by Sharon Maeda
At the Emerald, part of our mission is to feature the vibrancy and diversity of our residents, small businesses and nonprofits. When it comes to food, we’ve shared two different, community-driven resource lists (The Intentionalist, and CID/South End POC-owned restaurants) for reference. Since our economic realities are requiring ongoing adjustments, call to make sure the listed restaurants services are still available. Continue reading Eating Well In Crisis
by Jordan Goldwarg
In times of crisis, communities survive through collaboration. We need to remember this as we look for solutions to educating our kids during the coronavirus crisis. During a time when Seattle Public Schools has been under fire for not acting quickly enough to find equitable solutions to begin distance learning, it is becoming clear that in order to support the intellectual and socio-emotional growth of all students, we need to develop strong partnerships between school districts, non-profits, and the private sector. Continue reading OPINION: Intentional Collaboration Ensures Education Equity In Times of Crisis
by Gavin Amos
D’vonne Pickett Jr., the owner of The Postman, is standing outside his shop on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. and Union, talking to me about his vision for his business. D’vonne co-owns the micro mail service with his wife, Keana Pickett. They have dreams of expansion, but those are being put on standby because of the COVID-19 outbreak. They’re still able to stay open now as their shop is considered an essential business. On the front lines keeping together America’s fragile economic and service system, D’vonne stands strong, amidst the danger he and his team are bearing together. He begins to talk to me about what life and business has been like since the state has shut down, and he talks with unrelenting positivity.
Continue reading Essential Business Owners Show Resilience in the Central Districtby Liz Covey, LMHC, Therapist & Parent Coach
No one ever promised that scrolling would bring satisfaction, much less relief, but here I am, doing more of it than ever. More than in life-before-this. I invariably come across dozens of articles with advice for treating this quarantine time like a retreat or a sabbatical, with suggestions for DIY spa days, esoteric crafts, or Kondo-ing the sock drawer while we are all shut-in. Continue reading Hell Is Other People: How to Survive Your Family in Captivity
by Mike McGinn
Here’s what an economist might say “The drive for efficiency across our economy has taken all the slack and redundancy out of the system needed to respond to a crisis. Combined with low personal savings, significant segments of the public lack the resources to respond.”
Let’s translate that. The relentless drive for profits combined with hoarding of wealth has put all of us in the crosshairs of a deadly pandemic. Continue reading OPINION: Rebounding With Justice
by Carrie Basas and Erin Okuno
This article was originally published on Fakequity.com and has been reprinted with permission.
Many people across the country and globe are now working remotely. Organizations such as ours are working from home to limit the spread of COVID19. Carrie’s team has telecommuted for three years. Almost overnight, we’ve seen other organizations move to Zoom video meetings, conference calls, webinars, Facebook Live, and other tools to replace in-person meetings and to allow for social distancing (everyone stay at home). Continue reading OPINION: When Non-Disabled People Get Accommodations, Who Benefits? Things to Think About as We Work Remotely
by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña
The Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma incarcerates immigrants as their immigration cases—which can take years—play out in court. Don’t let the name “detention center” fool you; this 1,575-bed facility is a prison–the only private for-profit prison in Washington state, owned by the GEO Group, one of the largest operators of prisons. Continue reading OPINION: Now is the Time To End Private Prisons in Washington State
Our support systems are stronger, but still don’t cover many modern job situations
by Marilyn Watkins
The coronavirus pandemic has most of us hunkering down at home and thousands of businesses forced to close their doors. New unemployment insurance claims from out-of-work Washingtonians rose the second week in March to more than 14,000, from an average of about 6,000 a week the previous month. Continue reading OPINION: Financial Support in the Age of Coronavirus
by Bob Hughes, Ed.D.
I’ve been reading with some interest the stories about Bellevue College’s recent experience with an administrator’s attempted silencing of an artistic statement about the Japanese internment during WWII. The story interests me on many levels, most of which are personal. I’m a former community college administrator of color who’s also conducted research on community colleges’ diversity and still continues to consult on issues of equity and diversity. So I have more than a mild interest. Continue reading OPINION: Is Banishment Sufficient to Heal a Wound?
by Beau Hebert
Dear The Beauster: Since Coronavirus hit Seattle, my life has gone to Hell. The place where I bartend shut down and my girlfriend dumped me because of my obsession with flattening the curve. Is there a silver lining to this stupid pandemic?
Jilted, Jobless and Jaded in Georgetown
Dear J-J-and-J in G-Town,
I’m sorry that your life has turned into a Coronavirus Country song, but strap on your big boy latex gloves and hang in there! I believe this crisis, like my hair, has so many silver linings that I need to divide them into categories. Continue reading Dear The Beauster: Help Me Find Some Silver Linings to This Pandemic!
