On Monday December 11, 2017, Devaney Martin (Block, White) age 89, peacefully drifted away in her sleep. Although tired, her spirit was full of appreciation when the Lord called on her. She lived a long healthy life, and survived several years beyond the experts’ expectations. Devaney was born to Alonzo and Bertie Block (Daniel) in Cominto, Arkansas on May 8, 1928. She was the third of eight children, six
Archives for December 2017
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM PRESENTS PRIZE-WINNER SONDRA PERRY’S SOLO EXHIBITION Immersive mixed-media installation now on view by winner of the 2017 Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize
The Seattle Art Museum presents Sondra Perry: Eclogue for [in]HABITABILITY (December 8, 2017–July 1, 2018), the solo exhibition of Sondra Perry, winner of the 2017 Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize. The second in a series, the mixed-media installation presents a visual eclogue—or short pastoral poem—about real and virtual landscapes, investigating ideas of race, class, abstraction, and representation.
Perry has already made a mark in Seattle; her video Double Quadruple Etcetera Etcetera opened SAM’s exhibition Disguise: Masks and Global African Art (June 18–September 7, 2015). With Eclogue for [in]HABITABILITY, Perry creates an immersive mixed-media installation. A refurbished backhoe sits in the center of the gallery, surrounded on three sides by video projections using layers of images from a host of sources, including the artist’s own archive, drones, and the internet. With the imaginative qualities of science fiction, the installation highlights the precarious relationship between people and place, drawing connections between humankind’s continued transformation of land and the racialization and gentrification of bodies, technology, and physical spaces.
In addition to this solo exhibition, staged in the museum’s Gwendolyn Knight & Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Perry received a $10,000 award to further her artistic practice.
The exhibition is curated by Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chairman of Education at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and SAM’s former Deputy Director for Education and Public Programs/Adjunct Curator in Modern and Contemporary Art.
ABOUT SONDRA PERRY
New Jersey-based video installation and performance artist Sondra Perry has exhibited in group shows at MoMA PS1, Seattle Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and The Studio Museum in Harlem, and has participated in residencies at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and the Experimental Television Center. Perry holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BFA from Alfred University. For more information, visit sondraperry.com.
EXHIBITION ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORT
SAM’s Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize is awarded biannually to an early career black artist who has been producing work for less than 10 years.
Sondra Perry is a recipient of the Seattle Art Museum’s Gwendolyn Knight and Jacob Lawrence Prize. Funding for the prize and exhibition is provided by the Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence and Jacob Lawrence Endowment and generous support from the Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation.
Image credits: Installation view of Sondra Perry: Eclogue for [in]HABITABILITY at the Seattle Art Museum. © Seattle Art Museum. Photo: Natali Wiseman.
ABOUT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
As the leading visual art institution in the Pacific Northwest, SAM draws on its global collections, powerful exhibitions, and dynamic programs to provide unique educational resources benefiting the Seattle region, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. SAM was founded in 1933 with a focus on Asian art. By the late 1980s the museum had outgrown its original home, and in 1991 a new 155,000-square-foot downtown building, designed by Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates, opened to the public. The 1933 building was renovated and reopened as the Seattle Asian Art Museum in 1994. SAM’s desire to further serve its community was realized in 2007 with the opening of two stunning new facilities: the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park (designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects)—a “museum without walls,” free and open to all—and the Allied Works Architecture designed 118,000-square-foot expansion of its main, downtown location, including 232,000 square feet of additional space built for future expansion. The Olympic Sculpture Park and SAM’s downtown expansion celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2017.
From a strong foundation of Asian art to noteworthy collections of African and Oceanic art, Northwest Coast Native American art, European and American art, and modern and contemporary art, the strength of SAM’s collection of approximately 25,000 objects lies in its diversity of media, cultures, and time periods.
State leaders announce steps to protect net neutrality
Inslee, Ferguson and legislators prepared to push back against damaging federal actions
On the eve of an expected vote by the Federal Communications Commission to roll back crucial net neutrality rules, Gov. Jay Inslee joined Attorney General Bob Ferguson, legislators, and business leaders to announce state plans to preserve an open internet and protect Washington consumers from internet companies that are not transparent about costs or services.“All Americans, as a matter of principle, should enjoy equal access to the educational, social and economic power of the internet. Ensuring this important technology remains free and unfettered is critical both to our personal freedoms and to our country’s economy,” Inslee wrote in a letter to the FCC earlier this month.“The internet has become an unparalleled economic engine, generating millions of new jobs while providing even the smallest businesses in the United States access to a global marketplace. We should not be taking steps that undermine its core purpose. This is as critical as freedom of speech.”
In the letter, the governor stated that all internet service providers (ISPs) should honor and uphold the open foundation of the internet by adhering to certain principles, including: free flow of information over the internet; no blocking of lawful websites; no unreasonable discrimination of lawful network traffic; no paid prioritization; and clear commitment to transparency.
While the FCC’s vote will preempt states from ensuring full net neutrality, there are a number of steps that can be taken at the state level to promote an open internet and strengthen protections for consumers.
Inslee’s proposal, which makes Washington state the first in the nation to act on net neutrality, includes pursuing the following actions:
Hold companies to their commitments not to block websites, throttle speeds, or impose prioritization pricing
- Direct the state’s Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to establish a process for ISPs to certify that they will not engage in practices inconsistent with net neutrality principles.
- Limit state-conferred benefits to ISPs that have made such certifications.
- Limit applicability of UTC pole attachment rules to ISPs that are net neutral.
- Review other state-conferred benefits such as easements and taxes.
Leverage the state’s power as a large purchaser of ISP and telecommunications services
- Use the state government’s role as a big customer, and our ability to establish state master contracts used by local governments, to incentivize Washington companies to adhere to net neutrality principles.
- Pursue regulatory and legislative action to award contracts to vendors that meet net neutral business requirements.
- Lead the exploration of a multi-state purchasing cooperative to procure internet service from providers that adhere to net neutrality principles.
Hold companies accountable for warranties made to consumers
- Create a state-wide internet speed test. This will allow Washingtonians to test their own broadband speed at home, and submit the test to help appropriate state agencies determine what internet speeds consumers are receiving and where companies may be blocking or throttling.
- Collaborate with legislators to strengthen our consumer protection laws to include the principles of net neutrality.
Encourage new entrants into the currently concentrated ISP market
- Pursue legislation authorizing public utility districts and rural and urban port districts to provide retail ISP and telecommunications services.
- Prohibit government-owned ISP services, such as municipal broadband networks, from engaging in blocking, throttling, or priority pricing for Internet services.
While announcing the plan this morning, Inslee was flanked by Ferguson, Reps. Drew Hansen and Norma Smith, Sen. Manka Dhingra, Moz.com Chief Executive Officer Sarah Bird, and Sub Pop Recordings Information Technology Director Andrew Sullivan.
“Literally no one except the giant cable companies thinks it’s a good idea for the giant cable companies to get to decide what content you see on the internet, how fast it loads, and how much you have to pay for it,” Hansen said.
“We know Net Neutrality to be critically important to our core business and crucial to the livelihood of the bands, artists and musicians we work with and support,” said Frank Nieto of Sub Pop. “Equal and unfettered access to internet resources is as essential to artists as electricity is to a brick and mortar record store or radio station. To avoid unfairly disadvantaging the independent creative community, the FCC must maintain strong, clear rules against blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization. Anything less would be a direct threat to the culture that sustains us all.”
“With so much craziness going on right now, it’s easy to lose sight of this important issue. To have the commercial, civic, and artistic world we want, strong net neutrality protections are needed. We can’t let ISPs become king makers,” said Sarah Bird, CEO of Moz. com
“We will make net neutrality rules to protect Washington consumers and businesses,” Inslee said. “I look forward to working with legislators and the attorney general on the parameters of our actions, but make no mistake, we are moving forward on net neutrality in this state.”
Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who was unable to attend the event but has been a leader on net neutrality, said the steps put forward by the governor, combined with other proposals in the Legislature, reinforce the “moral and policy clarity” that Washingtonians stand for free and open access to the internet.
“It is our right as a state to prevent a reckless and power-intoxicated federal government from handing over access to the free flow of information to the largest corporations on this planet,” Carlyle said. “Net neutrality isn’t a department down the hall or a footnote by a nameless, faceless bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., it’s a 21st century version of America’s town square, and we’re here to defend democracy itself.”
Inslee’s leadership on protecting internet freedom extends to his time in Congress and has continued throughout his time as governor.
Mayor Durkan Creates City’s First Small Business Advisory Council
Signing an Executive Order at Elliott Bay Book Company, Mayor Jenny A. Durkan established the Seattle’s first Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC). Tasked with ensuring small businesses have a role in informing policies and programs as well as access to resources, the council will provide input on impact of City decisions, make policy recommendations, and help increase access to tools and resources available to small businesses.
“Inventing the future and supporting vibrant neighborhoods means supporting small businesses that call Seattle home. Our small businesses must be a part of solving our urgent challenges of affordability and growth,” said Mayor Durkan. “With this first ever council, Seattle’s diverse and innovative small businesses will have a voice in City Hall and be a part of creating and crafting solutions.”
As part of today’s announcement, Durkan announced four co-chairs including: Joe Fugere, Owner of Tutta Bella; Taylor Hoang, Entrepreneur and Executive Director, Ethnic Business Coalition; Donna Moodie, Owner of Marjorie Restaurant and CEO of Mint Holding a food and design company; and Tracy Taylor, Manager of Elliott Bay Book Company.
The SBAC charter will be determine by February 1, 2018 with the first meeting by March 1, 2018. SBAC members will represent businesses of different sizes, different industries, different neighborhoods, and from different sectors, stages, and ownership models and will include under-represented entrepreneurs: women, immigrants, refugees people of color, and the LGBTQ community.
Seattle has about 36,500 businesses with fewer than 50 employees that employ nearly 200,000 people in Seattle. Across Washington State, small businesses account for more than half of all of our jobs in Washington State. Collectively, our small businesses employ nearly 200,000 people in Seattle
Get Engaged Hot Sheet: December 12-19
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We want to make it as easy as possible for you to get involved in your City and your community!
Here are 5 things you can do this week to GET ENGAGED!
Attend the City of Seattle Fair Chance Housing Public Meeting: In August 2017, the City of Seattle passed Fair Chance Housing legislation to help prevent discrimination in housing against renters who live with criminal history. This public comment meeting will allow individuals to learn more about the legislation, the proposed rules and FAQs, and provide comments and concerns. (December 14, 6pm at Yesler Community Center)
Attend an Open House on 12/14 for Cal Anderson Park Lighting Study: This is an opportunity for the community to learn about and provide feedback on potential changes to lighting at Cal Anderson Park. (December 14, 5-8pm at Cal Anderson Shelterhouse)
Share Your Feedback on Capitol Hill Design Guidelines: The Office of Planning and Community Development needs feedback from the community to guide their efforts in updating the Capitol Hill Design Guidelines to help shape new development in the neighborhood. Public comment period open through December 31, 2017.
Provide Scoping Comments Regarding the Roosevelt RapidRide Project: The Roosevelt RapidRide Project will provide a high-quality service connecting Downtown Seattle with the neighborhoods of South Lake Union, Eastlake, University District, and Roosevelt. Seattle Department of Transportation has initiated a 40-day scoping period to help determine issues to be addressed in the environmental document and identify any significant issues related to the proposed project. Public comment period open through January 12, 2018.
Join the Next Wave of Community Leaders: Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is accepting applications to the People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE), our civic leadership development program aimed at cultivating the next wave of community leaders. Learn how City government works, build your leadership skills, and practice ways to make your voice heard! The winter quarter begins February 24 and runs through March 24. Apply by February 5, 2018.
Your Voice, Your Choice: Evaluation & Action
As we gear up to launch our Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks and Streets program for 2018, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the growth of the program in 2017 and let you know what we have in store for next year.
Your Voice, Your Choice: Parks & Streets (YVYC) is a participatory budgeting initiative in which Seattle residents democratically decide how to spend a portion of the City’s budget on small-scale park and street improvements. In 2017, the program resulted in the submission of 894 ideas from community members. These ideas were evaluated by 263 community participants on our project development teams and narrowed down to 10 projects per City Council District. In June, 7,737 people voted for their favorite ideas and 33 projects moved forward for funding and implementation in 2018. Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Parks and Recreation will begin implementing the projects in 2018.
Overall, YVYC 2017 was successful, with strong engagement in each participation phase. However, our evaluation has shown that we need to invest more in strengthening the program’s focus on equity and ensure that historically underrepresented communities can easily access and participate in the program. To help achieve this goal, we plan to convene a steering committee in January 2018. This community body will advise, guide and assist on key programmatic concerns related to equity, funding structures, outcomes, and accountability.
In addition, we will be working to create more sustained and consistent community connections throughout each phase of the program by providing clear, concise, and transparent information that makes it easy as possible for people to get informed and participate.
Learn more about our program evaluation and plans for next year by reading our 2017 Program Review and 2018 Planning Document. This report details who we interacted with, where it happened, what the interaction was, and how folks felt about it. It also provides a sneak peek at our action plan for 2018 and how you can get involved.
Lastly, start thinking about some changes you’d like to see in your neighborhood! We’ll be launching Your Voice, Your Choice 2018 in January by collecting your ideas for small scale park and street improvements.
Have questions or want to get involved? Visit seattle.gov/yvyc or contact Kraig Cook at .
Join the Next Wave of Community Leaders: People’s Academy for Community Engagement now accepting applications
Learn how City government works, build your leadership skills, and practice ways to make your voice heard!
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Seattle Department of Neighborhoods is accepting applications to the People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE), our civic leadership development program aimed at cultivating the next wave of community leaders. The winter quarter begins February 24 and runs through March 24.
During the 5-week program, 25-30 emerging leaders (18 years and up) will learn hands-on strategies for community building, accessing government, and inclusive engagement from experts in the field. PACE has a strong focus on Seattle’s community and neighborhood organizations and the city of Seattle’s governmental structure and processes.
Winter quarter will be held on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute. Topics include:
- Approaches to Leadership
- Accessing City Government
- Community Organizing
- Inclusive Outreach and Public Engagement
- Public Speaking
- Conflict Resolution
- …and more.
Tuition for the five-week program is $100. Tuition assistance is available. To apply, visit seattle.gov/PACE. Applications for all quarters are accepted on a rolling basis. The application deadline for the upcoming Winter Quarter is Monday, February 5 at 5:00 p.m.
Given the popularity of the program, PACE is offered three times a year: winter, spring and fall. For more information, visit our webpage and for questions, email .
City of Seattle awards nearly $1 million in matching funds for 20 community-based projects
The City of Seattle has invested $991,000 to support 20 community-initiated projects through Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund. Its Community Partnership Fund offers matching funds of up to $100,000 to community organizations committed to fostering and building our community. These awards range from $10,500 to $100,000 with the 20 organizations pledging a total of $773,231 in community match involving volunteer hours, locally raised money, donated materials, and in-kind professional services.
The Neighborhood Matching Fund has two funds: Community Partnership Fund, which is offered three times a year with cash awards up to $100,000; and Small Sparks Fund, which is offered on a rolling basis throughout the year with cash awards of up to $5,000.
The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) provides more than $3 million each year to local organizations. Over its 30-year history, more than 5,000 projects have been funded in partnership with the NMF Program, and its investment in neighborhoods can be seen across the city. For more information about NMF, visit seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/.
2017 Community Partnership Fund Awards – Fall Cycle
Citywide (Across all Districts)
- $40,000 to LTX Space Planning Committee to lead a process to envision and gather input through the fall of 2018 about the future development of a cultural space for Seattle’s Latinx community. (Community match: $35,600)
- $58,500 for Jefferson Who Am I?, a performance based on the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and his slave mistress Sally Hemming. The work will use artistic disciplines including poetry, art, music and dance with performers of all ages in September of 2018 at Langston Hughes Center. (Community match: $30,500)
District 1
- $100,000 to Friends of Roxhill Elementary to lead the planning and installation of new play features and mural at the E.C. Hughes playground in anticipation of the school’s relocation. The work will occur this winter through summer of 2018. (Community match: $59,750)
- $40,000 to Festival Centro Americano to organize a festival to celebrate the cultures of Central America. Occurring next August, it will include a day of cultural performances, cultural expression, and cultural exchange with two outreach events held prior to the event. (Community match: $30,060)
District 2
- $100,000 to Friends of Lewis Park to continue the community engagement process to transform this once crime-ridden area into a healthy and accessible urban forest. Phase V includes construction of the trail, continued restoration of the natural area, and support for long-term stewardship planning. (Community match: $58,692)
- $29,500 to Rainier Avenue Radio to create a design for the 1,200-sq. ft. space within the Royal Esquire Club that will serve as the future home of the community radio station. Community input and design work will take place in early 2018. (Community match: $45,000)
- $17,500 to 21 Progress for the Rise: Breakfast Storytelling Series which will convene community members from various sectors to engage in conversations about how to develop emerging leaders, increase community collaboration, and support resistance to oppression. (Community match: $9,030)
District 3
- $46,500 to Volunteer Park Trust to manufacture and install a 30′ high, permanent steel fencing to surround the two formal Lily Ponds in Volunteer Park. The fencing will replace the unsafe and insubstantial wire fencing, provide a proper safety barrier for children, and add to the aesthetics of the park. (Community match: $23,196)
- $90,000 to Seattle AIDS Legacy Memorial to engage communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in cultivating narratives that speak to their collective sense of loss, trauma, rage, courage, and triumph. These stories and oral histories will be celebrated at an event in December of 2018. (Community match: $51,969)
District 4
- $12,500 to Friends of Picardo Farms P-Patch Community Garden to revitalize an abandoned demonstration garden to provide a safe, contemplative space for the neighborhood. There will be an edible landscape, a patio and picnic table, and a wood chip bin. (Community match: $8,740)
- $42,000 to U District Advocates to coordinate a participatory coalition of stakeholders from the community, city, university, and transportation agencies. Over 6-8 months, the coalition will design a comprehensive Community Mobility Vision Plan in the U District to manage walking, biking, transit, driving, and freight. (Community match: $54,000)
District 5
- $21,000 to Friends of Broadview Thomson to hire a landscape architecture firm to lead a design process with community input for an improved school front. Possible improvements include art, benches, walkways and pedestrian connections, and a safe, efficient drop-off/pick-up area. (Community match: $14,780)
- $27,000 to Making Broadview Better, Together to hire a landscape architecture firm to develop a pathway design for an unimproved right-of-way to calm traffic and increase pedestrian safety. The process will include community outreach including a series of public meetings through the summer of 2018. (Community match: $14,725)
- $26,000 to Team of N. 137th Street Residents to implement pedestrian safety and traffic calming improvements which include wheel stops to separate traffic from pedestrians, a walking path, and the creation of a no-parking zone. Community volunteers will plant and build the path and maintain the landscaped areas. (Community match: $13,000)
District 6
- $10,500 to Freeway Estates Community Orchard to increase watering efficiency, enhance water conservation efforts, and allow people of various physical abilities to assist with watering. Another rainwater catchment and pumps will be installed to move water to elevated tanks that will serve gravity-fed irrigation systems. (Community match: $10,193)
- $87,000 to Whittier Elementary PTA to replace the play structure at the school’s playground. The project will also add welcoming entries, seating areas, and prominent art features to better identify the playground as a neighborhood public space. (Community match: $43,610)
- $100,000 to Rowing Advisory Council to continue efforts to redevelop the Green Lake Small Craft Center. There will be a community engagement process to select an architect, complete a schematic design, craft a fundraising plan, and initiate the capital campaign strategy. (Community match: $86,490)
District 7
- $53,000 to Downtown Seattle Association to complete the installation phase of a Community Crosswalk at the intersection of 7th and Westlake. This unique interchange is a great location to create a sense of place and bring together diverse community partners around a common urban design improvement project. (Community match: $34,531)
- $78,000 to Friends of Art of Pier 86 for Let There be Light to project illuminated art onto Pier 86. A pilot image will be projected for three months during winter, and a different image will be projected at the end of 2018. There will be a community workshop for the first installation and a community winter solstice celebration for the second installation. (Community match: $99,950)
- $12,000 to Na’ah Illahee Fund for the Yahowt Permaculture Circle of Native women and their partners to design and implement two ecological restoration projects on the 20-acre parcel at the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. Its purpose is to enhance the teaching space for Native youth and the community. (Community match: $49,415)
A new King County initiative prevented more than 3,000 people from becoming homeless in 2017
A new initiative launched a year ago by Executive Dow Constantine has prevented more than 3,000 people in King County from becoming homeless.
Results from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30 – the latest data available – show that 96 percent of the 1,024 client households still had a place to live, which prevented the need for additional shelter beds. It also decreased the number of children who suffer the trauma that homelessness can cause, which can affect brain development.
Researchers at MIT and Notre Dame selected King County’s initiative for an academic study on the effectiveness of homelessness prevention.
“Thousands of people who faced homelessness this winter are instead living in the safety of their own homes because of the prevention initiative we launched one year ago,” said Executive Constantine. “Together with our partners, we are delivering on the promise I made to the people of King County to invest in what works, and deliver better outcomes for children, youth, and families.”
Unlike the traditional approach to homelessness prevention that offers limited options for assistance, King County’s approach provides case managers with the flexibility to meet the specific needs of someone who is on the verge of homelessness. Examples include transportation or utility assistance, help finding a higher-paying job, or help understanding their legal rights as a renter.
Twenty-four percent of clients ended up not needing financial assistance because case managers were able to help them in other ways, such as negotiating with a landlord to prevent an eviction or connecting them with other services.
The initial data also shows that King County is achieving its goal of engaging young people and families of color, who have been disproportionately impacted by the homelessness crisis.
In Loving Memory of Jalil Imani-Lee Lawrence
On May 13th, 1991, God blessed Juan and Rita Lawrence with an Angel named Jalil Imani-Lee Lawrence. He came into this world a fighter, born with sickle cell. Through it all he never felt sorry for himself or let the disease define him.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories and mourn his home going: His Devoted Parents: Juan Lawrence (Father), Rita A. Pogue (Mother); Brothers: DaShae Lawrence and Juan Rheon Lawrence II; Sister – Briana Lawrence & Nephew, Hykem Hatch II; Grandparents: Lee & Adrienne Lawrence and Etta Walters; Aunts; Jonikka Lawrence, Richele Carter (George); and Uncle – Monty Sweet. Along with a host of other Relatives and Friends.
He will be remembered as a kind and caring young man by all those who knew him and were blessed to be part of his life. Services will be held December 18, 2017 at Martin Luther King Baptist Church.
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