Painted on five 4 X 8 foot plywood panels, this mural was funded by public money and created by community middle school youth. Designed to represent the history of the Umojafest parade, the images depicted past and present parade participants. For several months, it was mounted on the current “Neighbor Lady” building near 23rd and Union. Recently, the mural was removed. Please let us know if you have seen this mural, it belongs to the community and we’d like to install it in a new, visible Central District location.

Take a stroll or drive over to see the mural being created by CD Artist Jake Wagoner on the Jackson Street General Store’s east facing wall on 28th and Jackson!  This cool neighborhood “Family Tree” mural will have real frames glued onto the wall with actual laminated photos of area families displayed inside the frames! 

We still need three to four more photos of families past and present! Remember, families come in all sizes and shapes, the photos can represent your church family, youth group, baseball team, whatever!  We just want them to represent the neighborhood as a legacy reflecting the diverse history of the area! 

Please email your photos, as an attachment, please, to Stephanie Tschida, Urban Artworks Executive Director at [email protected].  We have until Sunday to get them into the printer!

Please understand that we only have 10 frames and cannot guarantee all the photos will be used. We can always add more photos and frames later.

 

.

Several neighbors have been recently experiencing an increase in criminal activities on their streets.  Drug dealing, prostitution, thefts and break ins have been commonly reported in the last few months.

We have provided plenty of time on our agenda this Thursday for you to identify your concerns. If your issues are requiring police attention, SPD command staff will be present and will respond.  If your concern indicates a prevention/ intervention action, we will support you in receiving attention from the appropriate community-based organization. Street lights? We’ll put you in touch with the right people.

So come and share your concerns and whatever issues may be compromising your quality of life…Feel free to give kudos also to those who have helped your neighborhood!

Also on the agenda is a short presentation by the SPD Foundation.  

 

East Precinct Advisory Council General Meeting

Thursday, October 27th, 6 PM to 7:45 PM.

Seattle University’s Chardin Hall, Room 142, 1020 East Jefferson

 (enter on 11th and Jefferson, park free in front of building)

We hope to see you there!

Stephanie Tschida, Chair

EastPAC.org

Recent community postings in the CD news highlight community concerns about increasing crime in our neighborhoods. Last month, we announced a reorganized effort to better serve you, our stake holders.  That said, we will have pleanty of time to discuss your concerns at our upcoming general meeting:

East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC) 

Thursday, October 27, 2011 6:00 to 7:45 PM

Seattle University, Chardin Hall, Room 142

1020 East Jefferson* (Entrance at 11th and E Jefferson)

East Precinct Command staff will be present to answer your questions, address your concerns and provide updates regarding these recent incidents.

Also, the Seattle Police Foundation will give a short presentation on their focuses; supporting police-community partnership efforts, officer training and recognition, and service enhancements through specialized equipment and technology. They also support our annual East Precinct Picnic and the Good Vibe Concert!

Please note that the EastPAC Board wants to know about topics and guests you would like to see at our future meetings.   Also, what ideas do you have for our new website?  …See www.EastPAC.org. Please respond directly to [email protected] and we will do our best to make it happen!

See everyone on October 27

^th!  

Stephanie Tschida, Chair

Our East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC) meeting with Mayor McGinn is less than 20 hours away! The majority of the meeting will be dedicated to you…. Come and express your concerns, ask questions and make recommendations directly to the Mayor.

This is the time of year that budget decisions are made; it is critical that our voices are heard- we as citizens often know best what we need in our communities to ensure a better quality of life for all.

 East Precinct Advisory Council Meeting with Mayor Mike McGinn

Thursday, September 22, 2011, 6 PM to 7:45 PM.

Pigott Auditorium, Seattle University

1016 E. Marion St. 98122

Free parking in the Broadway and East Columbia campus parking garage

 

Please see www.eastpac.org

The newly revitalized East Precinct Advisory Council (EastPAC, formerly EPCPC) formally launches with our inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 22nd, 6 PM, with Mayor Mike McGinn as our guest!  

Seattle University has graciously provided the use of Pigott Auditorium, on campus, at 1016 E. Marion St.  Free parking will be available in the Broadway and East Columbia campus-parking garage. 

Please come with your questions and concerns. We have dedicated most of the agenda for you to address your community needs.  Remember that it’s budget season, the Mayor will be making his recommendations soon on what will be cut and what will not.  We need your voice to insure that our public safety and quality of life are preserved. 

Please note that our regular EastPAC meetings will continue monthly on the fourth Thursday at a new location: Seattle University’s Chardin Hall, Room 142, at 1020 East Jefferson. This is a great central location in the East Precinct, easily accessible by bus and with free parking.

 A big shout out to Seattle University for their extraordinary support and partnership, we very much appreciate their collaboration!

 Look for more details on our brand new website: www.EastPAC.org.

Mayor McGinn featured at September 22nd East Precinct Advisory CouncilXX

EastPAC formally launches with our inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 22^nd, 6 PM, with Mayor Mike McGinn as our featured speaker.  Seattle University has graciously provided the use of Pigott Auditorium, on campus, at 1016 E. Marion St.  Free parking will be available in campus parking lots. 

EastPAC’s meetings will continue monthly on the fourth Thursday at a new location: Seattle University’s Chardin Hall, Room 142, at 1020 East Jefferson. This is a great central meeting place in the East Precinct, easily accessible by bus and with plenty of free parking for attendees. 

Seattle University has been a key support and partner in our efforts, and we appreciate their collaboration!

Please note that there is no meeting in August.  Look for more updates and details about our holiday meeting schedule on our soon-to-be launched website: EastPAC.org.

For additional information, please contact Stephanie Tschida, EastPAC Chair, at [email protected].

Saturday, August 6^th, 11:30 AM – Honoring The Legacy!!!

Mardi-Gras-Umoja Fest Parade Mural Honors the Past and Embraces the Future

 

Last spring, students from Madrona K-8 school in the Central District helped to design and paint a mural that honors the tradition of the summer Central Area Mardi Gras-Umoja Festparade.  The mural has been installed on the ‘Thompson’s Point of View’ building at 23

^rd and East Union. On Saturday, August 6^th, at 11:30 AM, the youth will be recognized at a ceremony prior to the Umoja Fest African American Heritage Parade.

The spirit of the Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival & Parade is one that spans more than five decades. A tradition since the 1940s, Seattle has hosted the annual African American community festival and parade as a celebration of the city’s ethnic diversity. Originally part of the International Festival, it was known over the years as the East Madison Mardi Gras and the Pacific Northwest Black Community Festival. It not only has been credited as the inspiration behind SEAFAIR (which emerged during the early 1950′s), but also continues to be held during Seafair’s annual summer activities.

The East Madison Mardi-Gras Festival and Parade

 

In the late 50s and early 60s, the East Madison-East Union Commercial Club proudly sponsored the East Madison Mardi Gras Festival and Parade. Before the Mardi Gras, the African American community participated in the International Festival, held in what was once known as Chinatown. Chinatown is currently referred to as the impact of the International Festival, the first neighborhood event to agree to hold its festivities as an integral part of the Seattle SEAFAIR celebration. Four different cultures combined to stage the event: Filipino, Black (then Negro), Chinese, and Japanese. Each selected their own Queen and her court of four princesses to reign over her community and ride in the Parade on that community’s float. In addition to riding in the Parade through Chinatown, the Festival Queens and their courts rode in the Capitol Hill Parades, Rainier Valley Parade, the University District Kiddies Parade and the SEAFAIR Grande Parade.

City officials estimated that nearly 200,000 people jammed their way into over-crowded Chinatown for the Second Annual International Festival. The wealthy and “out-of-other-side-of-towners” and community natives elbowed one another for a glimpse at the Chinese dragon dancers and the lovely Queens and their courts on their respective floats.

Long lines of people made their way through the streets from one food booth to another while others waited in lengthy lines to dine at the Chinatown restaurants. Asian dancers and style shows entertained for hours. As if that weren’t enough to put one into a frenzy, live bands such as Bob Marshall’s jazzed up the night while torch songs rang out dwarfing the whistles of the incoming trains.

One man was rumored to have said, “This festival had a flavor of the bootlegging days when Chinatown pulsated with Ragtime music and the wealthy slipped away from the usual boredom to swing and enjoy.”

The International Festival’s second year didn’t surpass its first because of the enormous turnout. The city had to break it up. This is when the four communities decided to put on their own festivals. From the move toward individual festivals, the East Madison/East Union Mardi Gras Festival was born.

With the end of Mardi Gras in the 60s, various business and community leaders, including Pacific Northwest Bell, Central Area Motivation Program and the Pacific Northwest Black Community Association would carry the torch. Since 1997, the Umoja Fest African Heritage Festival & Parade has preserved the festival spirit and continues to grow.

Please don’t forget to attend the Thursday, July 28^th East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition meeting!   We will be meeting at the Douglass Truth Library, on the corner of 23

^rd and Yesler, from 6 to 7:45 PM. Vice Chair Mike Sletten will be leading the meeting as I will be on vacation. 

This meeting will focus on YOU…we want to know what topics are important to you, which guests you would like to hear from. We will, as usual, have our regular agenda items, including the Precinct Update and Community Concerns. 

 

 

Thursday, July 28^th

^{6:00 to 7:45 PM}

Douglass-Truth Library Community Room

2300 E. Yesler Way 98122

 

This is our last meeting until September 22

^nd, when we will begin meeting at Seattle University’s Chardin Hall, located at 1020 East Jefferson. There is free parking and this location was selected to be centrally located for East Precinct Stake holders.

Our Executive Board will be holding a retreat in August to explore better ways to serve you.  Please email me (Stephanie Tschida, Chair) at [email protected] with your thoughts, suggestions and ideas.

Have a happy and safe (and hopefully warmer) rest of your summer! Don’t forget to celebrate some of the FREE East Precinct summer events still to come-

• · August 2^nd, Night Out! Bring your neighbors together, welcome new neighbors, talk about crime prevention and Block Watch efforts, and mainly just have a great time! See http://www.seattle.gov/police/Nightout/default.htm
• · August 6^th Umojafest African American Day Parade! Continuing the tradition that began over 60 years ago; the parade features drill teams, African drum & dance, floats, youth and community organizations. The festivities will begin at noon at 23rd & Union with a ceremony celebrating the new youth mural.  The parade begins shortly afterwards, traveling south on 23rd Avenue to Judkins Park.
• · August 5^th through 7^thUmojafest African American Heritage Festival! This exciting celebration, held at Judkins Park, features performances, Heal the Hood basketball tournament, Community Fitness Challenge, a Vendor Fail and Fashion Expo! http://umojafamilyfest.com/
• · And, of course other Seafair events as well! See: http://www.seafair.com/default.aspx?SecID=915

Many Regards,

Stephanie Tschida, Chair

 Come to the Central District’s Blanche Lavizzo Park this Saturday for the 5th Annual Good Vibe Concert!  Presented by the East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition, Theoretics, Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Police Foundation and Seattle Neighborhood Group; this is not to be missed!

A free family event with food, live music and entertainment, this is an amazing showcase of local talent!

The Good Vibe is headlined by Theoretics, a talented, energetic alternative local hip-hop band that maintains high standards of lyrical content and musicianship.  Also appearing are Langston Hughes “People in the Parks”, Inspired Child, Jamil Suleman, Nate Vibez, Chelsey Richardson, DJ Rise, Momentum Dance and Academy Dancers.  

 

 

The Good Vibe

Saturday July 16th 1 to 4 PM

Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park

2101 South Jackson

See you all there!