friday) and features a daily opening and closing “circle time” with fellow campers and counselors via video conference. Campers receive skate skill videos designed for their distinct skill level, as well as supplemental challenge worksheets and a camper t-shirt. There is an average one counselor to five camper ratio so campers may receive individualized check-ins with counselors and more personalized instruction.
Here’s a video about the virtual summer program for 2020.
A flyer for Skate Like A Girl Seattle’s At-Home Summer Camp
The summer camp offers classes for skaters of all gender identities, as well as weeks exclusively designated for women and/or queer and trans people of all ages. The camp cost is $129 and there are scholarships that skaters can apply for to ensure that the camp is as accessible to as many people as possible. And if you don’t have a skateboard, helmet, or padding, Skate Like a Girl Seattle can help with that! Campers can reach out to Skate Like a Girl Seattle via e-mail to borrow skate gear through drop-off or pick-up services.
Skate Like a Girl Seattle also provides additional skateboarding programs and activities for people of all skill levels, ages, and gender identities year-round. The organization offers weekly women and trans skating sessions, after school programs, and 12 years and under skating clinics during the school year at All Together Skate Park, located at 3500 Stone Way North in Seattle. In addition to at-home summer camp, Skate Like a Girl is continuing its women and trans skating sessions virtually through Zoom.
Instructors and skaters for Skate Like A Girl’s women and trans skating sessions
In light of the recent Black Lives Matter protests for racial justice, Skate Like a Girl Seattle has been vocal on social media about the significance of continually supporting Black lives now and moving forward. According to Elden, Skate Like a Girl’s messaging “prioritizes social justice.” Elden says that Skate Like a Girl Seattle has recently utilized social media to encourage people to take specific actions to support Black lives, including providing followers with “swipe-up” links on Instagram stories to “sign petitions and get donations matched.” Elden states that Skate Like a Girl Seattle plans to “listen to and follow Black-led causes and organizations” and “celebrate and elevate Black trans people and Black women.” Skate Like a Girl Seattle also supports defunding the police and “reallocating funds to programs like health care, education, and other resources, particularly in Black communities and Black-led organizations.”
Through its dedication to social justice, Skate Like a Girl Seattle plans to continue empowering all skaters in the Seattle community virtually until in-person programs may resume.
From Skate Like A Girl:
Skate Like a Girl is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals, especially young womxn, to become strong, confident leaders who promote and implement equity through the vehicle of skateboarding. We believe that skateboarding is a tool to build confidence, resilience, and foster inclusive community. Our mission is to create an inclusive community by promoting confidence, leadership, and social justice through the sport of skateboarding. Founded 17 years ago, we currently operate chapters in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay Area.We value experiential learning and civic participation, by providing opportunities to be involved in the skateboarding community.
Lynnwood, WA. Volunteers are staying active in Lynnwood. A recent Grocery Giveaway Earlier at Charisma Christian Center is evidence of that. Eight years ago the center’s pastor, wanted to “expand love and care to the community, by extending to those who are less fortunate and in need of assistance.” This mission is behind the idea of an upcoming BackPack Giveaway. It’s a community outreach program designed to help give out backpacks filled with school supplies to help children in grades K -12 get ready for the school year. After 7 successful years of being able to give back to the community with help from sponsors such as McDonalds, Clothes for Kids, Grocer Outlet and Lions Club all helping in various ways, this annual event has been able to have a positive impact in the Lynnwood community. For this years Back Pack Giveaway will be able to hand out 1000 backpacks filled with school supplies as well as 350 grocery bags filled with essential foods for families in need.
Back Pack Giveaway Volunteers (2018)
Due to Covid-19 the event will look a little different from years prior. Now there will be a way to register for backpacks and groceries online as well as have volunteers wear face masks and gloves to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Also there are plans to “scale things back” when it comes to crowds this year. Usually, this event has music guests and games for kids as well as food. However, this is not detouring Charisma from going forth with their event because “we care about extending love to those who are less fortunate and need help”. If you would like to volunteer for the BackPack Giveaway you may reach Charisma at this link here. Also in the next couple of weeks you will start to see flyers and other advertisements for this event. The BackPack Giveaway will be on Saturday, August 22nd and will be an all-day event.
Charisma Christian Centers New Method of Handing Out Groceries to Families
Charisma Christian Center Mission Statement:
Charisma offers hope: no matter who you are, where you’ve been, and whatever you have done, Christ can give you a brand new life, peace, joy, meaning and significance (2 Cor.5:17)
Charisma Christian Center wants to support and give back to the community by having these outreach programs such as BackPack Giveaway. The Church gives away 1000 backpacks annually as well as 350 bags of essential food to families in need.
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. 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:
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