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 ]
Mayor Katie B. Wilson seeks a new member for the International Special Review District Board (ISRD) Board and invites community members who care deeply about the Chinatown International District to come forward. Serving on the Board is a way for residents to shape decisions that affect their own neighborhoods—because this… [ 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 ]
Most people living in Seattle are renters; and the city consistently populates the top ten list of “most expensive cities” to rent. The Seattle Renters’ Commission (SRC) was established in 2017 to represent diverse renter voices from across the city. Its purpose is to provide information, direction, and counsel to the Mayor, Seattle City Council, and City departments regarding issues and policies that affect local renters. The Seattle Renters’ Commission has… [ Keep reading ]
The start of a new year serves as both a time of reflection and an opportunity to set goals and plan for the future. As we look back on the past three years at Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON), one word rises above all others: connection. Our staff has served… [ 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 ]
From block parties to public art, park upgrades to cultural celebrations, some of Seattle’s most beloved spaces start the same way: with neighbors who care and an idea worth building together. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON) is accepting applications for the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF), one of the City’s longest-running… [ Keep reading ]
The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ (DON) P-Patch Community Gardening Program will raise plot fees for the *2025-2026 biennium. Seattle Municipal Code Section 3.35.060 authorizes the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to adjust base P-Patch plot fees every two years in response to 1) inflation approximately in proportion to the… [ Keep reading ]
