Investing in Our Future: The Importance of the Housing Levy   

By: Alesha Washington  I recently renewed the lease for my townhouse. On the surface, it was a rather insignificant moment beyond signaling to my friends and family in Cleveland that Seattle is becoming my new home. As I look back over my life and consider the distance traveled, not in miles but in lived experience, […]

Cultura Cura / Culture Cures: Neigbor to Neighbor (N2N) Fall 2022 Spotlight

By Aileen Balahadia // Fall’s round of N2N grantees demonstrate how Cultura Cura or “culture cures.” N2N has a long history of partnering with Black, Indigenous and people of color, along with immigrants, refugees and youth building community and transforming their neighborhoods.

Neighbor to Neighbor expands to SeaTac/Tukwila

SeaTac/Tukwila communities are creating a region where residents work together so everyone thrives; N2N’s expansion aims to bolster their efforts with support and new investments. For more than 30 years, Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) has advanced racial equity by investing in the power of place and community. This commitment continues with the addition of our […]

Nosotros Existimos—Afro-Indigenous and Indigenous Perspectives on Hispanic Heritage Month

By Vanesa Gutierrez, with Shaylan Dolmo, Etelbina Houser, and Antonio Flores Quin Every year, many people across the United States with cultural ties to Latin America kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating their country’s independence from Spanish rule. Latin America, however, is more than its ties to Spanish colonization. “Podemos reconocer la historia violenta como […]

Neighbor to Neighbor Spotlight Summer 2022: Praxis Institute for Early Childhood Education

Centering the power of community is critical when providing safe and culturally responsive spaces for Black youth. Bringing community voice back to the education of Black students is one way to help close the racial disparity seen in classrooms. By Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant When Dr. Debra Sullivan talks about supporting Black childhood education, […]

Honoring Pillars of this Community

“Liberated relationships are one of the ways we actually create abundant justice, the understanding that there is enough attention, care, resource, and connection for all of us to access belonging, to be in our dignity, and to be safe in community.” ? adrienne maree brown By Alesha Washington As I reach my three-month mark with […]

N2N Spotlight Spring 2022: New Connections of South King County

A fresh start for justice-involved youth, adults, and families. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant New Connections has a 20-year history of serving the Kent and the South King County communities. Their mission is to connect justice-involved youth, adults, and families for a fresh start with education and resources. Justice-involved youth are those who have […]

Our Commitment to Black-led Organizations and Businesses in King County

Marking the One-year Anniversary of REPAIR (Racially Equitable Philanthropy Aimed at Initiating Reparations) By Jonathan Cunningham This month, Seattle Foundation marks the one-year anniversary of the Racially Equitable Philanthropy Aimed at Initiating Reparations (REPAIR) framework. Launched the week of Juneteenth in 2021, this framework is a large-scale, long-term effort to invest or direct necessary resources […]

Healing and Celebrating

Uplifting Mental Health Challenges and Resources in AA-NHPI Communities By Seattle Foundation’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Collective Seattle Foundation envisions a thriving region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice, where all individuals and communities have equitable access and outcomes. Through our Blueprint for Impact, we recognize and address the longstanding racial and […]

Transforming Our Region

Announcing the Fund for Inclusive Recovery’s First Grantees By Kris Hermanns Today, Seattle Foundation and our partners are elated to announce the first round of funding for the Fund for Inclusive Recovery. Twenty-one organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals – those with intimate knowledge of the obstacles their communities face […]

N2N Spotlight Winter 2022: Inside White Center and the UpNUp

Our words, our way: A look at two community-based podcasts recently funded by N2N. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Officer Representation matters. In the mainstream media, we do not see accurate representation of the faces, languages, viewpoints, and lived experiences of diverse communities of color. Negative stereotypes, unbalanced reporting, […]

Our Commitment to the Black Community in Action

An update on Racially Equitable Philanthropy Aimed at Initiating Reparations (REPAIR) and our $25 million commitment to the Black community of the Greater Seattle Region. By Jonathan Cunningham,Senior Program Officer Canadian-based philosopher, entrepreneur, and author Matshona Dhliwayo once said, “You become strong by lifting others up, not pulling them down.” Seattle Foundation is on a […]

2021 Resilience Fund Grants Announced

Seattle Foundation grants $425,000 to address unexpected, emerging challenges in our region. Seattle Foundation is proudly announcing $425,000 in grants to 23 community-based organizations through our 2021 Resilience Fund. Selected organizations will use the funding to provide critical resources to communities that are negatively impacted by federal policy decisions, the national political climate, and anti-Black […]

Every Dollar – and Effort – Compounded

In honor of Black History Month, we’re highlighting three Black trailblazers who continue to make significant strides in Seattle. Voices are hushed. Steady music comes from the altar. And the worship leaders remind their congregation of the importance of contributing anything they can. The donations range from a $1 to $1,000. No amount is too […]

Taking “Many Roads” to Stronger Communities

A New Booklet Celebrates 30 Years of Neighbor to Neighbor. By Aileen Balahadia I have had the honor of partnering with countless community organizations through my work with Seattle Foundation’s grantmaking program Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N). For 30 years, N2N has advanced racial equity by investing in the power of community in Seattle-area neighborhoods. Today, […]