FUTURE GAZING: Life in This City Must Reflect the Undoing of Criminalization of Our Lives

With a challenging year soon to be behind us, we asked community members to share their vision of what they hope becomes of our city post-pandemic.  

by Maru Mora


What should renewal in 2021 Seattle, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, look like? 

It should look like us, low-income People of Color, being able to afford to live, work, eat, and walk safely on the streets or driving without worrying about the police and authorities targeting us.

Continue reading FUTURE GAZING: Life in This City Must Reflect the Undoing of Criminalization of Our Lives

Showdown Over Federal Coronavirus Relief Bill Means Longer Waits for Aid

by Ben Adlin


Update on Stimulus Payments: Direct Deposits and prepaid debit card mailings have begun according to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Physical checks will begin to be mailed December 30.

President Donald Trump’s last-minute second-guessing of a congressionally approved COVID-19 relief package will almost certainly delay direct monetary payments to Americans, once expected to begin going out as early as next week. But the president’s criticism of the bill, which came abruptly after weeks of partisan negotiations, has also given Democrats an opening to increase payments to $2,000 per person, up from $600 in the version already approved by lawmakers.

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A Backstage Look at Intiman’s Technical Theatre and Social Justice AA Degree at Seattle Central College

by Beverly Aarons


Fury-fueled crowds of chanting protestors, clever and insightful picket signs, and collective action to transform or eradicate unjust laws and cultural practices — this is how many see social justice. But when Intiman Theatre began to look for a new home and contemplated how they could advance their mission, they imagined how social justice could be advanced by backstage storytellers — costume designers, lighting designers, sound riggers, set builders, and other technical theatre artists. The answer was a two-year Associate of Arts degree in Technical Theatre for Social Justice (AA-TTSJ) and a partnership with Seattle Central College (SCC). But what does that mean, exactly? Who can participate? And what does social justice in technical theatre really look like? During our telephone interview, Intiman’s Educational Director, Dr. M. Crystal Yingling, gave a sneak peek into the program.

Continue reading A Backstage Look at Intiman’s Technical Theatre and Social Justice AA Degree at Seattle Central College

FUTURE GAZING: Unifying to Spread More Love

With a challenging year soon to be behind us, we asked community members to share their vision of what they hope becomes of our city post-pandemic.  

by Nakeya Isabell


Seattle: my home, my birth place. My vision is that we would unify and spread more love than hate. That we would permeate our streets with compassion, grace, and truth. My vision is that our churches would remain committed to the legacy of our roots and be like trees planted near the water. My hope is that our communities would remain open to the reconstruction process as we move forward. We will never be the same! The process takes relevant strategies. Change is necessary. 

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FUTURE GAZING: What If Care Was the Organizing Principle of Our Society?

With a challenging year soon to be behind us, we asked community members to share their vision of what they hope becomes of our city post-pandemic.  

by JM Wong


What if care was the organizing principle of our society? Not profit, not white supremacist garbage masked as liberal paternalism in the form of “diversity” that would hire cops of color to continue to target Black and Brown folks on the street just living their lives.

Continue reading FUTURE GAZING: What If Care Was the Organizing Principle of Our Society?

Skyway Community Rallies to Help Families Left Without Homes After Greentree Apartment Fire

by Andrew Engelson


In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Dec. 23, a fire broke out in the Greentree Apartments in Skyway. Though firefighters from King County Fire District 20 (KCFD20), as well as units from Renton Regional Fire Authority, Tukwila Fire Department, and other units from across the region fought the three-alarm fire, the massive blaze left most of the apartment building damaged. Thankfully there were no fatalities, though KCFD20 reported that one resident was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

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The Morning Update Show — 12/23/20

The Morning Update Show — hosted by Trae Holiday and The Big O (Omari Salisbury) — is the only weekday news and information livestream that delivers culturally relevant content to the Pacific Northwest’s urban audience. Omari and Trae analyze the day’s local and national headlines as well as melanin magic in our community. Watch live every weekday at 11 a.m. on any of the following channels, hosted by Converge Media: YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Periscope, and whereweconverge.com.

We’ll also post the Morning Update Show here on the Emerald each day after it airs, so you can catch up any time of day while you peruse our latest posts.

Morning Update Show — Monday, Dec. 23

Today on the show:

Special Guest Host – Bobbie Stills | Happy Birthday Nikki Barron! |Chief Scoggins |Seattle Fire Dept | LIVE Willard Jimerson | LIVE Jake Gravbrot | LIVE| News & Headlines!

New Managing Director Justin Pritchett Has Big Plans for the Ark Lodge

by Mark Van Streefkerk


When COVID-19 forced Columbia City’s Ark Lodge Cinemas to shutter their doors in March, the sudden loss in revenue dealt a staggering blow to the South End’s few independent movie theaters. Owner David McRae quickly launched several fundraising strategies, and now new managing director Justin Pritchett brings Popcorn Weekends to the Ark. Pulling from his expertise in movie theater food and beverage operations, Pritchett has big plans for keeping the Ark afloat, now and long after the pandemic.

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Black’Butta Co. Delivers Love-Kissed Sweets to Pandemic Weary Seattle

by Beverly Aarons


Winter is here. The long, dark days. The cold wind. The wet and freezing rain. And since this is 2020, we can probably add quite a bit of snow to that list. But just beneath the blanket of gray is a golden thread of sunshine — a Seattle cook, born and bred right in this city, hopes to bring a little warmth to the hearts and hearths of this beleaguered town. Veronica Very, the owner of Black’Butta Co., has always cooked but not in any official capacity before the pandemic. She was (and still is) a writer, the wife and business partner of visual artist Hiawatha D., and the founder of Women of Wonder, “a sacred space for Black women and girls.” But the pandemic forced her to get creative about her next business move.

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Amplifying the Authentic Narratives of South Seattle