In 2012, Quynh Pham joined the very first cohort of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE), a program designed to help community members understand how city government works and how to navigate it to create change. More than a decade later, she returns to the… [ Keep reading ]
The weather is warming. Cherry blossoms are popping. And the days are getting longer here in Seattle. You know what that means; garden season is upon us! Celebrate Earth Day and kick off your growing season at the P-Patch Resource Fair, Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m…. [ Keep reading ]
Kolbi Monasmith joined the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods as the new Indigenous Advisory Council Liaison in January 2026. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, though she grew up in the Seattle area. Kolbi attended Seattle Central College and the University of Washington studying Political Science, Human… [ Keep reading ]
In 2025, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) focused on what matters most: people, their neighborhoods, and the trust built between them. Our department didn’t just meet its goals; we raised the bar for what community-centered government can do. The work behind us has shown that vibrant cities are built… [ Keep reading ]
For 35 years, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) has helped neighbors turn connection into action by supporting community-led projects, building local leadership, and bringing people together across the city. In 2026, DON celebrates this milestone with a year-long 35th Anniversary celebration, launching on Neighbor Day Saturday, May 2, 2026, through Neighbor Day on May 8,… [ Keep reading ]
Finding the right person to talk to in city government can be difficult. We are here to help you, and we are making it easier for you to talk to someone at the City of Seattle. In 2025 we started a pilot program that brought Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Community… [ Keep reading ]
By Tracey Thompson The High Point Housing Projects were built in 1942 to accommodate military personnel and workers who migrated from the South in search of better opportunities. Over time, High Point became one of Seattle’s quiet strongholds of Black life, shaped by families who arrived during the Great Migration… [ Keep reading ]
Rooted in Roosevelt community celebration As any non-profit, community organization, or motivated group of neighbors know, a little bit can go a long way. That is certainly the case when it comes to the Small Sparks Fund grants. Part of the Neighborhood Matching Fund, Small Sparks provides grants to $5,000… [ Keep reading ]
In 2025, the grip of food insecurity tightened across the region as many residents lost access to healthy, nutritious food. Federal funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, climate change, and the rising costs of groceries have increased hunger across the nation, but programs like the P-Patch Giving Gardens… [ Keep reading ]
Sharing a meal with others feels good. Food has always connected people and has the ability to break down cultural barriers, build connections, and evoke a feeling of wellbeing – both physically and mentally. And that is exactly what the American Polynesian Organization (APO) meal program does each week for hundreds of low-income… [ Keep reading ]
