Seattle, Wa. Like many other businesses being affected by COVID-19 the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has had to make adjustments when it comes to showcasing exhibits to the public. For the past two months, the Seattle Art Museum has implemented a new way to experience its various art pieces and themes. “Stay Home With SAM” a new addition to its website which is explained as a chance to “share art activities for all ages, videos, interviews, art news, and more to keep you connected to art.” This page allows the public to learn about new exhibits coming soon as well as behind the scene interviews with the artists.
Preview for Barbara Earl Thomas and her new exhibition opening in November.
This new collection according to Barbara Earl Thomas is “a new body of work admits the turmoil and crises of the past year.” Thomas also goes on to say, “it is the chaos of living and the grief of our time that compels me, philosophically, emotionally and artistically. I am a witness and a chronicler.” This upcoming event will be displayed in November.
Artist in Residence Kimberly Deriana’s Project: Photo by Jen Au.
Seattle Art Museum Mission Statement:
Interviews and behind the scene videos are only a portion of what SAMBlogs has to offer. The Seattle Art Museum has online video tours as well as interactive guides to help create your own art. This is all to “connect art to life while we are closed”. If you would like to donate this link will bring you to the SAM fund. A place to donate and be apart of the SAM community.
SAM has been the center for world-class visual arts in the Pacific Northwest since 1933. Visit SAM to see a museum carved into the city, as much a part of Seattle’s landscape and personality as the coffee, rain, mountains, Pike Place Market, and the Space Needle.
Seattle Art Museum Location Contact Information:1300 FIRST AVE, SEATTLE, WA 98101
Seattle, WA. On the website, for the American Cancer Association, new guidelines include ideas on how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global pandemic of the coronavirus disease, called COVID-19, continues to have a serious impact on many people, including cancer patients, their families, and caregivers. State and local authorities, as well as health officials, continue to adjust their recommendations as the number of COVID-19 cases changes in different parts of the country.
Some cancer patients might be at increased risk of serious illness from an infection because their immune systems can be weakened by cancer and its treatments. Most people who were treated for cancer in the past (especially if it was years ago) are likely to have normal immune function, but each person is different. It’s important that all cancer patients and survivors, whether currently in treatment or not, talk with a doctor who understands their situation and medical history.
It’s also important that both patients and their caregivers take precautions to lower their risk of getting COVID-19. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has specific recommendations for people at risk for serious illness from COVID-19 infection.
While the situation continues to change, knowing some basic facts about what you can do to help protect yourself and others from getting sick can be very empowering.
The COVID-19 pandemic is still fairly new, and doctors are still learning about its possible risks for cancer patients. But they do have a lot of information regarding the risk of infections in general for cancer patients.
Avoiding being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is especially important for cancer patients, who might be at higher risk for serious illness if they get infected. This is particularly true for patients who are getting chemotherapy or a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant because their immune systems can be severely weakened by the treatment.
The pandemic is also affecting the way many people get medical care, including patients with cancer. Depending on the COVID-19 situation where you live, this may mean a delay in having cancer surgery or care that’s meant to keep cancer from returning. Some people may need to reschedule appointments.
Cancer care teams are doing the best they can to deliver care to those most in need. However, even in these circumstances, it isn’t life as usual. It’s important to keep in contact with your cancer care team to determine the best course of action for you. This may involve talking to your care team virtually (online or over the phone) and not physically going to the clinic.
Many clinics and infusion centers have made changes to allow you to come in safely for an in-person visit as well as treatment. These might include screening for COVID-19 symptoms ahead of your visit, proper spacing of waiting room and infusion chairs, spacing out appointments to limit the number of people in the waiting room at one time, requiring people to wear a face cover, and cleaning all surfaces frequently. It’s important to know who to call to reach your cancer care team to find out how to proceed.
These circumstances will take some time to resolve, and even then, there will likely continue to be changed in the way cancer patients receive their treatment.
In the meantime, doctors need to learn more about cancer patients and COVID-19. Registries such as the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium and studies such as the NCI COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study are actively collecting data. Early studies from registries in the US and around the world have looked at outcomes for cancer patients who develop COVID-19 with symptoms, as well as if certain anti-cancer treatments change these outcomes. These initial study results are helpful, but it is very important to gather more data and analyze it over a longer time to better understand the effects of COVID-19 on current and former cancer patients. Contact your doctor if you are interested in participating in a registry or study.
How can I protect myself and others from getting COVID-19?
According to the CDC, there are things all of us can do to help lower the risk of being infected (and infecting others):
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds because it’s one of the best ways to kill germs on your hands and prevent the spread of germs to others. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, because if you picked up the virus, you could infect yourself by allowing the virus to enter your body.
Avoid close contact – being within 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) of people who don’t live in your household, and any people who are sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others. (See below for more details.)
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash, or cough or sneeze into your elbow. Then wash your hands right away.
Stay home (except to get medical care) if you are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. Always read the directions of the products closely to make sure you are using them correctly. Cleaning and disinfecting products should not be used directly on skin, taken by mouth, or inhaled into the lungs, and bleach should not be used on food.
People with cancer who are getting infusions at the clinic or hospital should talk to their doctor about alternate treatments that might be available, like oral medicines or infusions at home.
It’s important to keep in mind that some people who are infected with the virus might not have symptoms, but they could still spread the virus to others. Because of this, it’s important that everyone follow the CDC’s recommendations on how to protect yourself and others.
Should I wear a face mask?
The CDC recommends that you wear a cloth face cover (something that covers your nose, mouth, and much of your face) or a face mask if you go out in public, especially in places where you might be close to other people.
The face cover is meant to help protect other people because you could spread the virus if you are infected and don’t have symptoms. At the same time, when someone else wears a face cover, it can protect you, too. Together, this can help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Many other authorities and businesses are also recommending face covers, and some are now requiring them.
It’s important to understand that wearing a face cover or mask is not a substitute for social distancing. It’s still very important to stay at least 6 feet away from others, even while wearing a face cover or mask, and to continue to wash your hands frequently.
Remember to wash your hands before putting on your face cover, to not touch your face while wearing the cover, and to wash your hands right after taking it off.
The CDC does not recommend that people in the general public wear surgical or N95 masks. These are in short supply in many areas and should be saved for healthcare workers who need them when caring for people who are sick. It is also best to check with your local authorities to see if your area has specific guidelines about wearing a face-covering in public.Are there different recommendations for cancer patients and caregivers?
The CDC does not have specific recommendations on masks for people who have or have had cancer and their caregivers. But for many people being treated for cancer, especially with treatments like chemotherapy or stem cell (bone marrow) transplants that can weaken the immune system, doctors often recommend patients wear a mask to help lower exposure to germs that might cause infections. If you’re not sure if you or your caregiver should be wearing a mask, contact your doctor or another member of your cancer care team.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19, which may appear 2-14 days after being infected, are:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Chills
Muscle aches and pains
Sore throat
New loss of smell or taste
Feeling very tired
Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
Runny nose
Contact your doctor or local health department if you have any of these symptoms.
If you or the person you’re caring for has any of the following serious signs and symptoms of COVID-19, get medical attention right away:
Trouble breathing
Constant pain or heaviness in the chest
New confusion or being hard to wake up
Bluish lips or face
Some people with COVID-19 might have signs or symptoms of blood clots such as bluish toes (also referred to as “COVID toes”), swelling of the lower leg, chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke symptoms (slurred speech, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg). The reasons for this are being still studied, but it’s important to tell your doctor right away if you are having any of these symptoms.
Children, in particular, might have fewer symptoms from COVID-19. However, there have been recent reports of children with symptoms such as a fever and rash similar to Kawasaki disease, as well as severe body inflammation, which might be related to the coronavirus. The CDC is keeping track of this syndrome, called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), to learn more about it and its relationship to the coronavirus infection.
It’s important to know that some people who are infected with the virus might not have symptoms, but they could still spread the virus to others. Because of this, it’s important that everyone follow the CDC’s recommendations on how to protect yourself and others.
From American Cancer Society:
The American Cancer Society was founded in 1913 by 10 doctors and 5 laypeople in New York City. It was called the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). At that time, a cancer diagnosis meant near-certain death. Rarely mentioned in public, this disease was steeped in fear and denial. Doctors sometimes did not tell their patients they had cancer, and patients often did not tell their friends and families that they had been diagnosed with it.
The Society’s founders knew they had to raise public awareness about cancer if progress was to be made against this disease. Despite the enormity of their task, our founders and their colleagues set about writing articles for popular magazines and professional journals; publishing Campaign Notes, a monthly bulletin of cancer information; and recruiting doctors throughout the country to help educate the public.
It was in these early years that the Society first used its now-iconic Sword of Hope symbol, which today is part of the organization’s logo. The sword came from a 1928 nationwide poster contest sponsored by the ASCC and the New York City Cancer Committee. George E. Durant of Brooklyn won the contest, receiving a first prize of $500. He selected the sword to express the crusading spirit of the cancer control movement. The twin-serpent caduceus, which forms the handle of the sword, emphasizes the medical and scientific nature of the Society’s work. Classically, twined serpents represent healing of the sick and creativity of the healthy.
Over the past 100 years, the logo has changed many times. The current American Cancer Society logo presents a contemporary, powerful, and cohesive entity. The trapezoidal shape with the angled edge suggests forward movement, aspiration, and growth. The overall design creates the image of a flag being carried forth toward victory. This symbol is intended to unite people in the common goal to save lives from cancer.
Seattle, WA. The Seattle Aquarium is open with timed ticketing and limited attendance, which means you’ll get up close to the animals and not other visitors. Seattle Aquarium staffers have worked closely with local health experts to provide a safe and fun experience.
There’s plenty of space to maintain distance as you stroll the wide sidewalk along Alaskan Way, taking in views of Elliott Bay and enjoying the sights and sounds of Seattle’s historic waterfront.
There are some changes you need to know about before visiting:
ONLINE TICKETS MUST BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE for all guests, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time member.
YOUR TIMED TICKET indicates your arrival window. There is no limit to how long you can spend at the Aquarium.
FACE COVERINGS/MASKS ARE REQUIRED during your visit. Exemptions to this order include babies/toddlers under age 2; anyone with a disability that makes it hard for them to wear or remove a face covering; anyone who is deaf and moves their face and mouth to communicate; and anyone who has been advised by a medical professional to not wear a face-covering because of personal health issues.
A ONE-WAY PATHWAY with clear physical distance markers will guide you through the Aquarium and help protect everyone’s health.
Here’s a video with more information:
Opened in 1977, the Seattle Aquarium was owned and operated by the City of Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation until 2010, when the nonprofit Seattle Aquarium Society assumed its management—a model used by most leading zoos and aquariums across the country.
From the Seattle Aquarium: The Seattle Aquarium is one of Washington state’s leading environmental education and stewardship institutions, and the region’s gathering place for discussion and sharing information about marine conservation. It maintains a number of research initiatives in cooperation with federal, state, zoological and university partners. The Aquarium is located on Pier 59, at 1483 Alaskan Way.
Seattle, WA. Due to COVID-19, ChickTech has transitioned all of its programs online; this includes ChickTech’s K-8 and high school programs, and its ACT-W conferences and events. Although this transition has left ChickTech unable to do its signature in-person events, ChickTech program manager Ivette Cortez has found that “anything is virtually possible.”
“In the past, we needed the space and the finances,” says Cortez. Virtually, programs can be easier to coordinate.
High school students working in VR with ChickTech.
Students code with ChickTech in-person before the pandemic.
ChickTech’s new virtual mentorship program has reached over 150 high schoolers, a handful of which are returning students. According to Cortez, ChickTech’s online platform has created new mentorship opportunities. Before the pandemic, ChickTech struggled to coordinate mentorship opportunities in person, but staffers have found that mentorship is more manageable online.
ChickTech’s ACT-W (Advancing the Careers of Technical Womxn) conferences and events have also grown in the online format. ChickTech expects attendance to double at this year’s ACT-W (Advancing the Careers of Technical Womxn) conference (August 26th-28th). Previous ACT-W conferences have reached about 500 people, but Cortez believes that the virtual format will make the conference accessible many more.
This year’s ACT-W conference will focus on inclusion in the tech field and include speaking sessions, technical workshops, one-on-one career coaching, and a virtual career fair. People from all backgrounds and genders who are in the tech field, or interested in tech can register for the conference here. Proceeds will go toward ChickTech’s high school program
ChickTech is also making strides in the realm of inclusion and diversity. This last week, ChickTech’s board has been in the process of reviewing a DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) portfolio, which includes learning hours for staff to develop best practices for working with diverse populations. “We want to continue learning,” says Cortez, “We’re very dedicated to creating a more inclusive and diverse landscape.”
From ChickTech:
Founded in 2012, ChickTech is a Portland, Oregon-based national nonprofit dedicated to retaining womxn (including non-binary and transgender individuals) in the technology workforce and increasing the number of diverse youth pursuing technology-based careers. We currently have over 25 chapters across North America, engaging a community of over 20,000 women and girls.
Seattle, WA. Seattle Dance Collective’s new project Continuum: Bridging the Distance will broadcast digitally to the public for five weeks. Continuum includes five works of art performed by Seattle Dance Collective members, filmed by Seattle-based filmmaker Henry Wurtz. New work will premiere each week beginning July 2 until July 30. Each work will be accompanied by a behind-the-scenes video citing the challenges and discoveries artists uncovered while creating art during a pandemic. Continuum: Bridging the Distance can be viewed on SDC’s website and Facebook page. Seattle Dance Collective will also provide online classes throughout the series, taught by artists involved in each week’s newly released work. There will be classes for dancers of varying skill levels, and all are free to the public.
Elle Macy and Dylan Ward in Home by Penny Saunders. Photo by Henry Wurtz
Since COVID-19 hit Seattle, co-founder and artistic director of Seattle Dance Collective Noelani Pantastico says “it was clear that [SDC] had to cancel [its] summer program” and re-imagine how to create art “under the constraints of social distancing.” Due to the absence of live audiences, Seattle Dance Collective “had to think very differently about how to bring artists together” and “engage audiences in a brand-new way.” Ultimately, Seattle Dance Collective “shifted [its] artist workshops online” and collaborated with colleagues to conceive Continuum: Bridging the Distance. Pantastico shares that “capturing SDC’s work on film and sharing it online has added an exciting element to [its] offerings.”
Founding Artistic Directors Noelani Pantastico and James Yoichi Moore. Photo by Lindsay Thomas
Pantastico and fellow SDC co-founder and artistic director James Yoichi Moore have been pushed to “learn new sets of skills.” Specifically, giving artistic feedback while reviewing and editing dance footage is a “new territory” for the artistic directors. Pantastico says that “responding to filmed product” differs greatly from the typical rehearsal process of communicating with dancers in real-time. Additionally, the artistic directors must give opinions on additional factors of the work aside from the dancers’ performances, including light, opacity, music, and film editing to ensure the “dance and dancers shine more.”
Amanda Morgan in Musings by Amanda Morgan. Photo by Henry Wurtz
Moore shares that Seattle Dance Collective’s “artists have also been stretched during this unconventional process,” as “creating dance for film is different in many ways from the traditional theater production.” Moore states that “dance is an art form that demands physicality and close contact,” so Seattle Dance Collective’s “choreographers had to completely adjust their method and figure out how to successfully develop and rehearse a new piece remotely via video call, rather than in the studio.” There are also added elements choreographers must consider in their creation process, including “taking advantage of close-ups and multiple camera angles.”
Lucien Postlewaite in A Headlamp or Two by Beth Tellwilleger. Photo by Henry Wurtz.
Dancers also had to adapt to rehearsing in the confines of their home and many of them had to rehearse in separate spaces, away from one another. Moore states that “in some cases, dancers were only able to experience the full breadth of movement when on location for the first time, before filming.” SDC’s filmmaker also learned to work in an “entirely new way” as he needed to “conceptualize camera work with very limited on-location rehearsal time.”
Leah Terada and Myles Pertl in The Only Thing You See Now by SeaPertls
Moore says that Seattle Dance Collective has always believed that “dance is a vital form of storytelling and emotional expression.” For this reason, “being able to offer artists the opportunity to continue practicing their art… when most artists have suddenly found themselves unemployed, is not only extremely rewarding” for SDC, but “crucial for the continued development of the arts.” Moore says that “people need art more than ever, and it is [Seattle Dance Collective’s] responsibility to put it out there”
From Seattle Dance Collective:
To support Seattle Dance Collective, people are encouraged to visit the organization’s website to “watch new films, register for classes, and share broadly.” Seattle Dance Collective relies on the generosity of supporters to “continue creating meaningful art” so any donation is “appreciated and essential to [SDC’s] future.”
Seattle Dance Collective is dedicated to nurturing collaboration between dancers and choreographers and introducing audiences to transformative programs of artistic excellence. SDC was founded in 2019 by Noelani Pantastico and James Yoichi Moore and made its debut that summer with four sold-out performances at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Seattle, WA. In pre-Covid days, the Latino community supported one another by gathering, like the picture above. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Latino Community Fund (LCF) has been reaching out online, or by using best practices in person, spreading awareness on how to stay safe. The LCF has been keeping updates on its website, spreading the latest news on who individuals can call for assistance and collect resources during this pandemic. Now LCF has created its own COVID-19 Resiliency Fund. This to “provide immediate assistance for supporting families who are experiencing health and economic impacts due to COVID-19,” organizers say. The fund’s main focus is to make sure that resources are being presented to people who are in need of assistance. Administrators say, “As an organization, it is still our priority to advocate and support the Latino Community in Washington State.” LCF’s public health education program includes flyers and handouts.
Latino Community Fund Spreading Awareness for COVID-19.
The Latino Community Fund also has community outreach programs that have “Empowered over 20,000 community leaders to become civically engaged through community dialogues”. The programs they offer that are listed on their website are, Economic Empowerment Initiative, Latinos In Tech and Heathy Latino Family Resource. All of these programs are designed to help the Latino community from the ground up and give knowledge and awareness on many different types of subjects and issues. The next event that will be conducted online via Zoom will be the “Virtual Youth Leadership Summit, presented by the Latino Community Fund and the Alianza Leadership Program”. This event will go over topics such as the “Top issues affecting our Latino communities in Wa State, as well as how to communicate effectively with your policymakers”. All of this to help “unlock their leadership potential and bring change to their communities”. This event will be in August 2020 online via Zoom.
Alianza Youth Leadership Virtual Summit – August 2020.
For more information about volunteering and many other various questions their Seattle Office is located at 68 S. Washington St. Seattle Wa, 98104. Email : [email protected]. Para informacion en Espanol : 206-397-2440
Latino Community Fund of Washington Mission Statement:
Our vision is a vibrant and civically engaged Latino community in Washington. Latino Community Fund of Washington identifies, shares, and advocates for what is working in the Latino community. Healthy and educated Latino families build vibrant local communities and economies in Washington State.
Seattle, WA. Three Dollar Bill Cinema‘s video production and media literacy program, Reel Queer Youth, will be held online this summer from August 3rd through August 7th. During the program, LGBTQ+ youth and allies ages 13-18 will explore filmmaking and make documentaries using whatever tech and media they have available at home.
Three Dollar Bill Cinema launched Reel Queer Youth many years ago and the program has since reached more than 100 students. “This year will probably be a little different,” says Kathleen Mullen, Three Dollar Cinema’s interim executive director. Due to COVID-19, Three Dollar Bill Cinema is partnering with Northwest Film Forum to offer Reel Queer Youth virtually. The program will include daily Zoom meetings and opportunities for one on one mentorship. Participants will have the chance to explore what they want to say about themselves in the media and build connections with other LGBTQ+ and allied youth and filmmakers.
2019 Reel Queer Youth participants at Kaladi Brothers Coffee
According to Mullen, with the Black Lives Matter movement and the pandemic going on, “it’s a really important time to talk about media literacy.”
In a letter to Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s supporters, Mullen and Clay Warner, the president of Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Board, wrote “Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s mission is to strengthen, connect, and reflect diverse communities through queer film and media. We will continue this work and do better to work towards a more equitable, pluralistic, and decolonization framework.” Reel Queer Youth plays a role in this mission by connecting a diverse group of LGBTQ+ youth and allies and arming them with the skills to decide how they want to represent themselves in media.
Last year, program participants worked with professional industry mentors to create documentaries about local LGBTQ+ non-profits
Carter and Dakota, ages 13 and 16, created Three Dollar Bill Cinema, a short film, included below, about Three Dollar Bill Cinema, and how it works to make LGBTQ+ lives visible through film and video.
Registration for Reel Queer Youth is still open to LGBTQ+ & Ally Youth, ages 13-18 who are interested in filmmaking.
From Three Dollar Bill Cinema:
We provide access to films by, for, and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ2+) people and their families, and a forum for LGBTQ2+ filmmakers to share and discuss their work with audiences. We curate themed screenings throughout the year and produce programs in partnership with other arts, cultural, and service delivery organizations in the Greater Seattle area.
Seattle, WA. Travel is a big part of adopting internationally, so travel bans due to COVID-19 have delayed the adoption process for many families. “I think it depends on where you are in the process,” says Joleigh Little-Bass, an author, and mother of two. She adopted from Bulgaria about ten years ago and just knows how it feels to be delayed while adopting. “The closer you are to travel either to meet your child or to pick her up, the harder the delays are!” Little-Bass explains. “I ate a lot of junk food and cried a lot,” she says, “I think earlier in the process it would be less frustrating. Maybe. It’s just hard to know that someone you love is on the other side of the world needing you, and you can’t get to them!”
Now that some European countries are loosening travel restrictions, more families adopting from abroad have been able to move forward. In the last week, multiple families partnering with Agape Adoptions have been able to travel to Bulgaria to meet or pick up their children.
Families adopting from Bulgaria must travel there twice. During their first trip to Bulgaria, families meet their child, and during their second trip, families pick their child up and bring them home. China, the largest country working with Agape Adoptions, remains closed to travel from the United States.
According to Myriam Avery, Agape’s executive director, Agape Adoptions did not experience delays in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, many families trying to use their increased free time positively began the adoption process in April and May.
Moreover, delays and complications are common in international adoptions, and most families are prepared for the adoption process to be challenging. “International adoptions are very complicated and complex,” says Avery, “this isn’t new to families.” In Avery’s experience, families tend to do well with delays for the first five or six months, but “we’re at that place where their patience is wearing thin.”
Newly adopted children walk with their father down a Bulgarian street.
During these trying times, Avery wishes to stress that “the need for a family will not go away because of COVID.” “These are the most vulnerable children in the world,” she says, “children don’t care about political things or COVID things.” According to Avery, the most important thing you can do to help Agape Adoptions, even more so than donations, is to spread the information that “This will go away. COVID will go away. But children will still need families.”
Adopted Child, Zahari. Current Photo
From Agape Adoptions:
Agape Adoptions is a licensed placement and home study agency located in Sumner, WA. We serve adoptive families across the U.S. and work in six countries globally. Agape Adoptions provides professional adoption services marked by personalized care and passionate advocacy.
Seattle, Wa. Dress for Success has a vision that leads to “A world where women do not live in poverty.” The organization accomplishes this vision by helping guide, give tools, and offer information to women who need help. This is done by providing business attire for job interviews as well as programs to help retain a newly acquired job. Due to COVID-19 typical one on one in-person interactions cannot happen, so Dress for Success has found a way to continue making an impact in the Seattle area.
The nonprofit has now moved all workshops and classes online for the foreseeable future. The newest workshop will be available on July 13th. These online video sessions consist of many skills needed in order to search and obtain a job in this time. These workshops take a look at LinkedIn as well as how to conduct yourself in online interviews. These classes are held on Zoom and anyone can sign up for these events on the Dress for Success online calendar. The classes vary in topics, from “Racism, Sexism and Mass Trauma”, a workshop discussing mental health to “Financial Strategies” a class wanting to give ” financial strategies that you can implement now”. All of these online resources are free and are available to anyone who wants to “stay motivated and optimistic”.
Dress For Success Goes Virtual. Helping Women Any Way They Can.
Leaders believe that “every woman has the right to realize her full potential and achieve financial independence in a more egalitarian world”. These resources derive from donations from others in our community. This allows women who come from many different backgrounds and circumstances to be able to start a new chapter in their lives looking professional and ready to go.
Dress For Success Financial Success Work Shop, Held on Zoom on July 15th at 11 AM.
If you would like to donate to Dress for Success there are a couple of extra steps that are in order due to COVID-19. “Clothing donation drop will now require an appointment: appointments begin, in late July”. Dress for Success Seattle is located at 1118 5th Avenue Seattle, Washington 98101 – Dress for Success phone number: 206-461-4472
Dress For Success Mission Statement:
Our purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for empowering women to obtain safer and better futures.
Seattle, WA. Urban ArtWorks is continuing its mural apprentice program and public art projects while abiding by social distancing protocol. This summer, Urban ArtWorks will partner with South Park Arts, Seattle Neighborhood Group, and local young artists to create a mural on Ambakity restaurant in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. Urban ArtWorks is also collaboratively creating public art that celebrates Black lives throughout the city.
Youth apprentices meet with their teaching artists, Dovey Martinez and Felipe Perez, in the South Park mural program. Photo was taken by Dennis Diaz.
Executive director Amanda Hashagen says that Urban ArtWorks’ “longest-running program is the mural apprentice program.” The mural apprentice program is an eight-week program in which young artists learn basic art skills and work on one large mural or public art project either during the school year or summer. Following the mural apprentice program, youths can advance into a long-term six-month apprenticeship, in which aspiring artists can connect with a mentor who will assist them in building portfolios. People can get more information on how to become an apprentice or program volunteer on Urban ArtWorks’ website.
This summer, the mural apprentice program will primarily operate online. Apprentices will receive basic art lessons virtually and be given assignments to work on offline as well. A summer project that youth apprentices are currently working on is a mural for Ambakity restaurant in the South Park neighborhood of Seattle. During this project, young artists collaboratively plan and design the mural virtually and at a social distance. After the planning process is complete, half of the artists will meet to paint one day, and the other half will meet another day to follow social distancing guidelines. Another project apprentices will have the opportunity to work on is designing and painting a utility box in Seattle. Urban ArtWorks will provide participants with paints, brushes, supplies, and snacks to ensure that the artists can create their work to the best of their abilities.
An artist works on Urban ArtWorks’ mural on the Metropole building in Pioneer Square.
Urban ArtWorks’ goal as an organization extends past beautifying Seattle. Through their numerous programs, Urban ArtWorks strives to work with young people with barriers to employment and provide them with basic job training and professional life skills. Hashagen wishes to empower local youth at Urban ArtWorks by teaching them to “trust that their perspectives are valid to share with the community.”
Hashagen shares that quarantining has given Urban ArtWorks’ staff increased time to reflect on how to improve their organization. She shares that the Black Lives Matter protests in Seattle have especially “amplified what their priorities should be.” Specifically, Urban ArtWorks is working to make its team and programs racially equitable. Hashagen claims that Urban ArtWorks is a predominantly white-led organization, and board members are “actively trying to change that.”
Urban ArtWorks is also connecting with its community by creating public art related to the Black Lives Matter movement. In mid-June, Urban ArtWorks worked on a large mural on the Metropole building in Pioneer Square to commemorate Juneteenth, the celebration of the official end of slavery in 1865. Artists and neighbors in the public were invited to contribute to the mural while social distancing. Over twenty individuals stopped to add their own touches to the painting and “transform the heavily graffitied wall into a rotating gallery.”
Urban ArtWorks’ collaborative mural on the Metropole building in Pioneer Square.
Urban ArtWorks also partnered with the Downtown Seattle Association to create art amid the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter Protests that transpired following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Urban ArtWorks secured highly visible locations in the Westlake area for BIPOC artists to create murals. Ten murals were painted on the boarded-up windows of the Nordstrom building on 6th and Pine street. Hashagen shares that “Black lives are more important than any damage done to a building or object, and [Urban ArtWorks] didn’t want that message to get lost in the ‘repairs’ [artists] made with any murals created.” Pictured below are some of these murals.
Mural by artist @Dozfy on Instagram and photographed by Paul Nunn
Mural by @ccstencil on Instagram and photographed by Paul Nunn
Mural by @wolfdelux on Instagram and photographed by Paul Nunn
Above all, Urban ArtWorks wishes to continue “engaging youth and communities in the creation of public art that inspires connections and honors their voices.” Hashagen encourages the public to “open their eyes and see what beauty and transformation young people can bring to our community” and “give them the respect they deserve.” Through its community outreach and displays of public art, Urban ArtWorks strives to show Seattle that “young people are brilliant and beautiful.”
From Urban ArtWorks:
To support Urban ArtWorks, financial and supply donations are always welcome. The organization also looks for volunteers and people to assist with photography and administrative work. People can also follow Urban ArtWorks on Instagram @urbanartworks.
Urban ArtWorks was developed in 1995 as a result of the SODO Business Association’s desire to clean up trash and graffiti along the busway in Seattle’s industrial zone. A plan was developed to enrich the surroundings and discourage graffiti by creating murals throughout the area now known as the SODO Urban Art Corridor. The collaboration of private and public partners facilitated the creation of an arts program for at-risk youth centered on the development of murals. Urban ArtWorks incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998, and the scope of our work has expanded far beyond SODO and the corridor. Today, our organization works full time to promote the arts and produce new public artworks across the entirety of Seattle. Our youth programming continues to empower young people through professional opportunities in the arts. Our mission is to create public art that empowers young people and transforms communities
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