by Leija Farr
Seattle is a melting pot. ‘Melting pot’ reads like a tour guide statement that has been reiterated for many major cities; bragging rights in some sorts. But all the residents in Western Washington are definitely feeling the heat. Continue reading Melting Pot: The Changing City, Strides For Young Poets, and How it All Connects
by Pastor Harvey Drake
(accompanying photos are from various Juneteenth celebrations from across Seattle taken by Susan Fried)
Freedom is an intrinsic spiritual value that is deeply rooted in the DNA of our country. It is a value we celebrate nationally. For weeks preceding Independence Day, our flag covers items in stores as families look forward to gathering for food and fireworks. Continue reading Articles of Faith: Juneteenth – A Valuable Story of Freedom
by DJ Martinez (words and photos)
Just over a week ago, a large crowd of supporters turned out to “defend the defender,” immigration advocate Maru Mora-Villalpando, in front of downtown Seattle’s Immigration Court on Second Ave, the “epicenter for the deportation pipeline in Washington State” said Mora-Villalpando. Continue reading Can Seattle Really Call Itself a Sanctuary City?
by DJ Martinez
On Monday, March 19th, the No New Youth Jail Coalition delivered a letter to King County Executive Dow Constantine’s office demanding a moratorium on construction of the $210 million youth jail, known as the Children and Family Justice Center. The People’s Moratorium asserts: Continue reading No New Youth Jail Coalition Demands Moratorium on Construction During Week of Action
by DJ Martinez
At 8am Friday March 2, I joined four anti-racist White collectives who were supporting the No New Youth Jail campaign as they united to take the streets of downtown Seattle, initially locking arms (literally) and posting themselves in front of King County Executive Dow Constantine’s office at the Chinook Building before continuing down 4th avenue and locking down at multiple intersections. The direct action created major delays on both I-5 and I-90, with buses needing to be re-routed. Continue reading The No New Youth Jail Campaign Shows No Signs of Stopping
by Chloe Collyer
“ I have the people behind me, and the people are my strength.”
-Huey P Newton
“The password today is Huey P Newton.” This is the greeting each student receives as they enter the Black Power Epicenter in Beacon Hill. A volunteer checks in each young adult who in turn, repeats back the day’s quote with a dutiful confidence. Continue reading Youth Spend Weekend Learning to Undo Institutional Racism
by Ijeoma Oluo
This is a transcript of a speech delivered Friday, Jan. 12, at the 45th Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., sponsored by Seattle Colleges, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Seattle.
Like many black children, I was raised with tales of the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Much of that narrative — at home, in school, in television and in film — centered around Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolence in his fight for racial equality. Continue reading Non-Violence in a Violent World
by William Jackson
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. but the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”—Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
While sitting in the barbershop waiting for my turn to get my hair cut, I could not help but witness the similarities a barbershop has to a classroom. Each barbershop has a barber, and patrons waiting for their opportunity to get their hair cut. Similarly, in each classroom, there is a teacher, and students waiting for the opportunity to be taught. Interestingly, while waiting for my haircut appointment, I could not help but draw the connection this experience had to classroom and community engagement. Continue reading Creating Community: Lessons Learned In The Barbershop
by Carlos Nieto
In the spring of 1998, when I was three, I immigrated from Tijuana to Bellingham. My dad arrived there a year before us to find work. A few months after that we moved to the Central District in Seattle. Then we moved to Rainier Beach, where we’ve lived ever since. As long as I can remember my dad always worked in construction or as a mechanic. While my mom moved boxes for UPS, nannied and cleaned houses. Continue reading Not Defeated, Here to Stay
by Peter Johnson
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted yesterday to end net neutrality. That ruling will damage equal access to the internet throughout the country. It could also do particular damage to Seattle. Continue reading Can Seattle Bring Back Net Neutrality?
