Local

Africatown Community Land Trust hosts a Youth Pop-Up Thursday, Oct. 29 at Pratt Park, featuring youth performances, free food from Wally's Soul Food and children's coat giveaways alongside community visioning for the proposed Yesler Black Cultural Corridor. The event invites Central District residents of all ages to help shape neighborhood development, cultural preservation and the future of the 1601 Yesler site.

Rep. Marilyn Strickland and South Sound food bank leaders warn that federal SNAP cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are deepening hunger among working families, seniors and children. With participation down statewide and food bank usage up 9%, leaders say community organizations cannot replace the federal nutrition safety net.

King County candidates ditched traditional debate formats for humor, games and personal presentations at a Renton youth voter forum hosted by The Washington Bus Education Fund and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. The "Elections Unfiltered" event let candidates speak passionately on chosen topics, fostering genuine connections with young voters beyond typical political theater.

Donna Moodie’s Seattle restaurant Marjorie honors her mother’s legacy of Jamaican hospitality and scratch-made cooking. Now in the Central District after moves through Belltown and Capitol Hill, Marjorie blends Caribbean flavors, community events and mentorship of Black culinary talent, embodying the Pack the House campaign’s mission to support Black-owned restaurants.

The 36th annual Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum returns Nov. 14 in Tukwila, uniting youth, families, and law enforcement for workshops on rights, peer pressure, and justice system navigation. Retired officers John Hayes and Fae Brooks emphasize building trust through relaxed interactions, helping bridge gaps between police and community members. The free event requires advance registration.

Keenen Allen Ladd, a Denny International Middle School student-family advocate and Kingmakers facilitator, has been named a 2026 Washingtonian of the Year for mentoring Black male students and strengthening Seattle families. Through Kingmakers, fatherhood initiatives, and community leadership, Ladd emphasizes representation, authenticity and building lasting relationships that empower young people to envision brighter futures.

The 36th Annual Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, bringing young people and families together with judges, attorneys, and law enforcement for education on legal rights and the justice system. This Seattle Medium podcast episode features retired officers John Hayes and Fae Brooks discussing the forum's importance for community trust.

King County is expanding health care and behavioral health services for people in adult jails, starting up to 90 days before release, to reduce repeat incarceration and prevent treatment interruptions. Part of Executive Girmay Zahilay's "Breaking the Cycle" strategy, the initiative connects participants to Medicaid, addiction treatment, mental health care and case management before they reenter the community.

The Breakfast Group marked its 50th anniversary with a gala celebrating five decades of mentorship and community leadership in Seattle's Black community. Founded in 1976, the organization grew from informal professional gatherings into a mentorship powerhouse through programs like Project M.I.S.T.E.R., impacting thousands of students and inspiring alumni to give back as mentors themselves.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown is seeking to join a federal lawsuit protecting Medicaid coverage for nearly 1,000 legally present immigrants, including refugees and disabled seniors, threatened by Trump administration guidance tied to H.R. 1. A judge already issued a preliminary injunction; Washington's intervention motion is set for Nov. 6 court consideration.