By Sydney Goitia-Doran, The Seattle Medium
Every year, Elder Dawn Mason hosts a community fish fry at her home in Columbia City. This year was particularly special for Mason — as the former state representative Celebrated her 80th birthday on the 30th anniversary of her fish fry.
The event, which drew over 300 community members under the theme “Boots on the Ground”, featured Dawn’s salty, flaky fried catfish, the Double Dutch Divas, the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle, line dancing, and live music by Michael Powers. The event buzzed with energy as generations of Seattleites came together in a vibrant display of unity and culture.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell made the event even more special, as he surprised Mason by presenting her a Key to the City as he acknowledged her contribution as a longtime community advocate and State Rep. for the 37th legislative district to the Greater Seattle community.
“Dawn, as she turns 80, has been for literally decades and decades, building community, fighting for the younger generation, being an education advocate unlike anyone I’ve seen. I just thought it very appropriate that we recognize her for all she does,” Harrell said. “Sometimes people take her kind of advocacy for granted and I don’t think we should take it for granted, so I’m actually honored to bestow it upon her.”
Mason, who had welcomed special guests to the event—including Harrell and Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown—had no idea when she invited the mayor to speak that he would surprise her with the city’s highest honor.
“What this means to me receiving the Key to the City. I’m an Elder of Distinction, and that title was more important to me than the title of state representative. I use ‘Elder,’ not ‘Representative’ because the community chose me and to have the Key to the City, that’s the ultimate that a mayor can give to a person,” Mason said. “And it’s not about any one thing. I know that. It’s about the sum total.”
In her address to the crowd, Mason reflected on the deeper meaning of the gathering and its legacy.
“This fish fry has fed body and spirit for over 30 years. Its secret ingredient is family, faith and a culture that refuses to grow old. If you keep showing up, so will I,” said Mason. “But each year I’ll step a little further into the background, watching with pride as your Elder of Distinction while the next generation takes the baton and keeps the oil hot.”
Among the crowd were longtime friends, family members, political figures, and first-time attendees—each drawn by the sense of community Mason has cultivated over the decades.
Arnum Wapples, Mason’s cousin from Las Vegas, made his first trip to the event after hearing stories for years. He was struck by the way the fish fry brought people together.
“She has a musician in the front, singers in the back, people eating in the back, people eating on the side, people eating in the front, activities for the children,” Wapples said. “This is just a community event, something that we need in society at this point in time.”
It was also Jacqui Smith’s first time at the event. She recently moved to Seattle from Los Angeles to manage her cousin’s art gallery and said she loved the community spirit of the event.
“I think it’s important to see each other face to face in a casual, friendly setting so we can connect. We can build opportunities for each other. We can solve problems for each other,” Smith said. “These are the conversations that should happening at these places, like yes we’re mingling and hanging out, but we’re also reconnecting with people we need to.”
The evening ended with everyone singing happy birthday to Mason—both the classic rendition and Stevie Wonder’s version—led by Josephine Howell, her longtime friend who she called Seattle’s First Lady of Song. She blew out the candles on her cake to thunderous applause.
Reflecting on her journey, Mason spoke of the power of consistency and community service.
“I have been told by a professor at the University of Washington, I’m the most powerful Black woman that Seattle has had because I’m consistent, and I think about the 30 years of doing this event, that’s consistent,” Mason said. “I pray that I can model consistency, sustainability, and that we learn to maintain those things that we acquire.”
“From 1968 when I first came here recruiting Black firefighters and Black police officers in other city career positions, to today, I’m retired. I’m entering my octogenarian decade to receive the key to the city, I can’t think of anything better. I am actually emotionally moved,” Mason said.
