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For 25 Years, Atlantic Street Center Has Celebrated Juneteenth And Community 

By
Seattle Medium
-
Teresa Everett
Teresa Everett

By Atlantic Street Center 

While Juneteenth is in its fifth year as a federally recognized holiday, Atlantic Street Center’s (ASC) Annual Juneteenth Celebration is about to celebrate its twenty-fifth year. In partnership with Seattle Parks & Recreation, ASC hosts one of the longest-running Juneteenth events in King County. This year, the event will take place on Thursday, June 18th (tomorrow!) at the Rainier Beach Community Center from 5 pm – 8 pm. 

Juneteenth, as a federal holiday and event, represents the resiliency of African Americans and a major part of United States history. For ASC, the Annual Juneteenth Celebration is a vital way to showcase the dynamic culture of local Black Excellence. The day features entertaining and educational performances, food from regional chefs, and engaging vendors and artists. 

Juneteenth shines a light on how the Black community has overcome enslavement while continuing to fight against systemic oppression that is still inflicted on a people, its culture, and other marginalized communities. Atlantic Street Center celebrates Juneteenth as a local event to build a platform for Black businesses, organizations, vendors, and families.  Vendors are a significant part of this day: they are local artists, fashion icons, nonprofits with resources, food creators, entrepreneurs, and community partners.  

One such partner this year is QFC! “QFC is proud to support Atlantic Street Center’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration as a way to honor Black history, celebrate freedom, and stand with the community. This event reflects our values of inclusion, respect, and diversity, and we look forward to coming together with families, neighbors, and partners for a day of connection, celebration, and joy.” 

Atlantic Street Center community partners make a big difference to the event and what can be provided to attendees, at no cost to them! As always, the Annual Juneteenth Celebration is free to all attendees. Certain food items and water are also free while supplies last. Our vendors donate items from their businesses to be a part of raffle drawings for people to have chance to win prizes throughout the day.  

“Back in 2000 as a new employee with ASC as I continued the community work of the agency, I heard many residents say they did not know what Juneteenth was, why it was celebrated, and what a celebration looks like,” says Teresa Everett, Director of Public Relations & Resource Development. “I saw it as an opportunity to have a cultural community event that educated, shared history, awareness, and bring community together.” 

Teresa has spent the last 25 years growing the Annual Juneteenth Celebration from a small gathering inspired by her home state of Texas to what we see today. To some, the concept of Juneteenth may be new – but so was freedom at one time. Specific parts of U.S. history are in danger of being rewritten, even omitted, from being acknowledged as important elements of the U.S tapestry. Knowing the accurate history of the U.S. prevents us from repeating the horrible parts but also helps to create a nation-wide community led by integrity. 

Juneteenth is a symbol of perseverance and an important reminder that histories should be shared honestly; those stories should not be forgotten or erased.  Many people continue to face many various forms of oppression across the world, so we must regularly remind ourselves to lift each other up. Juneteenth is an ongoing effort to support one another, especially those marginalized, and hold ourselves accountable to create unified and equitable communities. 

Our team at Atlantic Street Center hopes to see you and your loved ones tomorrow June 18th at the Rainier Beach Community Center from 5 pm – 8 pm to celebrate community, Black Excellence, and one another. 

“I am in awe that it has lasted this long. It shows the importance of the event to ASC participants and the community,” says Teresa. “I would like to see it continue to grow, involvement of young people, continued support of the community and small businesses, as well as continue to see the community embrace diversity, acknowledge the true date of the ending of slavery and contributions made by African Americans.” 

Freedom Through Community And Family Connection 

By
Seattle Medium
-

By Noni Ervin 

Juneteenth is an acknowledgment of freedom, perseverance, and hope. It honors the resilience of those who endured hardship while continuing to build families, communities, businesses, and institutions that would benefit future generations. 

Their legacy reminds us that freedom grows when people are connected to one another and invested in the well-being of their communities. 

At Black 4 Charities, we believe that strong communities are built through strong relationships. Families, neighbors, educators, artists, entrepreneurs, elders, and youth all play an important role in creating environments where people can thrive. 

Our mission is rooted in strengthening family connection, supporting personal development, and celebrating cultural creativity. Through educational programs, youth leadership initiatives, community events, cultural experiences, and collaborative partnerships, we seek to create opportunities for individuals and families to learn, grow, and contribute. 

The principles of Kwanzaa help guide this work. Unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith are values that encourage people to work together while recognizing the unique strengths each person brings to the community. 

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not simply something that happened in the past. It is something we continue to build every day through our actions, relationships, and investments in one another. 

Communities become stronger when young people are given opportunities to lead. Families become stronger when they have access to meaningful resources and support. Neighborhoods become stronger when residents work together to solve problems and create opportunities. 

Throughout our region, we have witnessed the power of collaboration. Community organizations, schools, businesses, artists, and volunteers are coming together to create spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and empowered. 

This work requires commitment, patience, and a shared vision for the future. It also requires the belief that positive change is possible when people come together around common goals. 

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor the past while investing in the future. We celebrate the progress made and recommit ourselves to building communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. 

Freedom flourishes when communities are connected, families are supported, and people work together in service of something greater than themselves. 

That vision continues to inspire the work of Black 4 Charities. 

Noni Ervin is the Founder and Principal Officer of Black 4 Charities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening family connection, cultural education, youth development, and community engagement. 

Juneteenth: Freedom Declared, Freedom Demanded 

By
Seattle Medium
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By Rev. Dr Carey Anderson , Senior Pastor of FAME, Seattle 

Juneteenth is more than a date—it is a declaration. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free. That delay is not just a historical footnote; it is a powerful reminder that freedom delayed is freedom denied, and that justice requires vigilance, not just proclamation. 

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we honor the resilience, faith, and determination of a people who refused to let their humanity be erased. We celebrate the strength of ancestors who built families, communities, churches, and institutions even while enduring unimaginable oppression. Juneteenth is both a celebration of liberation and a sober reflection on the unfinished work of freedom in America. 

Today, the echoes of that delayed freedom still resound. Disparities in voting access, education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and criminal justice reveal that while slavery has been abolished, the struggle for equity continues. Juneteenth calls us not only to remember, but to respond—to confront systems that perpetuate inequality and to commit ourselves to building a more just society. 

The Black Church has long stood at the forefront of this work—proclaiming liberty, organizing for justice, and nurturing hope in the face of adversity. It remains a moral compass, reminding us that faith without action is insufficient, and that true freedom must be lived out in our communities and public life. 

Juneteenth challenges each of us to ask: What does freedom look like today? And what is our responsibility in ensuring that freedom is fully realized for all? Commemoration must lead to commitment. Celebration must lead to change. 

Let us honor Juneteenth not only with parades and gatherings, but with purpose. Let us recommit ourselves to truth, justice, and equity. And let us move forward together, determined to close the gap between the promise of freedom and its lived reality. 

Because until freedom is experienced equally by all, the work of Juneteenth is not done. 

Juneteenth And The Work That Carries Us Forward 

By
Seattle Medium
-

By Loria Yeadon, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Seattle 

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the Union Army  showed up in Galveston, Texas to deliver and enforce to news to the last enslaved people , that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. That gap between a promise made and a promise kept is at the heart of Juneteenth. This national holiday reminds us that freedom is never free and is rarely delivered all at once, and that the gapping chasm between what is declared and what is lived must be bridged by people who refuse to look away. 

This year, as our nation continues to reckon with owning its history, that lesson feels especially urgent. Juneteenth remains a day worth recognizing, not as a backward glance, but as a call to keep building. The disparities that shaped the  origins of this national day of remembrance have not disappeared. What has also endured  is the resilience, creativity, and joy of Black communities who turned a delayed freedom into a tradition of celebration and forward motion with a belief that freedom may be delayed but never denied. 

At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, that forward motion is our work. As we mark 150 years of serving this region, we hold a simple conviction: a community is only as strong as its commitment to those who have been left at the margins. Juneteenth gives that conviction a name and  day of remembrance. 

Few efforts capture this better than Cinematique: Fostering Community and Connection, a partnership we are proud to share with Essex Community Outreach Corporation. Cinematique exists to surround foster and underserved youth and families with connection, resources, and a sense of belonging, while wrapping them in resources to improve educational and health outcomes. Last year, this event served more than 1,800 people, brought together dozens of nonprofits and resource providers, and welcomed families from across our region. This gathering is a powerful example of what happens when neighbors decide that no child should navigate the world without support and that we all are responsible for the wellbeing of other people’s children. 

This year, Cinematique grows again. On Saturday, August 29, families will gather for a Back to School Resource Fair at Seattle City Hall starting at 10 am, where they will find tools and essentials to start the school year with confidence, connection, and care. From there, the celebration moves to Lumen Field, where families will be guests at the Seattle Sounders FC match against Chicago Fire FC. This day is designed around a single idea: that joy and opportunity belong to everyone, and that they are best experienced together. 

The thread connecting Juneteenth to Cinematique is the same thread that has run through our mission for a century and a half. Freedom is not only the absence of bondage. Freedom is  the presence of possibility, the chance to learn, to play, to be well, and to belong, and the opportunity to thrive. When we register a young person for their first season of summer camp, when we open a pool to a child who has never had the chance to swim, when we walk alongside a foster family during a season of transition, we are doing the work that Juneteenth is calling us all forward to do for the benefit of community wellbeing. 

This vital work is not finished, and was never meant to be done alone. The story of Juneteenth is, at its core, a story about neighbors who recognized that none of us is free until we all are free, and refused to give up on one another. We invite you to be part of that story. 

Join us. Connect with the YMCA of Greater Seattle and our Social Impact Center, which walks alongside foster youth, families, and young people across our region. Stand with us at Cinematique on August 29 as we welcome foster and underserved youth and families. Show up at a Juneteenth celebration in your own neighborhood. Every act of community caring for community moves us closer to the freedom this day envisions. 

One hundred and fifty years in, our promise is the same. We will keep showing up, keep building, and keep believing that a more just and joyful community is possible when we decide and pursue it together. 

In community and gratitude, 

Loria Yeadon | President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Seattle

Washington’s Juneteenth Legacy Takes The World Stage

By
Seattle Medium
-

By Chris B. Bennett 

As Seattle prepares to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Washington state is celebrating a milestone that carries significance far beyond the Pacific Northwest. 

June 19 marks the fifth anniversary of Juneteenth becoming an official Washington state holiday. On that same day, thousands of visitors from around the globe will gather at Lumen Field as the United States Men’s National Team takes on Australia in one of the tournament’s most anticipated matches. The convergence of these events offers a unique opportunity to showcase not only Seattle, but also one of America’s most enduring stories of freedom, resilience and hope. 

For Washington, the anniversary is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of the state’s role in helping elevate Juneteenth from a long-observed community tradition to a recognized public commitment to remembering history and honoring the ongoing pursuit of freedom. 

Long before Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Washington lawmakers and advocates were working to ensure that June 19 would receive official recognition. In 2021, Washington became one of the first states in the nation to designate Juneteenth as an official state holiday, joining a growing movement to acknowledge the significance of a day that had been celebrated in Black communities for generations. 

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Known by many as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day, Juneteenth represents both the fulfillment of a promise and a reminder that freedom has often arrived unevenly in American history. 

Washington’s early recognition of Juneteenth is particularly noteworthy because it challenges conventional assumptions about where leadership on issues of race, history and civil rights originates. While African Americans make up a smaller percentage of Washington’s population than in many states across the South and East Coast, lawmakers and advocates here recognized that the lessons of Juneteenth belong to all Americans. 

The effort to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday was the culmination of more than a decade of advocacy by members of the Washington State Legislative Black Members Caucus, community leaders, faith organizations and civil rights advocates who believed the holiday deserved formal recognition. 

The 2021 Black Members Caucus included Rep. Jamila Taylor, chair; Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley, vice chair; Rep. April Berg; Rep. Debra Entenman; Rep. David Hackney; Rep. Jesse Johnson; then-State Rep. John Lovick; Rep. Melanie Morgan; and Sen. T’wina Nobles. Working alongside the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs and community advocates across Washington, they helped secure passage of House Bill 1106, which established Juneteenth as an official state holiday. 

Their success followed years of persistence. 

“In 2007, we worked to make it a day of remembrance,” says Lovick, who now serves in the Washington State Senate. “Over the years others have fought for legislation to make it a state holiday and we could never get there.” 

The breakthrough came during a period of profound national reflection. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 sparked conversations across the country about racial justice, historical inequities and the need for meaningful reform. In Washington, those conversations helped create momentum for legislation that supporters had championed for years. 

“In 2020, Representative Melanie Morgan took the bull by the horns and made it happen,” added Lovick. “It was just the year for it. You know a lot has happen in this country with George Floyd and this was the time for Juneteenth as a state holiday.” 

Morgan, who sponsored the legislation, viewed the effort as an opportunity to promote healing and reconciliation. 

“My hope is that it brings reconciliation to the atrocities of chattel slavery,” says Morgan. “That it brings healing and that we acknowledge Black pain and Black trauma and that we celebrate this together in the state of Washington as we do July 4th. This is the Black African American Independence Day.” 

Nobles believes the holiday provides an opportunity to confront difficult truths while building a more just future. 

“Juneteenth is a day of true recognition and acknowledgement of the pain and trauma Black and African American communities have experienced,” says Nobles. “It is a step towards justice. By acknowledging this country’s history and the atrocity of enslavement that has caused generations of trauma, we have a place to start critical conversations on how we move forward.” 

For Lovick, Juneteenth offers an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to better understand the sacrifices and struggles that shaped the nation. 

“This will be a wonderful time for us to come together,” says Lovick. “Bring the community together to learn the history of those who endured slavery, overcame slavery and really understand what it took and the sacrifices they made and really get and appreciate what our ancestors endured to make it possible for you and I to do what we do now.” 

Morgan believes the holiday’s significance extends beyond remembrance. 

“This bill is more than just about a holiday,” said Morgan. “Juneteenth is a recognition, a true acknowledgement, that chattel slavery happened in this country. This is how we begin to advocate for true racial equity and real inclusion.” 

Five years later, those words continue to resonate. 

The anniversary arrives at a time when conversations about race, history, identity and opportunity remain central to the national dialogue. Institutions across the country have reevaluated diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Debates over curriculum, public memory and cultural representation continue to shape public discourse. Questions about whose stories are preserved, celebrated and taught remain subjects of intense discussion. 

For many supporters of Juneteenth, those debates underscore why the holiday remains important. 

Juneteenth is not simply a commemoration of emancipation. It is a celebration of resilience, self-determination, excellence and the enduring contributions of African Americans to every aspect of American life. It is also a reminder that history should be remembered in its fullness — not only to honor those who came before us, but to help future generations better understand the nation they inherit. 

That message is especially relevant as Washington marks five years of official recognition. 

The state’s decision to embrace Juneteenth was never solely about creating another holiday. It was about affirming that Black history is American history and that the story of freedom belongs to everyone. It was about acknowledging that the pursuit of liberty, equality and opportunity remains unfinished work. 

As Seattle welcomes the world on June 19, Washington’s Juneteenth observances will offer visitors a glimpse into a community that understands the importance of remembering its past while continuing to build toward a more inclusive future. 

Five years after Washington formally recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday, the holiday stands as more than a commemoration of a moment in history. It remains a living reminder that freedom is not merely something to celebrate. It is something to protect, strengthen and pass on to future generations. 

And as the world turns its attention to Seattle, Washington’s observance of Juneteenth offers a powerful reflection of both how far the nation has come and the promise that still lies ahead. 

Freedom Through Historical Understanding 

By
Seattle Medium
-

By Delbert Richardson 

Juneteenth represents one of the most significant milestones in American history. It commemorates the day when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. 

Yet Juneteenth is about more than a date. It is an invitation to learn, reflect, and understand the history that shaped our nation. 

For many years, I have traveled throughout the country sharing The Unspoken Truths, a collection of authentic artifacts and historical narratives that present American history through an Afrocentric lens. This work is grounded in a simple belief: understanding history helps us better understand ourselves and one another. 

History is not merely a collection of facts. It is a story of people, communities, achievements, struggles, and resilience. When we engage with the full story, we gain a deeper appreciation for the contributions and experiences of those who came before us. 

Juneteenth reminds us that knowledge matters. It reminds us that understanding our collective history can help us build stronger relationships, encourage meaningful dialogue, and create pathways toward healing and progress. 

Too often, important stories remain untold or underrepresented. The Unspoken Truths seeks to bring those stories forward through immersive learning experiences that engage students, educators, families, organizations, and community leaders. 

The goal is not to divide people. The goal is to create opportunities for learning and understanding. 

When individuals encounter authentic historical artifacts and hear stories that connect the past to the present, history becomes personal. It becomes more than something found in a textbook. It becomes a living narrative that helps explain how communities have persevered, adapted, and contributed to society. 

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor those who fought for freedom by continuing to seek knowledge and share truth. We recognize that learning is a lifelong journey and that understanding history strengthens our ability to shape a better future. 

Freedom grows when people are informed. Communities grow stronger when they are willing to learn from one another. Progress becomes possible when we are willing to engage honestly with the past while working together toward the future. 

That is the purpose of The Unspoken Truths, and my vision is to change the world one consciousness at a time. 

Delbert Richardson is creator and curator of The Unspoken Truths, an award-winning traveling museum and educational experience that uses authentic artifacts and storytelling to explore history through an Afrocentric lens. 

Freedom Through Innovation And Opportunity 

By
Seattle Medium
-

By Noni Ervin 

Juneteenth is freedom, resilience, and the power of possibility. It reminds us that progress is achieved when individuals and communities have access to opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute. 

In today’s world, technology plays an increasingly important role in creating those opportunities. 

Access to information, education, communication, and innovation influences how people work, learn, and engage with their communities. As technology continues to shape the future, it is essential that organizations and communities are prepared to adapt, innovate, and participate in the opportunities that emerge. 

Real Life Systems was founded on the belief that technology should serve people. Innovation is most meaningful when it solves real-world challenges, expands access to resources, and creates pathways for individuals and organizations to achieve their goals. 

Technology is not simply about software, systems, or devices. At its best, it is about improving lives. It can strengthen communication, support education, increase efficiency, and expand access to information and services. It can help organizations become more effective and communities become more connected. 

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not only about removing barriers. It is also about creating opportunities. The generations who came before us worked tirelessly to build a future that offered greater possibilities for those who would follow. 

Today, we continue that work by investing in innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and leadership. We create opportunities when we help people develop skills, embrace new ideas, and participate in an evolving economy. 

At Real Life Systems, we believe communities thrive when innovation is paired with purpose. Whether supporting educational initiatives, organizational development, technology solutions, or collaborative partnerships, our goal is to help create systems that support long-term success. 

The future belongs to those who are prepared to learn, adapt, and lead. That preparation requires access to knowledge, technology, and opportunities that empower individuals to reach their full potential. 

As we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor the vision and determination of those who expanded freedom and opportunity for future generations. We also recognize our responsibility to continue building pathways that help people succeed in a changing world. 

Freedom flourishes when innovation creates opportunity and opportunity creates possibility. 

That vision continues to guide the work of Real Life Systems. 

Noni Ervin is Chief Executive Officer of Real Life Systems, a technology and innovation company focused on creating solutions that support businesses, organizations, communities, and future generations. 

Washington Expands Workplace Support For Employees Experiencing Menopause

By
Seattle Medium
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Gov. Bob Ferguson

By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium

Washington is taking a new step to address a long-overlooked stage of women’s health in the workplace.

Gov. Bob Ferguson recently announced Executive Order 26-01, directing the Washington State Women’s Commission to partner with cabinet agencies to implement workplace accommodations for employees experiencing menopause and develop guidance and training resources for both public and private employers.

Nationally, menopause affects most women during their working years, with an AARP survey finding that 90% of women age 35 and older experience symptoms that can sometimes be debilitating. Perimenopause can begin as early as a woman’s 30s.

Research also points to disparities in how menopause is experienced across different populations. Studies show that Black, Asian and Latina women tend to enter menopause earlier than white women, while women living in rural areas are also more likely to experience earlier onset compared to those in urban communities.

“We know that the challenges do not affect everyone equally. Women workers, particularly Black women and women of color, and workers in physically demanding jobs often face additional barriers throughout their careers,” said Cherika Carter, secretary-treasurer of the Washington State Labor Council. “So, addressing menopause in the workplace is part of a broader commitment to equity, ensuring that all workers have the opportunity to advance, lead, or retire with dignity.”

In Washington, state data shows that 38% of working women are between the ages of 40 and 59, an age range commonly associated with menopause and perimenopause symptoms, including insomnia, brain fog and hot flashes. Without adequate workplace support, those challenges can affect job performance, career advancement and long-term financial stability.

According to the Society for Women’s Health Research, two in five women have considered leaving or did leave their jobs because of menopausal symptoms, while one in four considered not pursuing or did not pursue leadership opportunities as a result.

“Like too many issues around women’s health, we don’t talk much about menopause. We believe this is one of the most comprehensive single pieces of policy put forward to date, combining both worker protections with increasing health profession education on perimenopause and menopause,” said Ferguson. “Menopause will impact half our population at some point in their lives, yet women are too often left to navigate this change alone.”

Ferguson said the executive order is intended to help retain experienced employees and ensure workplaces are better equipped to support women through this stage of life.

“We are losing women in the workforce with tremendous knowledge and experience because we are not doing enough to prepare for a natural stage of life,” said Ferguson. “As governor, my Administration will be a place where the best, most experienced workers can come serve the people of Washington and know that they will be supported. We must do more to support women, and to support employers who want to keep their experienced staff in the workforce. This Executive Order ensures Washington will remain a leader in supporting our workers.”

Under the order, the Washington State Women’s Commission will work with state agencies to review and strengthen existing menopause and perimenopause workplace policies. Recommendations are expected to include practical accommodations such as telework options, flexible dress codes, access to cold water and improved temperature control in workplaces.

Washington State Women’s Commission Executive Director Brittany Gregory said momentum for the executive order began late last year after commissioners and health committee members began hearing directly from women across the state who felt unsupported during a major life transition.

Many described experiencing one of the most significant physiological changes of their lives without access to clear answers or adequate support systems.

“Their doctors did not have answers when they were having heart palpitations and panic attacks and experiencing other uncommon symptoms during perimenopause and menopause,” said Gregory. “But they did what women have always done. They turned towards one another and found support in one another. And in partnership with the Women’s Commission, we got to work.”

The executive order also directs the Women’s Commission to collaborate with the Department of Health, the Health Care Authority and the Bree Collaborative to develop guidance and training resources that can be used by state agencies as well as public and private employers. The Commission will also ensure agency leadership and employees receive training on workplace rights and responsibilities related to menopause accommodations.

“Menopause has been invisible in workplace policy for too long,” said Gregory. “These are not burdensome changes; they are smart workforce policy that ensures experienced workers can stay, grow and lead.”

Gregory said the executive order sends an important message that menopause should no longer be treated as a private issue that employees are expected to manage on their own.

“By issuing an executive-level directive to create standards for menopausal accommodations in the workplace, we become one of the first states to say that women should not have to suffer in silence alone,” said Gregory. “And that is important, and that is something that we should be proud of.”

Beyond Displacement: How Seattle’s Black Community Is Preserving Identity And Connection

By
Seattle Medium
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Mr. Cheeks performs as a guest artist during Seattle’s Umoja Festival. Staff photo by Aaron Allen.

By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

Despite decades of displacement from Seattle’s Central District, many Black community leaders believe the community has retained something just as important as geography: its ability to stay connected.

For former Washington State Rep. Dawn Mason, that enduring connection can be summed up in a simple phrase.

“We know how to get home.”

Those six words capture a reality that has sustained Seattle’s African American community through decades of demographic change, economic upheaval and displacement.

Once the unquestioned cultural and residential heart of Black Seattle, the Central District has undergone a dramatic transformation. As housing costs soared and development accelerated, thousands of Black families were pushed farther south and farther north into communities throughout the Puget Sound region. The neighborhood that once served as the center of Black life in Seattle no longer reflects the demographics that defined it for generations.

Yet despite that dispersal, the community has refused to disappear.

Instead, many leaders, institutions and organizations are embracing a concept increasingly referred to as cultural sovereignty, the ability of a community to define, protect and sustain its cultural identity, heritage, institutions and collective memory regardless of external pressures.

In Seattle, cultural sovereignty has evolved from an academic concept into a practical strategy for survival.

To understand why the idea has become increasingly important, one must understand what was lost. For much of the 20th century, racist redlining policies confined Black residents to Seattle’s Central District. Out of those restrictions emerged a thriving ecosystem of Black-owned businesses, churches, civic organizations, cultural institutions and neighborhood relationships that became the foundation of Seattle’s African American community.

As gentrification accelerated in recent decades, that physical infrastructure began to erode.

“The fabric of Black cultural production in the Black community … is disintegrating,” said Anthony Tibbs, a longtime cultural organizer in Seattle’s African American community. “We are at a point in history where we have to adapt to rapid changes, transforming things we did naturally into smart strategies to keep our community anchored.”

For Mason, however, the story is not solely one of loss.

She believes the ability to remain connected despite geographic separation is deeply rooted in the historical experiences of African Americans.

“There is something within our nature that we always find each other,” Mason said. “We’ve been dispersed, dismissed and moved around since the plantations and the end of enslavement, yet we still stay together. It’s part of our culture. Technology has changed how we stay connected today, but our determination to define that cultural connection ourselves, rather than letting oppressor groups define it for us, is what keeps us surviving.”

That resilience is increasingly reflected in efforts to build and preserve Black-controlled institutions designed to serve both present and future generations.

Projects such as the Liberty Bank Building, the William Grose Center for Enterprise and Africatown Plaza represent more than affordable housing or economic development initiatives. Together, they represent efforts to reclaim space, preserve history and create opportunities for Black families and entrepreneurs to remain connected to the communities they helped build.

The Liberty Bank Building sits on the site of the Pacific Northwest’s first Black-owned bank. The William Grose Center for Enterprise honors one of Seattle’s earliest Black pioneers while creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and technology education. Africatown Plaza, a 126-unit affordable housing development designed and built with significant Black leadership, represents a modern effort to bring displaced residents back into the Central District.

These projects reflect a broader understanding that cultural preservation and economic development are inseparable.

Churches, community centers, cultural institutions and Black-owned businesses also continue to play a vital role in maintaining community cohesion. While physical gathering places may have diminished, they remain important anchors for a population now spread throughout the region.

Community celebrations and cultural gatherings continue to serve a similar purpose. Annual traditions such as Umoja Fest, Juneteenth celebrations and other community events create opportunities for families, entrepreneurs, artists and residents to reconnect, strengthen relationships and pass cultural knowledge from one generation to the next.

According to Tibbs, those gatherings serve a purpose far beyond entertainment.

“Festivals and gathering spaces present safe havens for Black people to collectively gather and continue to provide avenues for Black business, civil and health agendas to continue to impact our people,” Tibbs said.

For many community leaders, cultural sovereignty is ultimately about much more than physical space. It is about ensuring that a community retains the ability to tell its own story, define its own identity and shape its own future.

“Cultural sovereignty is the inherent right of a community to define, control, celebrate and preserve its own heritage, narratives and economic destiny, independent of external societal pressures or systemic displacement,” Tibbs said.

That principle becomes especially important when considering future generations.

For Mason, cultural sovereignty is ultimately about what happens next.

“How are we going to pass our batons to the next generation?” Mason asked. “How are we gonna light their candles from ours if we don’t bring ourselves together? If our children don’t see the adults planning, showing what makes us happy, interacting positively and showcasing how we entertain ourselves, then they may grow up thinking all we have is trauma. But we don’t.”

In a city transformed by growth, development and displacement, that may be the true measure of cultural sovereignty: not whether a community can preserve every block or building, but whether it can preserve the relationships, traditions and collective memory that allow future generations to find their way home.

Seattle Expands Financial Support For Small Businesses Impacted By Crime And Vandalism

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Seattle Medium
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By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium

Seattle small businesses affected by crime, vandalism, and property damage can now receive significantly more financial assistance through the city’s Back to Business Program after officials increased reimbursement limits for repairs and security improvements.

The Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) recently raised reimbursement caps for businesses participating in the program, which helps small businesses recover from vandalism-related damages and invest in preventative security measures. City officials say the changes are intended to reduce financial barriers that have prevented some businesses from making repairs or upgrading security systems.

The program now offers up to $5,000 per incident through the Storefront Repair Fund, an increase from the previous $3,000 limit. Eligible businesses may receive reimbursement for up to three incidents per calendar year. Through the Storefront Security Fund, businesses can now receive up to $10,000 for approved security improvements, up from the previous $6,000 cap.

“Since taking office, I have met with hundreds of small business owners, and the message to me has been clear. It is difficult to be a small business owner right now, and the City can and should do more to help,” said Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “That’s why I am glad programs and services like Back to Business exist and am proud to support them. If we can provide even a little relief to small businesses when they are impacted by crime or vandalism or when they want to do more to protect their business, that can go a long way for the business being able to invest back in itself and its community.”

The expanded funding builds on a recovery initiative launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses recover from vandalism-related damages. In August 2025, Seattle launched the Back to Business Program with renewed funding, and the city has committed $3.3 million to support the program through 2026.

According to OED, many businesses reported that previous reimbursement limits did not cover enough of their expenses to make repairs or security upgrades financially feasible.

“We have heard from small businesses that the previous cap on reimbursements made getting a timely repair or prevention measure cost-prohibitive,” said Eric Moss, communications director for the Seattle Office of Economic Development. “By increasing the caps, we are hoping more businesses will make their repairs and increase security with the peace of mind that they will recover more of the costs.”

“We are trying to get the word out to as many businesses as possible so they can apply now, or are already familiar with the program if they need the service later,” Moss added.

For many small businesses operating on tight margins, unexpected repair costs can delay reopening, strain finances and divert resources away from growth and investment. City officials believe the expanded reimbursement limits will help businesses recover more quickly while encouraging preventative security improvements.

Between August 2025 and the end of May 2026, the Back to Business Program awarded 437 grants to 325 businesses, totaling more than $1.03 million in reimbursements. Businesses may apply to both the Storefront Security Fund and the Storefront Repair Fund if they meet eligibility requirements and provide the necessary documentation.

The increased reimbursement caps are expected to cover 100% of recovery and prevention costs for approximately 90% of eligible applicants. Business owners whose eligible expenses exceeded previous reimbursement limits will automatically receive retroactive payments for the difference if they originally submitted invoices above the former caps. No action is required to receive those funds.

“After administering the program for several months and evaluating applications, our program team found ways to deepen the support we provide to small businesses who are impacted by crime,” said Beto Yarce, director of the Seattle Office of Economic Development. “Increasing the limits provides more meaningful support to more small businesses and will have a greater impact on a business owner’s bottom line. The Back to Business Program is just one tool in our suite of services to make Seattle an easier and more affordable place to do business.”

OED officials said outreach efforts have focused on ensuring Black-owned and other BIPOC-owned businesses are aware of and able to access available resources.

“We work with neighborhood organizations and business improvement areas to let small businesses know about the program,” said Moss. “We have also placed ads in many of the local BIPOC-centered media to help spread the word. We continue to work with neighborhood partners to do more outreach to Black and BIPOC-owned businesses.”

Moss said the highest number of applications have come from the Chinatown-International District and Capitol Hill, while participation in Rainier Valley has continued to grow as awareness of the program increases.

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth said the program has already helped many businesses recover from costly setbacks.

“OED’s Back to Business Program has been instrumental in helping small businesses recover and get back on their feet. Without this support, many local businesses may not have been able to afford the costly repairs needed to reopen their doors,” said Hollingsworth. “I love seeing this program expanding so that even more small businesses that call Seattle home can access the resources they need to recover, grow and continue serving our communities.”

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