Words from the Front: Maggie McKelvy of HomeStreet Bank reports on Solid Ground’s Building Community Luncheon

Our good friend Maggie McKelvy of the Crown Hill branch of HomeStreet Bank hosted a table at Solid Ground’s Annual Building Community Luncheon last week. Here is her report on the event:

I had the pleasure of attending Solid Ground’s Annual luncheon this past Friday and what a great event it was! I was joined by a group of fellow bank employees, customers, and community partners.

Maggie McKelvy, Solid Ground Luncheon table host and Manager of HomeStreet Bank's Crown Hill branch

The highlight of the luncheon, for our table, was truly the keynote speaker, Bryant Terry. Mr. Terry has obvious passion for his work and as he sang to us, holding a cooking spoon as a microphone, told tales of his grandparents and talked about his personal journey, I watched the faces around our table light up. I saw some smiles and nods when he demonstrated his technique for preparing collard greens. I, personally, was feeling flashbacks from my childhood, spent watching my dad cook the foods enjoyed during his childhood years in the South.

I bought Bryant Terry’s cookbook on the way out and test drove several of his recipes over the weekend, including his collard greens. The coconut rice was awesome, by the way, and there are some great tips for cooking with alternatives to milk. Apparently, I was not alone!  My coworker, who also sat at our table, told me that he too spent the weekend in the kitchen, freshly inspired to enjoy whole foods, good health and quality time with his family.

Even if you missed the Solid Ground Luncheon, you can still get Bryant's recipes.

I think that Bryant Terry’s message about connecting through food, looking back in time, and respecting the wisdom of our grandparents and bringing joy, bringing “soul” to the kitchen are at the core of much of the work that Solid Ground does. I am so happy that I was a part of a wonderful event!

Local community organizer needs support at Immigration Pardons Hearing on June 10th!

If you haven’t seen this video yet…please take a minute to learn about Giday “Dede” Adhanom, a local community organizer who is facing deportation (based on a conviction that she received when she was a young adult):

 

Carpools will be going from Seattle to support Dede at her Pardons Hearing in Olympia, on Thursday morning, June 10th.

I have worked very closely with Dede over the past two years, and she is an extremely talented, committed and inspiring woman. She has dedicated years of her life to serving her community, including serving at the Village of Hope from 2008 to present, helping people who are coming out of incarceration to find jobs and housing. Dede has also been a powerful and thoughtful member and leader over the past two years within the JustServe AmeriCorps team. Dede is also the mother of two beautiful and happy little girls, and she is due to have a baby boy in June.

Dede has given so much to our community, and now she needs our support.

If you can come out to support Dede in Olympia on June 10th, please contact JustServe AmeriCorps at 206.957.4779 or the Village of Hope at 206.937.2701.

For more information about the federal legislation impacting Dede and others in our community, see this PBS report.

Broadview moms say “Thanks!”

Cool: The 32 women (including one grandmother) at Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing program had a wonderful Mother’s Day this year due to the generosity of community members who “adopted” moms and purchased gifts for them.

Many of the women said that they have never had a Mother’s Day as good as this one, and all were thrilled with their gifts.

Thank you to…

Ann Rinehart & Gina Young, Bridget, Trevor & Jackson, Franz Bakery, The Iritani/Wong Family, Janet & Dennis F., Jeannie Ianelli, Jeff Rueckhaus, Jenny & Mark Hannibal, Julia Reese, Junior League of Seattle, Kelly Knickerbocker, The Lord Family, Lorrie & Colleagues, Megan Evert, Nancy & William Hanneman, Pamela Vines, Richelle Dickerson, Seattle Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association Board & Members, Sheri B., Stokes Lawrence, P.S., and Susannah B.

You brought huge smiles and much joy to the women at Broadview this Mother’s Day!

Brettler Family Place update: outlines are taking shape!

The outlines are taking shape at Magnuson Park for 52 units of new affordable housing for formerly homeless families! Named Brettler Family Place in honor of the generous support of the Brettler Family Foundation, the housing is currently on target to open in about a year. Here are the latest photos:

Foundations show outlines of townhouses and the Community Center (middle).

Tamping down to prepare for pouring floors.

Men and mountains.

Townhouses to come!

Shaping the Community Center.

Looking west to current family housing units in former Naval buildings.

Dream big!!!

 

Baby Boost Information Fairs connect parents to valuable community resources

How do I know when my child has outgrown his car seat? Which household cleaning products are safe to use around my kids? What childcare options are available to me while I’m job hunting?

These are questions that all parents struggle to answer from time to time. But for mothers with young children living in emergency transitional housing and coping with the trauma of domestic violence, finding answers to some of life’s everyday parenting questions can often feel overwhelming—if not impossible.

Families connect to valuable health and safety resources at a previous Baby Boost Fair.

Residents of Solid Ground’s Broadview Emergency Shelter recently found the answers to some of these questions, as well as many more, when representatives from several local health, legal, environmental and children’s organizations gathered at the shelter last week for a Baby Boost Information Fair.

Baby Boost Information Fairs are “one-stop shops” that give parents—many of whom are facing hunger, homelessness or abuse—opportunities to connect one-on-one with dozens of service providers and free community resources for their children. Solid Ground’s Food Security for Children program partners with local food banks, community centers, transitional housing shelters and substance abuse treatment centers to put on about 10 Baby Boost Fairs each year.

Last week, Broadview residents were able to connect with representatives from the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle, Legal Voice, King County Public Health, Washington State Safety Restraint Coalition, Child Care Resources and Lettuce Link and learn more about programs and services available to them.

One Broadview mother came to the fair to find out when she should move her 2 ½-year-old son out of his car seat and into a booster seat. Another young mother was thrilled to learn about safe alternatives to harmful cleansers and detergents she had been using around her daughter. Another mom left with a new packet of cucumber seeds for the garden that she and some other residents have started out back.

Callista Kennedy, outreach specialist for King County Public Health, has been a presenter at five Baby Boost Fairs. She thinks the fairs are a great opportunity to make initial connections with families and put a face to the services offered.

“A lot of women here are in transition, so they may not need us at this exact moment,” she said. “But when their circumstances change, that’s when they remember us. We’ve already made the connection. The Baby Boost Fairs let them know we’re here when they’re ready for us.”

Operation Frontline in the news

The Fremocentrist blog ran a nice column about our Operation Frontline program, which helps folks who are living on low incomes get cooking skills and nutritional education so they can feed their families in a healthier way. Check it out! 

Fremont Fair seeks volunteers

The only way to make the solstice weekend in Fremont even better than just attending the legendary Fremont Fair and Solstice Parade is to volunteer to help make it all happen! (The Fair is Saturday and Sunday June 19 & 20, 2010.)

The Fair has a nifty web interface to sign up. Click on over and become a part of Seattle’s most well-loved summer event!

Solid Ground no longer produces the Fair, having transitioned it to our good friends at the Fremont Chamber of Commerce. Still, the event helps raise money to support our programs!

Kwanchai Syttende Mai Event Benefiting JourneyHome

Hei! May 17^th, the Norwegian Constitution Day, is Ballard’s biggest day of the year with one of the largest parades outside of Norway. Syttende Gay returns also, this time as a benefit for Solid Ground’s JourneyHome program!

Syttende Gay came into existence in 2006 as an event combining Seattle’s Scandinavian GLBT community and the annual celebration of  Syttende Mai. This event has evolved into an internationally-promoted occasion with the help of local and international blogs such as Ballard Gossip Girl, Seattle Gay Scene, Out Traveler Magazine and Orbitz Travel. Syttende Gay is one of the many events under the auspices of Kwanchai.

In line with the last few years, Kwanchai will have the pleasure of hosting Syttende Gay 2010 at BalMar (5449 Ballard Ave NW off NW Market St) with spectacular views of the parade.

DJ JessE (whom you might remember from Kwanchai’s Ref. 71 Benefit) will be spinning a blend of Scandinavian and current energy club mixes in BalMar’s new dance space.

JourneyHome provides transitional housing, case management, housing search and other supportive services to get homeless families back to stable housing. There will be two ways to raise funds, with a VIP Pass and the Event Raffle.

The VIP Pass ($7) offers exclusive patio access for panoramic views of the parade, 10% off of inspired appetizers and cocktail specials, live DJ and private bar.

Event Date: Monday, May 17, 2010

Event Time: 5:00 pm – 8:oo pm

Norwegian Constitution Day Parade at 6:00 pm

Kwanchai events are always open to everyone of interest as our mission aligns with celebrating inclusiveness and diversity.

Sign of the Times: volunteering to fight hunger

The Seattle Times ran a great story today on volunteers helping to feed hungry people. Lots of good content, opportunities to join in the local movement, and coverage of our Lettuce Link program. Check it out!

Half-naked charity

Hundreds of half-naked humanitarians will sprint in their skivvies near University of Washington’s campus for the AXE Undie Run Challenge. AXE, the male grooming brand and host of the event, is encouraging participants and spectators to donate their clothes to Solid Ground. Donated clothing will be distributed to partner agencies, while AXE will make a $5,000 donation to Solid Ground.

The AXE Undie Run Challenge is part of a cross-campus competition among 10 universities to raise money and clothing for local agencies serving people who are homeless.

WHEN: May 11, 8 p.m.

WHERE: The starting line is located at Memorial Way and NE 45th Street, near the Burke Museum.

Students will strip down (full nudity is not allowed), put their clothing in donation bins and run.

New Tenant Services website provides a wealth of information for WA renters

Can I use my deposit for my last month’s rent? My landlord is in foreclosure, do I have to move out? How do I access my rights as a renter?

There is an immense need across many communities for renters to become educated on their rights. It is important to not only know the laws, but how they work in real life, and what the best practices are in using them.

Solid Ground Tenant Services has created an online tool to answer the many questions renters face across Washington State: www.solid-ground.org/Tenant

This website contains volumes of information on renters’ rights for Washington State residents. The entire website can be accessed by a convenient index on the left hand side of the page. Understanding the eviction process, getting a repair completed in your apartment, exactly how much a landlord can charge in screening fees for a housing application, and much more is covered. Not only that, we have included sample letters, direct links to the letter of the law, outside links to other tenants’ rights information, and a comprehensive resource page for renters. And at the end of most topic sections, there are extensive FAQs sections with convenient links that allow the reader to jump back and forth between questions.

However, just knowing the laws is not enough; becoming aware of the best practices in using them is essential for all renters to protect themselves from abuse or retaliation.

If you are a renter and have a question, you can save time before calling Solid Ground’s tenant hotline by looking for an answer on our website where it is likely you will find the topic that concerns you.

Of course, nothing can substitute sound legal advice from an attorney. It should be noted this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Please look to our legal assistance guide if you are in need of an attorney.

The Tenant Services website is the product of years of Tenant Counseling staff experience, with Emily Paddison, a former Tenants’ Union organizer, taking the lead in its development. Much credit is also due our Web Developer, Chris Fuka, and our staff Web Administrator, Liz Reed Hawk, for making the website incredibly user-friendly.

Click away!

What does immigration reform look like?

Solid Ground staff (l to r) David Olivera, Sukanya Pani, Irene Woo & Gordon Pun

Every year for the past five years or so, members of Solid Ground’s staff have joined in the annual May Day Immigration Rights Rally & March – marching in solidarity with hardworking community members and their families calling for comprehensive immigration reform.  

And every year on this day, a few thousand immigrants and allies gather and march demanding reform that will make it easier for immigrants and their families to legally live and work in the United States – and to end the destructive policies that lead to detentions, raids and deportations that are breaking up families and separating children from their parents. 

Solid Ground / Poverty Action staff, family & friends

Irene Woo, Solid Ground's Anti-Racism Coordinator; Bev Spears, Statewide Poverty Action Network's Director & Maru Mora-Villalpando, Washington CAN! Community Organizer

But this year – fueled by outrage in response to last week’s passage of an Arizona law that promotes racial profiling by encouraging law enforcement to question anyone about their immigration status if there is “reasonable suspicion” that they are undocumented  – Seattle’s 10^th Annual May Day march was larger and more passionate than ever. 

It’s not clear exactly how many people attended – one estimate was more than 10,000 – but from my vantage point, a virtual river of people filled the streets from Judkins Park in the Central District, flowed down South Jackson Street through downtown and Belltown, end emptied into Memorial Stadium at the Seattle Center. 

A river of marchers at 14th Ave S and S Jackson St

 

There were joyful moments: a Latino dad draped in an American flag, his small son riding on his shoulders; drums beating; people chanting. But overall, this was serious business, and the signs marchers carried reflected it. 

From “Stop Racism / Alto El Racismo” to “Do I Look ‘Illegal’?” to “I Pay My Taxes / My Husband is Not a Criminal” to “First Natives, Then Blacks, Now Latinos, Who’s Next?” to “My Skin Color is Not a Crime,” the messages expressed a demand to stop injustice, honor our common humanity, and fiercely resist laws and a political climate that dehumanizes people who are striving to create better lives for their families. 

As Renée Saucedo, Community Empowerment Coordinator at San Francisco’s La Raza Centro Legal eloquently puts it, “We must continue to support immigrant communities in their struggle to obtain a fair legalization law. We must not allow certain advocacy organizations to negotiate away rights on their behalf. By organizing, marching, etc. we must continue to demand just immigration laws and to work towards ending policies which criminalize and exploit members of our community.” 

P-Patch volunteers take ending hunger into their own hands… and gardens

Every Tuesday evening from mid-April to October, a group of dedicated volunteer gardeners gather at the Interbay P-Patch to plant, weed and harvest food for people who are hungry. 

Foodbank garden plot at Interbay P-Patch

Supported by Solid Ground’s Lettuce Link program, the Giving Garden at Interbay has several P-Patch plots dedicated solely to growing fresh fruit and veggies for local food banks. These food bank plots yield approximately 5,000 lbs of fresh, organic produce each season—all of which is donated to the Ballard Food Bank, Mary’s Place and St. Martin’s on Westlake. 

Master gardeners Deb Rock and Jude Berman both garden at Interbay and co-coordinate the Food Bank Gardening Program there. They also spearhead the Tuesday night work parties—enthusiastically sharing their passion for “gardening while doing good” with a core group of volunteers. Rock has been a food bank gardener at Interbay for more than a decade, and Berman joined the program in 2004. 

Last Tuesday, about a dozen volunteers braved the temperamental spring Seattle weather to help plant a huge donation of lettuce starts that had come in earlier that day. 

Berman says that volunteers show up each week for a variety of reasons. Some live in apartments and have no garden of their own. Some are new gardeners eager to learn from seasoned pros. Some are students from Ballard High’s horticulture program; others have their own P-Patch plots at Interbay and simply want to be part of the good work going on. 

“No matter what brings them here, after they are here, they fall in love with the garden, and they stay,” Berman said. “This isn’t just about growing food for a salad. There’s a critical need in this community—especially now. We’re feeding people.” 

Interbay Food Bank Garden co-coordinator Jude Berman (left) and Lettuce Link's Sadie Beauregard (right).

Lettuce Link supports P-Patch food bank gardeners with seeds, starts and volunteer support, as well as with help coordinating delivery to the food banks. Lettuce Link works with more than 40 P-Patches like Interbay throughout the city. Combined, these Giving Gardens bring in nearly 28,000 lbs of produce each year. 

Work parties at the Interbay P-Patch are held every Tuesday evening from 5:30 until sundown throughout the growing season. At the end of each work party, the food bank gardeners usually gather in the beautiful Interbay patio space to share ideas, a glass of wine and perhaps a nibble of something fresh from the garden. 

Everyone is welcome, whether you are a master gardener or a novice just starting out. Just stop by anytime after 5:30. The Interbay P-Patch is located at 2452 15th Ave W (15th Avenue W. and W. Wheeler Street). 

You can email Jude about volunteering on Tuesday evenings at Interbay, or about food bank gardening in general. 

To get involved with other P-Patch Giving Gardens throughout the city, contact Lettuce Link.