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💪 'It's about healing, hope, and possibilities'
HEY, SUNSHINE. Volunteers like all of you make our city a brighter place. Thanks for doing what you do.
(📸: @dannyngan)
YOUR MOST MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER MEMORIES
First, we want to give a big round of applause and thanks to everyone who shared their stories with us:
- Kathleen, Eliza Ramsey, Katherine Noble, Linda Elman, Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Lauren Schlicker, and Lynn Williamson for reaching out via email,
- Elise Tinseth for messaging us on Instagram,
- … and Lynn Williamson, Kimberlee Barber-Woodruff, Jessica Jones, Whitney Rearick, Hayley Jones, Gabby Arens, Archana Bhat, Ben Courts, and Caroline HM for sharing their experiences on our Facebook page.
Y’all are awesome. 💕
Now here are just a few volunteer opportunities we found inspiring …
» Caroline described building tiny houses with the Low Income Housing Institute as “weirdly addicting and exhausting, especially if it’s raining,” she wrote us. “But … every time I do it I want to do it again.”
» Katherine on mentoring through Community for Youth: “Not only were we spending time with a high schooler looking for a mentor, but we were connecting with other Seatteites as well. Taking time to be silly, learn something new and help build a community in Seattle was so worthwhile and rewarding!”
» Elizabeth on Dress For Success Seattle: “Watching a woman’s body language change from looking a bit unsure or dejected when she arrives for a ‘suiting’ of professional clothing to looking hopeful, encouraged, and confident when she leaves with her beautiful, well-fitting, new outfit that says ‘Hi, I am a person of value; hire me!’ It’s not just about appearances, it’s about healing, hope, and possibilities.”
MORE READER-RECOMMENDED WAYS TO GIVE BACK
- Sign up to be a Homework Helper through the Seattle Public Library — via Kathleen
- Bring out the elbow grease at Bike Works’ youth-focused programming and The Bikery’s DIY events — via Ben
- Pitch in to provide free health care at the Seattle/King County Clinic from September 20 to 23. — via Christine
Stay tuned for the next part of our Evergrey Giving Guide next week. Thanks to everyone who’s emailed us ideas for our project, and to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for making this project possible.
NOW HERE’S WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR CITY
Got room? One hyperlocal way some Seattleites are tackling our city’s homelessness crisis: opening up their backyards. Two years ago, local homeless advocate and architect Rex Hohlbein pitched the Block Project, which builds donation-funded tiny homes in Seattle homeowners’ backyards to house a neighbor living homeless. It wasn’t met with much enthusiasm. But today, more than 100 people are on a waiting list to help. “We all have to make space in our hearts, and literally make space in our communities, to solve this issue. We don’t have to create compassion—I believe that’s there already in each and every one of us. We have to create a connection,” Rex said. 🏠 (Seattle Magazine)
Big Bike. Earlier this summer, the Spin and Ofo dockless bike-sharing programs announced they’d be closing shop due to new regulations and costly permits. Still left in the game: Lime and — surprise! — ride-sharing services Lyft and Uber. All three of ‘em recently applied for permanent dockless bike-share permits. No word on whether any of the bikes will feature funky light displays. 🚲 (GeekWire)
Cause a stir. Have a favorite bartender who deserves a special shout-out? Maybe they’re someone who has your favorite drink memorized. Or who mixes you up something delightful each time you visit. Or who’s been a considerate ear on a particularly rough night. Whoever they are, The Stranger wants to feature them in their October “Guide to Seattle’s Happiest Happy Hours.” Nominate your faves here by Monday, September 10. 🍹 (The Stranger)
Group grub. Whether you’re meeting up with out-of-town guests or your local college buddies, going out to eat as a group can get expensive — but it doesn’t have to be, according to The Infatuation. Their new “affordable group dinners” list has a bunch of great recs, including bulgogi pinchos at Tapas Lab in Green Lake and pizza and $8 frozen rose from The Masonry in Fremont. 🍴 (The Infatuation)
PARTNER EVENTS
📅 TODAY: Learn to master your calendar — and master your business — at this Impact Hub Lunch + Learn (Pioneer Square)
✊ Wednesday, Sept. 5: Hear some real talk about confidence building from a queer woman of color in tech at this Impact Hub Lunch + Learn (Pioneer Square)
🎉 Saturday, Sept. 8 – Sunday, Sept. 9: See large-scale art installations, peruse a street fair, and learn how design affects our lives at Seattle Design Fest (Pioneer Square)
AROUND TOWN
TODAY
🎟 Be part of a “mass mind-reading” and meet a mentalist (Belltown)
🎨 Splatter paint on a canvas while hanging out with cats (Wallingford)
💪 Learn how to make your work calendar your friend at this Evergrey partner event (Pioneer Square)
💡 Hear your neighbors’ poetry, essays, and prose at the social justice library (Beacon Hill)
TOMORROW
🎨 Cheer on local makers at the Mayor Jenny Durkan’s arts awards (Queen Anne)
🎮 Play unreleased games and meet their developers ahead of PAX West (Redmond)
👋 Meet up with fellow young LGBTQ+ professionals (Belltown)
FRIDAY
🍴 Make a picnic out of fruit harvested from all across Seattle (Othello)
🎟 Cheer on performers at a video game-themed drag night (Belltown)
🎶 Practice your head-banging at Bumbershoot — through Sept. 2 (Queen Anne)
🎨 Watch breakdancing and hear spoken word at a youth arts block party (West Seattle)
🎮 Hear from a puzzlemaster and play board games on top of Columbia Tower (Downtown)
SATURDAY
🍿 Watch short films, documentaries, and audience-favored flicks — through Sept. 2 (Queen Anne)
🎶 Sway to music by Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians at the locks (Ballard)
🏞 We aren’t kitten you — bring your cats to the park (Capitol Hill)
SUNDAY
🎈 Take the kids — big and little — to play indie games (Downtown)
💃 Hit the dance floor in honor of Queen Beyoncé’s birthday (Capitol Hill)
🎶 Hum along to Baroque, classical, and contemporary flute tunes (Ballard)
🍿 Bring the fam to a super film festival of Marvel movies — through Sept. 6 (Queen Anne)
🍴 Nom on pie and see local art at the Blackberry Festival — through Sept. 3 (Bremerton)
Going to one of these? Take us with you! Email a pic to [email protected] or tag #theevergrey on Instagram. See more upcoming events on our events page, and add your own events with an Evergrey membership. Is an event sold out? Hit reply to let us know and we’ll update the listing in tomorrow’s newsletter.
‘YOU’RE NOT ALONE IN THIS COMMUNITY’
Yesterday, we shared stories from our neighbors who’ve experienced homelessness in response to this question from Brian Hsi: “How do the unhoused think we should address our housing challenges? What would they tell homeowners? Renters? Politicians? Businesses?”
We turned several of their responses into audiogram so you can hear bits of their stories in their own voices. Don’t miss hearing Manda Richer talk about housing rights or ayom ament on showing compassion for people struggling. They’re worth a listen.
We’ll see you tomorrow. 👋 — The Evergrey