Frank Nam introduces the We Belong Here podcast series, and tells the classic Stone Soup story.

Frank Nam (We Belong Here), Rickey Hall (University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity), Jamie Lee (Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority) and Joaquin Uy (Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs at the City of Seattle) discuss integration versus assimilation, how to care for International District residents most impacted by COVID-19, education access, and the importance of deeper community outreach to immigrants and refugees.

On today's episode we hear inter-generational perspectives from three women. We're lucky to have guests in their 30s, 60s, and one who is on the cusp of their 90th birthday.

KT McBratney is the Co-Founder of OwnTrail, Karen Ko is retired after 25 years at the City of Seattle's Department of Neighborhoods, and Anne Stadler is one of the founders of Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park, WA and works with the Association of Beloved Communities.

Our guests spend time discussing how they like to care for others and how they like to be cared for, and then jump into different projects they are working on.

Listen to our guests discuss sensory gardens, innovative ways to create more mentorship for and by womxn, and how we create a future centered on belonging during and after COVID-19.

0:00 - Introduction
03:00 - How would you like to be cared for?
09:00 - Karen shares her story of moving to the International District
14:30 - Group celebrates the Tai Tung Restaurant
15:03 - KT shares her story and how she dealt with being perceived as "too much"
18:32 - Anne shares her story of working as a community organizer and TV producer
24:44 - KT discusses launching a company during a pandemic and how the OwnTrail App creates a space for women to share their professional journeys
34:40 - Karen talks about Seattle Sensory Garden and designing public spaces for people who are blind and deaf
39:54 - Anne describes the importance of MLK's "beloved community" in her life

On today's episode we hear from three people working in very different sectors: government, housing/development, and social entrepreneurship. What they have in common is a love of place and a desire to welcome people into spaces.

Amy Nguyen is the Public Space Management Program Development Supervisor for the Seattle Department of Transportation. She is also currently working in a special capacity to help project manage Seattle Together. Laura Clise is the Founder and CEO of Intentionalist. Shannon Loew is the CEO of both FIX Impact Development and Hatchback Cottages.

Our guests spend time discussing both the impact of belonging and othering, the importance of physical spaces in developing community, backyard cottages, small business amplification and support, and how government and other sectors can follow the lead of community in building social cohesion during COVID-19.

00:00 – Introduction
00:40 – Shannon Intro
01:30 – Amy Intro
02:35 – Laura Intro
04:55 – What ingredient would you bring to the soup of belonging?
10:40 – Amy tells her story of growing up in White Center and discuss the concept of ‘plaza culture’
17:00 – Laura tells her story of struggling with belonging throughout her life
25:21 – Shannon tells his story of growing up in two very different schools
34:14 – Shannon discusses affordable housing and Hatchback Cottages
40:51 – Laura discusses her project and supporting local businesses
50:54 – Amy discusses Seattle Together project and civic recovery

On today's episode we hear from three strangers with a particular connection. One is a published poet, another runs a non-profit organization, and the other works for a local regional theatre company. What they have in common is an understanding of the power of storytelling.

Eun Ji Koh is the author of The Magical Language of Others and has a collection of poems coming out called A Lesser Love. She is also writing a thousand love letters to strangers by hand. All that she asks is that you send her a bit about yourself and add a struggle or question along with your physical mailing address to: angelaejkoh@gmail.com.

Luis Ortega is the Founder and Executive Director of Storytellers for Change, a national non-profit that has worked with thousands of youth, educators, and social impact leaders from across the world to harness the power of narratives to create positive social change. He has created a partnership with the Discovery Center at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to uplift the stories of local change-makers called In Community We Flourish. He would love for more people to feel energized by the activism and passion of young people.

Becky Witmer is the Managing Director of A Contemporary Theatre (or ACT Theatre for short). Although the world of seeing plays live is on hold at the moment, ACT Theatre normally produces five primary programs: Mainstage, ACT Lab, Young Playwrights Program, Core Company, and the New Work initiative to fulfill their mission to engage audiences, develop new works, and keep the art accessible. If you have an idea on how ACT Theatre can continue to fulfill its mission during a global pandemic, please reach out to Becky at Becky.Witmer@acttheatre.org.

Our guests spend time unearthing their pasts, sharing stories that inspired them, and speak to the power of generational wisdom and the web that connects us all through storytelling.

0:00 - Introduction
4:20 - guests discuss a story that is important to them
15:25 - Luis shares his personal story
22:30 - EJ shares their story
27:56 - Becky shares their story

We Belong Here announces a new partnership with The Evergrey to produce a weekly series that features community members who are creating belonging in the greater Seattle region.

In this podcast we hear from three guests who share an affinity around education from different perspectives.

Anthony Shoecraft leads Our Best, which is the City of Seattle's inaugural effort aimed at expanding opportunity and improving life outcomes of young Black men and boys. He is a native son of Seattle and a proud graduate of Garfield High School, Hampton University, and the University of Washington.

Caine Lowery is the Principal of Seattle's Aki Kurose Middle School. He grew up in Oregon and came to Seattle after teaching in Atlanta. He's worked at Aki Kurose Middle School and Cleveland High School.

David Bley oversees strategies focused on stable families, great schools and strong communities in Washington State and high-quality early learning both nationally and in Washington State for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He grew up outside of Chicago and has served the Seattle region for several decades in many capacities.

Our guests share stories around their roots and have a powerfully honest conversations around education and belonging. Much of this conversation is wrapped around leading with a racial lens as we consider trauma, re-imagined possibilities, representation, and the power of schools in creating futures for young people.

All three share personal and professional projects towards the end. Caine Lowery and his partner are expecting their first child in September! He also will be utilizing racial affinity groups with his schools staff and is open to any expertise in this work.

David Bley talked about the important work around family homelessness that he's championed at the foundation and he shouted-out the great work of Schoolhouse Washington, which improves housing stability and advances educational success for students experiencing homelessness. We both discussed the great work that Treehouse has done for youth in the foster care system! There's a great video of their Class of 2020 on the website!

Anthony Shoecraft discussed the importance of the Families, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy at the City of Seattle. He also plugged the work of the MoHundred Scholarship. They are currently working to build the state's very first endowment fund for Black males and any support would be appreciated.

In this podcast we are excited to launch our four-part series with The Gates Discovery Center's "In Community We Flourish" events. Each event will highlight young people who are local changemakers in our community!

Today's podcast includes two changemakers, Evana Enabulele of Queer the Land and Mariama Suwaneh of Hopelink. They are joined by City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture's Ashraf Hasham who is the Youth Arts Manager.

Our guests share stories around resiliency, family, activism, arts, and the power of taking care of oneself during these times of pandemic and racial revolution.

All three shared personal and professional projects towards the end.

Evana talked about the great milestone of Queer the Land as they purchased their first home. It's a 12-bedroom house in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. They are looking for folx to come help with their bodies to get the place ready, their minds if they have knowledge about housing regulations, and their bank accounts if they are able to donate financially.

Mariama shouted out her amazing blog for women of color: The Audacious Blog. She is also launching a podcast with a friend that will come out next month. Follow the blog for updates!

Ashraf talked about how the City of Seattle’s efforts at civic recovery are housed at Seattle Together. He spoke specifically on any help to think of innovative ways to employ the creative community. Many are impacted by the economic impacts in the region.

Responses for any of these endeavors can be sent to us at f.nam@civic-commons.org. We will happily forward along any notes to our guests.