The Africatown Community has declared The Liberty Bank of Seattle an Historical and Cultural Preservation site. Liberty was chartered in 1968 and was the Pacific Northwest’s first and only black owned bank.

The property address is 2320 E Union WA 98122 located where the old Key Bank now stands. Liberty Bank was brought into a legal lawsuit in the early 1990′s.

The Seattle Historic Preservation Program.

In 1970, the Seattle City Council secured Pioneer Square’s survival with the City’s first historic preservation district, and voters approved an initiative for the Pike Place Market historic district two years later.

In 1973, the Seattle City Council adopted a Landmarks Preservation Ordinance to safeguard properties of historic and architectural significance around the city.

Historic Preservation Program.

Whether it’s a 19th century log house, an Art Deco school or a prehistoric shell midden, these places are silent witnesses to the history of King County and to its people’s lives and cultures.

The Africatown Community feels it is in the best interest of the community as a whole, for its only black owned bank to be designated a Historical and Preservation site.

To read more regarding the lawsuit that involved Liberty Bank, refer to the link below:

Liberty Bank – FDIC Certificate #:27268

940 F.2d 465: Federal Deposit Insurance corporation, As Receiverfor Liberty Bank of Seattle, Plaintiff, v. Sim Henderson, et al., Defendants.J.Thomas Wood; Barbara Wood, Husband and Wife, Defendants-counter-claimants-plaintiffs-appellants, v. Thomas Oldfield, Counter-defendant-appellee.

Liberty Bank Lawsuit

At the 23rd Avenue Joint Community Workshop and Open House this Saturday, two major neighborhood projects will host open houses.

Seattle Department of Transportation will present their plan for the 23rd Avenue Corridor Improvement Project and the Department of Planning & Development will showcase the 23rd Avenue Action Plan. Both open houses will give attendees the chance to learn more about the projects and ask questions.

After the open houses, there will be a workshop to confirm and prioritize strategies and action items and lay the foundation for action teams and partnerships to implement the Action Plan.

The event takes place Saturday, June 29th at the Garfield Community Center from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more details, see the flier: 23rd Avenue Action Plan Flier

A formerly defunct neighborhood council has been resurrected: The Garfield Community Council (GCC) recently reconvened after a 15-year hiatus. The group is in the final stages of reforming, adopting by-laws and filing articles of incorporation.

“The GCC was active as a neighborhood-wide organization until about 15 years ago. Its membership dwindled and a block watch around Yesler and 24th continued to use the name but didn’t perform community council functions. With that group’s blessing, we are in the final stages of reactivating the GCC as typical community council,” says Brendan Patrick, one of the major players in resurrecting the council. The group began reforming at the beginning of the year and will elect their first executive board in September.

The council represents a corridor of the Central District between Howell and Jackson streets to the north and south and Martin Luther King Jr. Way and 23rd Avenue to the east and west. Patrick says this new council is serving an area not currently represented by other community councils.

Patrick says each of the major players has his or her own reason for wanting to reactivate the organization.

“For me, it grew out of tragic incidents last summer when I witnessed two shootings, each within a block of my home. While organizing around safety issues with other neighbors, we realized that our neighborhood around MLK and Columbia wasn’t represented by any of the surrounding community councils,” Patrick says. “We felt there was a need to have a community council organizing the heart of the Central District and advocating our interests to city government.”Though the GCC’s direction will evolve over time and as new members join, initially there has been interest in land use and development issues, safety and policing, honoring the neighborhood’s diversity and history, and supporting events like the UmojaFest, Hopscotch CD, and the Seattle Police Department’s Night Out program.

“We are also interested in ensuring that city grant funds don’t overlook our neighborhood.    We can do that in two ways. First, we can promote the grant programs and encourages groups (or ourselves) to submit applications. In the last round of grants from the Neighborhood Street and Parks Fund, there were no applications from the Central District. That should never happen,” Patrick says. “Second, we’ll have a representative at the Central Area Neighborhoods District Council (CANDC), which is the city-sanctioned umbrella organization that includes representatives from all the community councils in the area. The CANDC plays a role in deciding which neighborhood grant applications are approved.”

Patrick encourages interested parties to email or call him for information on how to get involved: [email protected], 206.310.8112.

The Seattle Quare Arts Project, in partnership with the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (LHPAI) and the Pride Foundation, are presenting a free performance called “Bearing Witness” tomorrow, June 27, at LHPAI. The show starts at 7p.m. and doors open at 6:45 p.m.

The event includes poetry and performance art by Donte, Raven, Theo, si dåko’ta, Dani Long and Chad Goller-Sojourner. The event’s press release has more information on each of these artists:

Donte Johnson is a poet and teacher who has worked and performed in many places in and out of Seattle. He is a dedicated member of YouthSpeaks Seattle, and was on the 2012 slam team. He recently released a chapbook titled “Steps to the Throne.”

Raven Taylor is a performance poet who recently released a chapbook titled “Atelophobia.” She is the Wing 1 Coordinator at Queer Youth Space and a member of YouthSpeaks Seattle. She was on both the 2011 and the 2012 slam teams.

Theo Garcia is a poet, a teacher, and most important, a poet. He has been a member of YouthSpeaks Seattle for many years, and has taught poetry in many places.

si dåko’ta’s unique blend of storytelling and lyricism delivers a powerful blow to the apathy present in mainstream culture. dåko’ta’s beat choice moves across genres from old school boom bap to island reggae, to dub-step. dåko’ta’s fun and catchy songwriting makes the audience want to know the words. dåko’ta invites the audience to the “Fiesta Table,” turning a performance into a truly cultural and multi-lingual experience. Check out their website and learn the words before the show! www.arkiology.tv

Dani Long serves as a creative mentor for the “Bearing Witness” program.  He is a Detroit born dance artist, who has toured nationally with VEE Corporation and taught throughout Detroit and Seattle. While in Detroit, Dani has danced with Jazz and Spirit dance Theater of Detroit, Monroe Ballet Company, Detroit-Windsor Dance Company and Full Circle Dance Company.  He is the Founder/Artistic Director of Natural Locz Dance Company (Detroit, MI) and Color Lines Dance Ensemble (Seattle, WA). Dani is currently on staff with Northwest Tap Connection and DASH Center for the Arts.

Chad Goller-Sojourner serves as a creative mentor for the “Bearing Witness” program. He is a Seattle-based writer, storyteller, solo performer and recipient of a distinguished Washington State Arts Commission Performing Arts Fellowship. Most recently he served as the 2013 Ohio University Glidden Visiting Professor. Chad is the author of “Sitting in Circles with Rich White Girls: Memoirs of a Bulimic Black Boy,” and “Riding in Cars with Black People and Other Newly Dangerous Acts: A Memoir in Vanishing Whiteness.”

The event is timed well, considering the festivities this weekend taking place across the city for Seattle PrideFest. For more information on Pride happenings, click here.

The Seattle Quare Arts Project is a project of Seattle Parks and Recreation. The project pairs mentors with LGBTQ youth of color, with a special emphasis on African Americans, to design and execute performance art events. These events range from poetry slams to dance performances to musical theater.

In the midst of the Mayoral Campaign and summer (sort of) the week of the fourth Thursday happened faster than I anticipated!  For those of you that missed the Citywide Precinct Advisory Council’s (CPAC) Mayoral Candidate Forum on Public Safety last Saturday, you can see it here: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5551311&file=1

Please be reminded that this Thursday is our EastPAC Community Meeting.  We are meeting in Piggott Hall in room 200 (https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&authuser=0&tab=wl).  Sorry about the inconsistent meeting locations, we are diligently working with Seattle University to establish a regular meeting room…Meanwhile, we very much appreciate their hospitality and partnership-and your patience!

The Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct, under the leadership of Capt. Ron Wilson, has done an excellent job of responding to crime.

The police can’t do it all, prevention and intervention are key components of reducing criminal activity.  The Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI) are doing good work in supporting youth at risk.  However, suspected recent violence and criminal activities are likely being committed by the over 25 age group, which are not eligible for SYVPI support. .

We are turning to the Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) to consider the following:

• Why haven’t things changed? Why is gang activity is still active after several years?
• How effective are we, as a city (and taxpayers) being, despite putting forth millions of dollars, to mitigate criminal activity and suspects’ root causes leading to lives of crime?

We have invited a representative from HSD to answer some of these questions at Thursday’s meeting.  So far, we have no confirmation, but I will notify you if they are able to be there.

Capt. Wilson will also be at Thursday’s meeting to provide updates and answer your questions.

Please plan to be there:

East Precinct Advisory Council

Community Meeting

Thursday, June 27, 6:30 to 8:00 PM

Piggott Hall, Seattle University

Room 200

Parking lot on the east side of Broadway between Columbia and Marion. (https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&authuser=0&tab=wl)

Looking forward to seeing you!

Stephanie Tschida

EastPAC Chair

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&authuser=0&tab=wl

Central Seattle native Oscale Grace Holden, who has achieved international recognition as a jazz singer and pianist, will be the first recipient of Seattle’s Harlem Renaissance Award from the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute (LHPAI) this weekend.

Holden, who lived in the Central District for many years as a child, will receive the award at LHPAI’s gala Meet Me at the Savoy on Saturday.

Grace Holden photo by Twanda Hill.

“Ms. Holden is a legend. She exemplifies the deep community and artistic roots that are at the heart of what we do,” said LHPAI executive director Royal Alley-Barnes. “We are so proud to count her in our community and pleased to be able to offer this recognition of her long contributions to the Seattle Diaspora community.”

HistoryLink.org has more on Holden:

Holden was born to Leala and Oscar Holden in 1930. Oscar Holden (1886-1969) was known as the patriarch of Seattle jazz, and the Holden children, Grace, and her brothers Oscar Jr., Dave, Ron, and Jimmy were all musicians who played in Seattle in the late 1940s and beyond. By 1930, when Grace was born, Oscar Holden was a seasoned, highly successful musician. Born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1886, Holden moved as far away from the South as possible, distancing himself from his past, and the prejudices he felt growing up there.

Grace was influenced by the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Lena Horne and Dinah Washington. She played jazz with young Quincy Jones in Charlie Taylor’s pioneering swing band in the 1940s with her brother Oscar Jr.  Performances at Jazz Alley, Club New Orleans, Root’s Picnic, Festival Sundiata, Experience Music Project and Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ have put Grace on the national and international Jazz map. Grace Holden still sings in her church’s gospel choir.

Central District-based media arts and leadership nonprofit Reel Grrls is hosting two events this week.

On Tuesday, the nonprofit will screen three new short films at The Crocodile’s monthly event, A Film, A Band, and A Drink. The all-ages event starts at 7; entry is $10. More information on the shorts, from Reel Grrls:

Reel Grrls presents new works in animation, experimental narrative, and documentary. In the documentary While We’re Asleep, kids are the experts in explaining and exploring the world of dreams. Versus invites viewers to open their eyes and change their ways. It recently screened at SIFF in Futurewave Shorts. In the lightbox animated short, The Girl with The Birds, a girl encounters a particularly extraordinary bird.

On Wednesday, the group is co-hosting a fundraiser called A Drink for the Kids at the Neighbor Lady. When you buy a drink from OOLA Distillery or Ninkasi Brewing Company on Wednesday, all proceeds will be donated to The Vera Project. This is the second year Reel Grrls is co-hosting the fundraiser.

Police investigated reports of gunfire at 26th and E. Spring Street around 2 a.m. on Sunday morning. Though they found shell casings at the scene, they didn’t see any damage or injuries. They also didn’t make an arrest in the incident.

The full report from the SPD Blotter:

Just before 2 am Sunday morning, police received a report of gunfire at 26th and E. Spring Street.

Patrol officers then received information that a maroon Chevy SUV had been spotted fleeing the scene. Officers found the SUV stopped at a traffic light at 23rd and Cherry and pulled the car over.

When officers ordered the driver out of the vehicle, the man behind the wheel informed police he has a concealed weapons permit—explaining why he had a handgun sticking out of his waistband.

The man—who police are well-acquainted with—also told officers he had another loaded gun in the car. Indeed, police found another loaded pistol in the SUV.

Officers confirmed that both the guns are registered to the man, who has a concealed weapons permit, and asked him about the shooting.

The man denied being involved in the incident, and said he had been out shopping.

Back at 26th and E. Spring, police found shell casings but no evidence of damage or injuries. A witness was able to confirm they had seen the SUV fleeing the scene of the shooting. However, police weren’t able to find any witnesses who actually saw anyone in the car open fire or tie either of the driver’s guns to the shooting, and released the man from the scene.