Artist painting mural for Ballard storefront (organized by Ballard Alliance) Over these past few weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, we have all experienced lots of changes that are fundamentally changing our city and our communities. This has been traumatic and challenging for all of us, in ways both big and small.
But, throughout this crisis, we have seen community come together and hold each other up like never before. We have watched organic movements take hold that are devoted to supporting those in need financially, emotionally, spiritually, and creatively. We have come together to feed one another, protect one another, entertain one another, and sustain one another through this dark and uncertain time.
It has been truly inspiring to witness!
And, it has galvanized us at the City to uplift this work and do everything we can to support, encourage, and contribute to it.
In this time when we are physically distancing it’s more important than ever that we are socially and emotionally supporting each other. You may have seen on social media that we’ve been using #SeattleTogether to highlight this work. Well, Seattle Together goes far beyond a hashtag, it encompasses a number of initiatives, programs and partners that will foster relationships, share resources, provide emotional support, strengthen social networks, and nurture our community during this unprecedented moment in history.
In partnership with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, Office of Arts & Culture, Office of Economic Development, Seattle Public Library, and the Mayor’s Innovation and Performance Team, we are building a Citywide community response plan aimed at supporting, uplifting, and celebrating the enormous goodwill, generosity, and empathy that has come from our Seattle community and neighborhoods in the wake of this COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether it’s community members or businesses donating their time and money to those in need, individuals connecting with and supporting one another through creative and unique experiences, or artists galvanizing to provide artistic and cultural content to vulnerable populations, the City of Seattle is here to support and elevate these efforts to strengthen our community and ensure we all get through this together.
We are currently building a Seattle Together website devoted to this work. We hope to launch that soon.
In the meantime, we want to hear from you! Use #SeattleTogether on social media to share stories of what’s going on in your community and lift-up creative ideas for connecting to your neighbors.
Below is just some of the amazing work we’ve been highlighting:
