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A Walk through the Historic Jackson Street Jazz District

Did you know that Seattle’s Jackson Street was once home to a thriving after-hours jazz scene? From 1937 and 1951, the street’s corridor between Fifth Avenue South and Fourteenth Avenue South was often bustling with musicians and patrons of all backgrounds ducking in and out of clubs like the Black… [ Keep reading ]

Stories in Place: Union Bay Natural Area

Refuge in the City: Union Bay Natural Area by Eleanor Boba This special place in Northeast Seattle goes by several names: the fill, the old dump, the Union Bay Natural Area or UBNA. In my family, we call it the marsh. That said, this place is much more than a… [ Keep reading ]

City of Seattle’s Neighborhood Matching Fund Invested $1,077,003 in 24 Projects Led by Community

Last year, the City of Seattle awarded $1,077,003 to support 24 community-initiated projects through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund  Community Partnership Fund. Twenty-four community groups received awards averaging $41,597 and have pledged $977,217 to match their award through local cash donations, volunteer hours, donated materials, and in-kind… [ Keep reading ]

“Stories in Place” Celebrates the Places that Shape Community and Identity in Seattle

Our city is full of unique places that play a significant role in shaping our communities and our individual and collective identities. Some of these places may be vast; a neighborhood, a park, a body of water; others much smaller, like a house, community center, or restaurant. Some change dramatically… [ Keep reading ]

The Food Equity Fund helps small, community organizations advance food justice through Starter Fund investments

The Food Equity Fund (FEF), administered by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON), supports projects that address food insecurity and promote health and wellbeing across Seattle’s neighborhoods. Last year, the FEF Starter Fund awards provided a total of $237,500 to 10 diverse community organizations dedicated to improving access to nutritious,… [ Keep reading ]

Renovations to Historic Washington Hall Honor Legacy of Inclusion and Access

Throughout 2024, we have been working directly with the disability community to share stories and experiences that highlight advocacy efforts for equitable access and disability justice. We recently caught up with King Khazm and Kitty Wu from 206 Zulu to learn more about how they used funding from a Historic… [ Keep reading ]

Reflecting on a Successful Year of Engaging and Supporting Community

As we wrap up 2024, we want to reflect on the past year and the many accomplishments of our areas of service. Supporting, engaging, and empowering community are always our number one focus, and over the last 12 months Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) staff has worked diligently to build… [ Keep reading ]

Disability Activism Panelists Share Stories at MOHAI Gathering

In November, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) hosted an event focused on Disability Activism History that included an overview of a historic context study developed by our Historic Preservation Program and a panel of local disability activists and thinkers. Panelists shared stories… [ Keep reading ]

Celebrating the Legacy of Bob Hayman and his book, “The Railings of Seattle” 

In 2011, Seattle resident Bob Hayman faced a life-altering challenge: a brain tumor that left him paralyzed on one side of his body. As an active person and athlete, this new reality could have stopped Bob from doing what he loved most — moving. But instead of giving up, Bob… [ Keep reading ]

Meet Marta: Navigating Seattle with a White Cane

Meet Marta. This summer our team put out a call to inviting the community to share stories that relate to disability, disability history, and disability activism in Seattle. We received a bundle of ideas — you all are a treasure trove of experiences and memories! One submission came from Marta… [ Keep reading ]