White Center Now: The blog about White Center

Kids and their families are invited to the White Center Summer Celebration at Greenbridge Plaza on August 17, 2-5 pm:

Students can start the year with a new backpack and have fun while at the event to get one.

Just out of the WCN inbox:

Announced by the YWCA:

Don’t let the flu or COVID-19 ruin the start of your year!

Stop by the Winter vaccine clinic at YWCA’s Greenbridge Learning Center on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and get vaccinated to help keep yourself and others safe.

Vaccines are available for adults and children
No healthcare insurance is required.
Vaccines available regardless of immigration status.
Vaccines are absolutely FREE!

All vaccinations will be administered by King County Public Health.
YWCA Greenbridge Learning Center
9720 8th Ave. SW

You can admire creative cups at White Center’s own Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th SW) when Rat City Studios presents its Community Cup Showcase starting one week from today:

We’re so excited to share that our 6th Annual Community Cup Exhibition at Dubsea Coffee is opening just around the corner!

The show will be up from October 4th – October 30th.

We’ll be having an opening reception on October 7th from 10 am-12 pm. This reception will be a fun time to connect with the community members in the show, meet the local artists, take in all the cups, and enjoy a delicious beverage.

The Community Cup Showcase coincides with National Clay Week and this annual event celebrates the wide variety of talent, techniques, shapes, glazes, and styles of pottery making within our vibrant clay family!

Just a few weeks left until school starts – and just a few days until free school supplies are available along with health services and other resources at this Greenbridge event:

On Friday (June 2), National Gun Violence Awareness Day, free gun lockboxes will be available at locations around King County including one in Greenbridge. Here’s the announcement:

Everyone in King County deserves to live in communities that are hopeful, safe, healthy, and thriving. In honor of National Gun Violence Awareness Day this June 2, 2023, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Regional Gun Violence program is partnering with community organizations to host gun lockbox giveaway events throughout the county. Our shared goal is to promote gun safety and raise awareness of community organizations working to address gun violence in our region.

Gun violence is now the leading cause of death for children and teens in the US. Over the past three years, we have seen an uptick in the number of firearm-related injuries and deaths in King County, in places where we all live, play and learn.

Gun violence is not inevitable, it is preventable, and in our region, we recognize that gun violence is a public health emergency. We each have a role in ending it.

Local lockbox giveaways on National Gun Violence Awareness Day

This Friday, June 2, is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, kicking off “Wear Orange” Weekend through June 4. During Wear Orange Weekend, communities across King County and the nation come together to remember those injured or lost due to gun violence and take action toward a future free of gun violence.

To commemorate this movement, on Friday, June 2, the Public Health’s Regional Gun Violence program’s Regional Peacekeepers Collective, in partnership with community-based organizations, will host events throughout King County. Each event will feature remarks from community safety experts and local government leaders, gun safety education, and free handgun lockbox giveaways. These events are free and open to all, and lockboxes will be distributed while supplies last.

Free community lockbox giveaway events include:

White Center Lockbox Giveaway, hosted with YMCA Alive and Free

Friday, June 2, 2023 | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | Greenbridge Plaza – 9800 8th Avenue SW

13 years after its much-awaited opening in Greenbridge, Dubsea Coffee has new ownership. Founder Sibelle Nguyen made the announcement on social media, saying she has “passed the reins of Dubsea to Carrie and Erin Wilkins.” The couple, with a wide range of career and personal experiences, say in the announcement that they “had discussed running a coffee shop for some years.” They recognized Dubsea’s status as a community hub and promise to continue to grow it in that role. In her parting words, Sibelle expresses confidence that will happen, and adds, “Dubsea, both as a space and an intention, has shown me that it is more than possible for people of all walks of life to be together in kindness, sweet joy, creativity, and connection … in other words, a truly loving community.” She also offers words of gratitude to staff, artists, and customers.

You’re invited to Greenbridge Plaza (9720 8th SW) for Pride Story Time next Wednesday:

Should be great weather for an outdoor story time.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The location has changed – outdoor area at Community School of West Seattle, 9450 22nd SW.

Electric-vehicle owners are invited to participate in an EV fair at Greenbridge on April 23rd. If you don’t have one (yet), you’re invited to come see and learn about EVs. Here’s the announcement:

Seattle Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers and enthusiasts will come together to share their cars and lived experiences with the public. Come meet unbiased EV drivers, check out the different EV models, and take a test drive. The event will take place at the Greenbridge Community Center/Library, SW Boys & Girls Club parking lot. The event will highlight the clean air benefits and cost-savings of electric cars on Saturday, April 23, 2022 to celebrate Drive Electric Earth Day. Seattle’s event is one of dozens of events across the country where communities will gather to celebrate Earth Day and the role that reducing transportation emissions plays in combating climate change, along with the personal and consumer benefits of EVs!

This is set for 10 am-2 pm April 23rd at 9720 8th SW. If you are interested in bringing your EV to participate, you can go here to register.

Summer’s ending, school starts soon, and a traditional celebration of both is coming up this week: White Center Community Development Association presents the annual White Center Promise celebration at Greenbridge Plaza, 10 am-2 pm Friday (August 27th). The plan is for “music, dancing, food, raffles, and many more activities.” As is the recommendation from health authorities regarding crowded outdoor activities, you’re asked to wear a face covering.

From the inbox:

Neighborcare Health, in coordination with King County Housing Authority, Somali Health Board, and Neighborhood House, is providing free COVID-19 testing Tuesday, 11/17 from 12-4 pm at Greenbridge Main Plaza, 9839 Eighth Ave SW:

*Walk-up only. No appointment needed.

*Everyone is eligible for testing.

*Safe, quick, and painless. Test swab only goes part way in nose.

*Each individual will be registered upon arrival so we can process the test and follow-up with test results.

At registration, you will provide your name, date of birth, phone number, and insurance information (if you have it). Testing is FREE for everyone. We will bill your insurance if you have it. If you do not have insurance you will not be charged.

Questions: Call Neighborcare CAT Team at 206-333-2524,

All are welcome to a back-to-school giveaway at Greenbridge, 1-5 pm Sunday (September 1st). Michelle Carter explains it’s a tribute to her nephew:

My nephew Trevon Mckoy, better known as Juice The God, was a humanitarian for his neighborhood, which is West Seattle. He was murdered April 1st, 2018 at Seattle Center. He loved to give back to his community, in fact (one Christmas) he went to White Center and gave his whole wardrobe away to those in need. So in honor of Trevon, myself and family decided to host a “Juice The God back to school giveaway.”

We are funding school supplies for elementary, middle, and high, as well as complimentary haircuts. There will be lots of food, fun, and laughter.

As announced by the King County Council:

In the wake of decades of Congressional inaction, the King County Board of Health is hosting a groundbreaking two-night summit on the prevention of gun violence. Beginning Tuesday evening, leaders from public health, affected residents, and the health community will join local advocates and policy makers for the most comprehensive gathering of gun violence research, data, and program work in the history of the Pacific Northwest.

Building upon legislation sponsored by King County Councilmembers Joe McDermott and Jeanne Kohl-Welles last summer, the summit will spotlight regional efforts to prevent gun violence through a public health approach.

This is happening at the YWCA Greenbridge Learning Cenner (9720 8th SW), 6-8:30 pm tonight and tomorrow.
Participants: Representatives from the Dept. of Public Health, Harborview, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Moms Demand Action, community leaders working with youth, gun violence survivors, and elected officials from King County, Seattle, and surrounding communities.

Thanks to Gill Loring for the photos from the sun-graced Greenbridge health fair that kicked off the weekend.

As previewed here earlier in the week, a variety of partners joined forces to present the fair.

You’re invited!

The postponed 4th Avenue SW closure south of Roxbury, for work related to the King County Housing Authority, now has a new start date. From KCHA:

We have resolved the complex utility conflicts that delayed our road closure and are ready to proceed with the full road closure. We have received final road closure permission from King County Road Services Division, King County Department of Local Services. 4th Avenue SW will be totally closed from SW 100th Street to SW Roxbury Street starting Monday, April 29th. This closure will continue from April 29th to Monday June 3rd with the following work hours:

• Monday – Friday 7 AM to 5 PM

• Saturday – 9AM to 5PM

There will be additional brief road/lane closures following the initial closure to complete additional work.

We have coordinated with local residents, emergency services, schools, and area service providers.

(Also posted on partner site West Seattle Blog)

Thanks to the texter who alerted us to signage along 4th SW south of Roxbury [map] about an impending road closure. There we found the signs you see above and below.

The county has confirmed the closure of a quarter-mile of 4th SW south of Roxbury is scheduled to start next Monday (April 1st) and provided this flyer (PDF) with details:

Been to Dubsea Coffee (9910 8th SW) lately? We just received this announcement about the art you’ll see there this month, by Brooke Fotheringham:

Synthesis – A photographic daydream at the intersection of genetic engineering and materials science

A visual exploration of the potential of genetic engineering to create innovations both aesthetic and practical to deal with surviving on a rapidly changing planet; a collection of new life and materials imagined by manipulating and rearranging botanical and synthesized forms. What if we could grow windows, lamp shades, or fiber optic cables the way diatoms grow their ethereal glass houses instead of manufacturing them in a more traditional sense?

“Synthesis” is on display through the end of the month, 6 am-7 pm daily.

From South Seattle College:

With graduation season in full swing, the TRiO Educational Opportunity Center (EOC) at South Seattle College wants to help community members achieve their own academic and career goals. From June 19-25, EOC advisors will hold Educational Opportunity Week, visiting seven local community centers to offer free one-on-one help to adults with questions about paying for and attending college.

The EOC provides guidance and assistance to adults who want to begin or restart their college education or career training. Services are free to eligible individuals, and EOC staff primarily aims to support low-income students, first-generation college students and veterans (including family members). EOC advisors are trained to provide assistance with financial aid (FAFSA), funding options, career guidance and college admissions applications to adults who seek to enter or continue an academic or vocational degree or certificate program, whether that program is at South Seattle College or another college or university in the area.

(Here’s the local community center getting a visit:)

· June 22: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Greenbridge Community Center, 9800 8th Ave SW, Seattle

Educational Opportunity Center Hours and Contact Information

The EOC is located at South Seattle College’s main campus (6000 16th Ave SW in West Seattle), and open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please note the Center will close at 1 p.m. on Fridays from June 23 – Sept. 28. Extended hours are available by appointment.

To learn more about Educational Opportunity Week, schedule a one-on-one appointment or to create a personalized educational plan with an EOC advisor, please call 206-934-5208 or email trio-eoc@seattlecolleges.edu.

Just in from Tony Vo at White Center Community Development Association:

Our 6th annual White Center Promise Celebration will be held on Friday, August 5th from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Greenbridge Plaza, located in White Center at 9800 8th Ave SW.

The White Center Promise aims to eliminate barriers to equity and provide a foundation for family and student success from the time a child is born until they transition from post-secondary to gainful employment.

The celebration kicks off the school year early and connects over 800 students and their families to 30+ community resources, free backpacks and school supplies, local performances and entertainment, and educational activities for parents to take-away. In addition, there will be free food and raffle items.

You can sign up for the event via this link, http://tinyurl.com/WCPromise2016. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please email Tony@wccda.org.

Sponsors of this event includes King County Housing Authority, Equity Matters, Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence, Washington State Charter Schools Association, Habitat for Humanity, and Amerigroup.

First day of classes for Highline Public Schools is September 1st.