by Amanda Ong
This Saturday, April 29, The Seattle Public Library will host “Preserving Neighborhood Character: The Soul Pole at 50 Years” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Douglass-Truth Branch in the Central District. The event commemorates the 50th anniversary of the historic Soul Pole’s installation at the branch on April 24, 1973.
Continue reading Central District’s Soul Pole Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary This Saturdayby Shamaar Thomas
The “Cake Walk,” an event fondly remembered from Wa Na Wari’s cofounder Elisheba Johnson’s childhood, is getting a 21st-century makeover. On April 4, the nonprofit Black arts center Wa Na Wari will celebrate its fourth birthday and host its first Cake Dance event at Washington Hall in Seattle. Accompanied by Northwest bakeries, such as Tom Douglas, the cake dance is not only a celebration of Wa Na Wari’s presence in the Central District since 2019, but also a moment to capture Black joy, Johnson says. As a Black artist and curator for Wa Na Wari, Johnson says she is excited to bring back a tradition with a history of growing community ties. In doing so, the event aims to carry out Wa Na Wari’s vision of preserving Black culture and art in Seattle.
Continue reading Wa Na Wari’s Upcoming Cake Dance Offers a Moment to Dance, Win Cakes, and Celebrate Black Joyby Troy Landrum Jr.
“Prolific, so gifted!” Those are the first words we hear from the resounding lyrics of the late great Nipsey Hussle’s award-winning Victory Lap album. If you know of his life and work, you know exactly how impactful those words are to his legacy. If you don’t know, then it would be my honor to tell you.
Continue reading D’Vonne Pickett Jr. — ‘Prolific, So Gifted!’by Patheresa Wells
On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, during Walk The Block, Onyx Fine Arts Collective opened their new location of Gallery Onyx. Inside of ARTE NOIR at 23rd and Union at Midtown Square, the gallery will provide space to share the artwork of artists of African descent in the Pacific Northwest. The space provided is substantial because it gives Black artists, many who may have never had a gallery presence, the opportunity to showcase their work to the community.
Continue reading Gallery Onyx Opens New Location Dedicated to Artists of African Descent at Midtown Squareby Lauryn Bray
The Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 16 marked the end of a week of events celebrating the opening of the William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation. Under the legacy of William Grose, ACLT transforms the decommissioned Fire Station 6 into a technology center dedicated to helping mold Seattle’s next generation of tech developers, creative professionals, and future entrepreneurs.
Continue reading Africatown Celebrates the Opening of the William Grose Center for Cultural Innovationby Patheresa Wells
Walk the Block is an art festival and fundraiser for Wa Na Wari, a Central District hub for Black creativity whose name means “our home” in Kalabari. The festival encourages participants to stroll through the neighborhood, where homes, businesses, parks, porches, and other shared spaces are turned into art installations and performance sites. The second annual Walk the Block takes place on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2–6 p.m. beginning at the Medgar Evers Pool at 23rd and Jefferson.
Continue reading Wa Na Wari’s Walk the Block Returns as the Biggest Black Art Festival in the Northwestby Agueda Pacheco Flores
When temperatures started hitting 100 degrees last summer, Lois Martin knew it didn’t matter how many fans she had running — the Community Day Center for Children (CDCC) in the Central District would have to close.
Continue reading Central District Child Care Center Takes On Climate Changeby Susan Fried
After a two-year delay and several years of planning, Garfield High School (GHS) celebrated its centennial on Saturday, Aug. 27. Hundreds of graduates from classes representing the 1940s to the 2020s showed up to show their Bulldog pride. At mini reunions, classmates who hadn’t seen each other in years hugged, reminisced about their high school days, and talked about their lives since graduation. The joy and excitement people exuded from reconnecting with old friends was palpable.
Continue reading PHOTO ESSAY | Celebrating 100 Years of Garfield High Schoolby Phil Manzano
Garfield High School will mark the centennial of its founding Saturday, Aug. 27, commemorating a school whose values of diversity and acceptance have shaped generations of students as well as the culture of Seattle and beyond.
Garfield is more than just a high school — it is a pillar of the Central District, one that not only broke down racial barriers throughout its history, but spurred many on to greatness.
Continue reading Garfield High Centennial: Celebrating 100 Years of Shaping the Central District and Beyondby Guy Oron
(This article was originally published on Real Change and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
Tenants of a Capitol Hill apartment complex are fighting to stay in place after their building — an example of “naturally affordable” housing in Seattle — was sold to a private company.
Continue reading Tenants in Limbo After Sale of ‘Naturally Affordable’ Apartment Building
