Partners in the news! May 2021
News and Updates
Read: About the SeaTac International Mall - one of three current projects receiving support from COO’s Commercial Affordability Pilot Project in the following articles, including this on the Mall’s grand opening!
Crosscut: 3 WA businesses on how they’re getting creative to survive
Puget Sound Business Journal: Somali immigrants create opportunity amid gentrification in SeaTac
Watch: The ribbon-cutting and interviews with small business owners here from Somali Bridge news.
In the future the co-founders would like to own properties and start their own chamber of commerce for the East African community. “If our tenants succeed, we succeed. We don’t want to just be landlords to them. We want to provide them with tools to help make them successful,” Mohamed said. He envisions SeaTac International Mall evolving into an incubator, where the owners are offered business, marketing and computer classes to help them grow their companies. “For the community at large, I think that this is really just the beginning,” Mohamed said.
Read: About Queer the Land’s work for housing stability and community ownership in the face of discrimination, gentrification and displacement pressures was featured in, The Queer-Led Groups Modeling a New Form of Land Access:
Queer the Land suggests that the existing system has long contributed to the climate crisis by operating on a logic of scarcity: the idea that there’s only so much to go around and therefore marginalized people must simply endure crisis after crisis. Instead, the group wants to move to a logic of abundance. While their house is still under repair, members have big visions for what’s to come: a microfarm that provides free or low-cost organic food for the community; a facilitation space for folks to teach or create art; a bike share program; and a community apothecary stocked with herbs.
Read: How is the Rainier Beach Action Coalition (RBAC) and youth leaders are “harnessing the power of community to develop a public beach”. Alongside this interview with A Beautiful Safe Place for Youth Corner Greeters Fatima & Taylon:
Taylon also spoke about the environment that the Corner Greeters are trying to create: “It’s really all about love. That’s the only thing that the healing space is all about. We’re there just to be present, and to have that community presence. You’re welcome to come over, have conversations, eat, laugh, talk…whatever you need. We’re here for that.”
The Corner Greeter program to activate space as a strategy to increase community safety and connection, has already contributed to a number of activities so far in 2021. And a May update on the Farm Stand and Priority Hire programs!
Read: A new report from the Rainier Beach Action Coalition, the Multicultural Community Coalition and Puget Sound Sage on the risks of disaster gentrification created by the COVID-19 pandemic and what local governments can do now to protect and stabilize our BIPOC communities: https://www.pugetsoundsage.org/research/research-equitable-development/disaster-gentrification-king-county/
Read: This piece by RBAC’s Gregory Davis on STOPPING DISASTER GENTRIFICATION POST-PANDEMIC WILL REQUIRE ROBUST ACTION
Share: new employment opportunities with COO partners
Watch: Here Comes the SUNN… A Renewal of Native Unity community event
Watch: The second episode of Othello Talks featuring Tara Lawal on Maternity and Infant Health in Southeast Seattle is watchable here (and follow Othello Talks for future community conversations!):
Othello Talks EP. 2 - Tara Lawal talks Maternity and Infant Health in Southeast Seattle. Premiered Apr 6, 2021
Awards and Acknowledgements
Congratulations to the Black Future Co-Op Fund’s Inaugural “We See You” Grant Recipients including COO community partners:
Community Passageways | South King County (with some young people in Pierce and Snohomish counties)
Community Passageways creates alternatives to the carceral system for youth and young adults by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency.
Website | Facebook | InstagramForFortyTwo | Kent (with collaborations in Auburn, Federal Way, Renton, and Tukwila)
ForFortyTwo are an organizing collective of Black youth, Indigenous youth, and youth of color working to combat systemic racism through equity and education. Projects include creating safe spaces for youth and students, defunding the police and abolition, and healing and mutual aid.
Facebook | Instagram
A big thank you to UTOPIA Washington, White Center CDA, Yes! Foundation of White Center, Southwest Youth and Family Services, FEEST, Community Roots Housing and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation for those acknowledged for their environmental stewardship as part of the Green Globe Awards!
Kaiser Permanente grants totaling $500,000 to 4 nonprofit, community-based organizations in Washington to address systemic racism the state with focuses on civic engagement and policy, health care, education, and business and cultural development, included support for:
Africatown Community Land Trust, to support economic opportunity and strengthen cultural institutions for the Black community in Seattle’s Central District.
Black Education Strategy Roundtable, to create and use their Asset-Based Black Student Report Card, an advocacy tool, that Black parents and community members can use to ensure data and strengths-driven language inform decisions by education and state policymakers.
Byrd Barr Place, in partnership with the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom, to engage BIPOC (Black, indigenous, and people of color) leaders in developing solutions that address systemic gaps in health care services and improving health outcomes for BIPOC communities and individuals in the Puget Sound area.
Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, in partnership with Tacoma Urban League, to build capacity for civic engagement and advocacy to support policies that address the needs of Black communities, such as meeting housing needs and closing the generational wealth gap.