In 1994, then Mayor Norm Rice was out on one of his regular neighborhood tours, this time in Phinney Ridge. On that tour, he met a passionate neighbor who handed him a letter. Her name is Judith Wood. In her letter, she implored the Mayor to create a day to… [ Keep reading ]
In the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square Preservation District, where the scent of salt air mingles with the ghost of sawdust and steam, stands the Populus Hotel. Named for a genus of species of deciduous flowering plants in the willow family which includes the famous Quaking Aspen, this renovated historic landmark stands as a living bridge between the city’s rugged past and its green future. Just… [ Keep reading ]
On Saturday, April 25, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ P-Patch Community Gardening Team hosted its annual Earth Day Resource Fair for community. Community members and fellow gardeners from across Seattle gathered at the Northwest African American Museum for gardening related workshops, seed swaps, sharing resources like organic fertilizer and rodent mitigation,… [ Keep reading ]
We connected with Karen Ko, a Lions Club member and coordinator for the Seattle Sensory Garden, a project supported by the Neighborhood Matching Fund to learn about the origins of the garden, how Small Sparks grants aided the process, and why community-led projects are so important right now. Can you… [ Keep reading ]
“Fighting the Flames of NIMBYism since 1970” Submitted by Environmental Works Seattle in the late 1960s was a city in transition. It was grappling with the Vietnam War, civil rights struggles, environmental degradation, and economic instability after Boeing layoffs. Plans for new freeways threatened to fracture established neighborhoods, older buildings… [ Keep reading ]
UPCOMING COMMUNITY MEETINGS updated 7.28.2026 Community members are invited to join the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Department of Neighbors for the next Our City, Our Safety meeting of 2026. Learn about all upcoming events on our website. These meetings are an opportunity to share your thoughts and concerns about… [ Keep reading ]
On Saturday, March 21, people of Seattle gathered in South Park for the first Best Day Ever event, a day of service, storytelling, shared meals, and community connection co-created by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods and the Seattle Chamber of Connection and local partner Cultivate South Park. Best Day Ever is a community-powered celebration designed to strengthen civic belonging while spotlighting the people,… [ Keep reading ]
The Food Equity Fund (FEF), managed by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON), supports projects that address food insecurity and promote health and wellbeing across Seattle’s neighborhoods. In 2025, the FEF Starter Fund awarded a total of $275,000 to 11 diverse community organizations dedicated to improving access to nutritious, culturally relevant food. The… [ Keep reading ]
This piece is part of a short series focused on community occupations of historical places in Seattle. These stories, told by community members, showcase the power of people uniting to protect important community places in the city and the ways these places continue to provide meaningful space, resources, and services… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Youth Commission (SYC) is made up of 15 Seattle teens from across the city appointed by the Mayor and City Councilmembers. Youth Commissioners represent each of the seven City Council Districts, as well as eight at-large. Department of Neighborhoods thanks the SYC for their hard work and dedication… [ Keep reading ]
