By: Aileen Balahadia, Director of Grantmaking and Community Engagement This quarter, N2N is proud to spotlight a return grantee Ase Theater and their series of intergenerational programs for Black and brown teen girls and adults supporting artistic and self-expression, led by Black womxn teaching artists across Seattle. Their mission is to engage and transform […]
Neighbor to Neighbor Summer 2024 Spotlight By: Aileen Balahadia Intersectional is a word that is often thrown around and used, but what does it mean in the context of the grassroots communities we serve in N2N? For two of our grantees this Summer, both the vibrancy of and the challenges that arise from multiple identities […]
By: Aileen Balahadia Reflecting on our grantees this quarter, our N2N team saw a theme of similar systemic issues being tackled, utilizing different and creative strategies tailored to the various needs of our diverse communities. We saw three groups focused on “Sustainability” and what it looks like for our neighbors and streets when environment, transit, […]
By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant N2N was founded with the ultimate goal of supporting community led efforts to change racist systems, policies, and practices that have had generations of damaging effects on Black and brown communities. While many N2N groups are at the early stage of their advocacy journey, one recent Fall 2023 grantee, […]
By: Aileen Balahadia This year’s N2N Grantee convening was held for the first time since 2019, on September 13, 2023, at the Bethaday Community Learning Center in White Center. The theme of the evening was “Community Care, Wellness and Resilience”, a fitting tribute to the community’s efforts to uplift and support each other during such […]
By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant Photo from Lao Senior Outreach In a recent Facebook post, N2N Summer grantee and newly formed organization Lao Senior Outreach shared photos and an explanation of the importance for Lao seniors to visit the local Buddhist temple in Skyway: Wat Lao Mixayaram. “It was an honor to be able […]
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, […]
“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 […]
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 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, […]
A charitable remainder trust works best with a capable captain at the helm of a well-built boat. By Bill Zook, Senior Advisor, Gift Planning While it will often fall to a client’s lawyer, advisors working in many different professions are called upon from time to time to identify an appropriate fiduciary to help implement the […]
Creating sacred space that unapologetically centers Black women and people By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Officer During a Neighbor 2 Neighbor (N2N) virtual site visit with Wonder of Women International (WOW), we got a glimpse of their gallery space in downtown Seattle, and we immediately realized that Zoom just […]
How Open Doors for Multicultural Families is Meeting the Needs of People with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and their Families “You have to love yourself first and build self-confidence.” This is the mantra Ginger Kwan holds as she helps multicultural families navigate complex special education systems. As the mother of a son with a disability, Kwan understands […]
Promoting health and self-sufficiency with Black and African American youth, one seed at a time. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant Supporting Black Dollar Days Task Force (BDDTF) this year feels poignant, as we, Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N), continue celebrating our 30th anniversary. BDDTF received a grant in 1991, the year N2N was launched, and […]
