Ever since we announced our part in the BOOM exhibit at Seattle’s Center for Architecture and Design, we’ve been hinting that something more was coming soon. Indeed, something has blossomed from our collaboration with Seattle’s builders and designers. And now we’re cheek-splittlingly pleased to announce that we’re teaming up with City Councilmember Lisa Herbold to host a Residents Podium for Seattle Legacy Spaces.
On the evening of August 11 (6:30-830) we’ll be gathering two groups of critical Seattleites at the Center for Architecture and Design. At the mic will be residents, artists, and community organizers, testifying on behalf of critical Seattle spaces. And in the audience will be developers, policy makers, and city officials.
For one night, folks who are living everyday impact into their neighborhoods will act as advisors to the city’s large-scale shapers. This isn’t just a “let’s lament” event for places that are already gone (although those are powerful and necessary). Our speakers on the 11th will be highlighting the places near to their hearts—keystones of community that Seattle cannot afford to lose.
Local policymakers and developers will be there to listen, to consider the direction of the city. And maybe, just maybe, going forward they will be able to allocate subsidies to offset rent hikes. Perhaps they will help to secure these beloved spaces before they’re caught up in the sweep of rapid growth. Ghosts’ team and City Councilmember Herbold aim to give the architects of our future city the input they need to build the most collaborative, inclusive, and considered version of Seattle that they can.
As you can see from the flyer, we’ve assembled a terrific roster of residents, community organizers, and artists to speak out for Seattle’s crucial spots, including:
- Ken Workman, Great-great-great-great grandson of Chief Seattle, member of Duwamish Tribal Council
- Wes Browning, journalist for Real Change
- Rahwa Habte, community builder, youth outreach for OneAmerica, Hidmo
- Elissa Washuta, author, nonfiction faculty at the Institute of American Indian Arts
- Sarah Galvin, queer and trans poet/author of The Three Einsteins and The Best Party of Our Lives
- Dave Holden, singer/songwriter, son of Seattle jazz patriarch Oscar Holden
- Jeff Stevens, Seattle Star journalist, curator of Radical Seattle Remembers
- Pio DeCano, member of the Filipino American National Historical Society
- Clark Humphrey, historian, author of the Vanishing Seattle series
- Nancy Chang, Executive Director of Reel Grrls
- Eugenia Woo, historian and preservationist with Historic Seattle
- Suntonio Bandanaz, community organizer, 206Zulu
- Yin Yu, community organizer, Women of Color Speak Out
- Philip Wohlstetter, artist, author, Invisible Seattle
- Ethan Phelps-Goodman, artist, Seattle In Progress
- Stephanie Johnson-Toliver, docent for Northwest African American Museum, committee member for the Central Area Arts and Cultural District
With these speakers (and maybe more!), we’re so grateful to put these stories in the hearts and minds and hands of those shaping the city for future generations of Seattleites.
You can read more about the event on the Center for Architecture and Design’s site. We hope to see you there.
Guest Blogger: Cali Kopczick
Tremendous opportunity to share our voices. I am the project coordinator for Mapping Historic Ballard: Shingletown to tomorrow. We have a similar message and mission. We have just completed a citizen based survey of 7,308 parcels in the Ballard community with a customized smart phone application and created a first series of GIS maps analyzing change over time with an interactive map, and orthophotographic swipes comparing 2015 with 1904 Baist Maps, 1937, and 1997. See them in Beta development at ballardhistoriy.org
I look forward to seeing you August 11th. I’ll bring some maps…