White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The White Center Chamber of Commerce and White Center Community Development Association are teaming up for a Power Lunch and Power Mixer today – two times, two locations, so that businesses can make it no matter what their schedule. At noon, they’ll be at Chemo’s (xx); at 7 pm, they’ll be at TT’s Soul Kitchen (xx). Topics will include business-district lighting and the push to make sure White Center doesn’t lose its Storefront Deputy. Speaking of which – have you signed the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council‘s online petition yet? (It was first reported here, on Monday.)

The White Center Community Development Association has opened registration for White Center Spring Clean – and it’s not just one day this year, there are five dates spread out over the next five months, starting in April. Get the details on the WCCDA website; sign up here.

Save the date, one week from Saturday – December 8th. That’s when the White Center Community Development Association hopes you’ll join them for the WC Community Summit (but remember to sign up first!):

The 2012 White Center Community Summit will take place on Saturday, December 8 from 10am-2pm at White Center Heights Elementary. Organized by the White Center Community Development Association (CDA), this is a family event with workshops for youths and adults as well as free child care.

The theme for this year’s summit is “Continuing Change … 10 More Years of Action,” reflecting on the work that has been accomplished in the 10 years since the White Center CDA was founded and looking toward what can still be done in the future. All attendees will receive a free I Heart White Center t-shirt, lunch, and an opportunity to have family pictures taken by a professional photographer.

“The event is a great reflection of the community because it shows the diversity in languages and cultures that are present in White Center,” says White Center CDA Community Builder Marquise Roberson. “It also shows that even though our neighborhood is filled with so much difference that there is commonality that transcends it in our concerns and well-being of the community that we live.”

In addition to the entertainment during the event attendees will also receive lunch vouchers that can be redeemed at local White Center Businesses. As in years past there will be a resource center along with onsite interpreters and translated materials. Registration information can be found at wccda.org/home/wccda/2360

The mission of the White Center Community Development Association is to promote a vibrant neighborhood and high quality of life for White Center residents and stakeholders through the development of authentic leadership opportunities and community-led, neighborhood initiatives. This is accomplished through three lines of business: neighborhood revitalization, family development, and community building.

For more information please contact Marquise Roberson, Community Builder at (206) 694-1082 or Marquise@wccda.org.

Just announced today: “White Center’s first ever 5k Walk & Run on 2/16! Proceeds go to the White Center CDA and YES Foundation. Price: $30, Seniors $25 (55+). Kids 10 and under free!” Here’s the official flyer, via Twitter. You can register online by going here – where you’ll find the full schedule and other details, too.

Two event reminders:

DAY OF CARING FOOD DRIVE: As part of the United Way of King County Day of Caring, there’s a food drive for the White Center Food Bank today, 10 am-1 pm, at Westwood Village QFC in West Seattle (26th and Barton). You can contribute food or money!

WCCDA DINNER: As previewed here last week, trailblazing King County Councilmember Larry Gossett is the featured speaker at tonight’s White Center Community Development Association‘s 10th annual dinner/auction, 6-9 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (south end of the campus at 6000 16th SW in West Seattle). Ticket info here.

Mikel Davila from the White Center Community Development Association sends word that the next business mixer is set for Monday, September 24th, 6-7:30 pm at one of WC’s newer businesses, San Fernando Roasted Chicken (9809 16th SW). Appetizers will be provided.

(WCN photo from July 2011’s White Center Promise celebration)
Once again this summer, White Center Community Development Association is hosting a celebration of the White Center Promise initiative – which is about to get into full swing. Here’s the official announcement of the event that’s now two and a half weeks away:

The Promise Summer Celebration 2012 is the second annual event focused on the White Center Promise (WCP) Initiative.

The Promise Summer Celebration will be Friday, August 31, 2012 from 4:00PM-6:30PM and will take place at the Greenbridge Plaza on 8th Ave SW and SW 99th St. in White Center.

Similar to last year’s event, the celebration will feature local delicious food and live performances at no cost. This year’s feature acts will include: Seattle Kokon Taiko Drummers, Au Lac Vovinam Lion Dance Team and the EriAm Sisters. There will also be a giveaway of book bags to the first 250 K-12 grade students who sign up and the first 150 parents that register will receive a special gift.

White Center Promise is a long-term initiative aimed at eradicating poverty in White Center through a continuum of educational results that bring about social change. The goal is that all children in White Center will graduate from high school and earn a post-secondary credential that leads to a living wage career.

WCP’s cradle-to-career range of solutions was developed beginning in 2010 with the help of local residents and supported by local core partners Highline Public Schools, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the White Center Community Development Association.

A roll-out plan has been created and implementation will take place in phases over the next 5 years beginning in January 2013.

Just a reminder – no White Center Chamber of Commerce lunch tomorrow. President Mark Ufkes shared this note:

Rather than have two White Center business gatherings on the same day, the White Center Chamber of Commerce is cancelling the April Chamber monthly luncheon and encouraging Chamber members to attend the White Center CDA Business Mixer … The Chamber web site committee will be reporting out on our progress to date for our planned web site. We will resume our normal monthly luncheons on Tuesday, May 8th. Also remember that we will have White Center Spring Clean scheduled for Saturday, May 19th and need volunteers and funding support for our several anti-graffiti mural projects.

The WCCDA mixer is at 6 pm Tuesday at Be’s Crawfish House, 9826 16th SW.

If you don’t know them already, that’s outgoing White Center Community Development Association executive director Aileen Balahadia at left, with her successor Sili Savusa at right, photographed during the Friday reception/celebration at Greenbridge. Savusa started work at WCCDA a few days after her new role was announced March 15th; she had previously worked at West Seattle-based Southwest Youth and Family Services, whose executive director Steve Daschle was among the reception’s attendees (at right in the next photo with White Center Storefront Deputy BJ Myers):

Balahadia announced her departure back in December, and leaves after eight years of WCCDA growth described in the announcement we published then.

From Mikel Davila at the White Center Community Development Association, word of a 4:30 pm reception at the Greenbridge community’s Educare Building (625 SW 100th) to bid farewell to departing executive director Aileen Balahadia and say hello to her successor, Sili Savusa (previous WCN coverage here). The reception is scheduled to last till 7 pm.

In December, Aileen Balahadia announced she would leave her position as White Center Community Development Association executive director this spring. Now, her successor has just been announced. Here’s the news release received by WCN:

The Board of Directors of the White Center Community Development Association (White Center CDA) proudly announces the hiring of its new executive director, Sili Savusa, a longtime community advocate and White Center resident.

The current CDA Executive Director, Aileen Balahadia, plans to leave her position the end of March, after serving in her leadership role since 2004. Sili Savusa will be leaving her position as Family Center Coordinator for Southwest Youth and Family Services to lead the CDA beginning March 19, 2012.

Aside from her long tenure at the agency, her other accomplishments include being elected to the Highline School Board Director in 2007 as the first woman of color, position #1, and founding the first Samoan/Pacific Islander Parent Teacher Student Association in the Nation in 2002, to address education issues impacting Pacific Islander students and their families.

“All of my work in human services and community development has allowed me to build an extensive network of important relationships,” said Ms. Savusa. “But perhaps the strongest experience I bring is as a resident of this gifted and capable community. My unique skill set, as well as my perspective as a resident whose family is impacted daily by community issues, uniquely qualifies me for this new and exciting role.”

Aileen Balahadia says good-bye to the community she has been honored to serve for the last eight years. Accomplishments under her tenure include the successful management of a multi-million dollar Making Connections comprehensive community change initiative of the Annie E Casey Foundation, the launch of an emerging White Center Promise Neighborhoods campaign, the opening of the 30-unit Unity Village affordable housing project last year, and the stewardship of core CDA programs like Family Connections and neighborhood business district revitalization.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the choice of leadership and how well Sili embodies the values and high quality of our organization,” said Ms. Balahadia. “I want to thank the CDA board of directors, staff, volunteers, members, partners, small businesses and residents for your service and leadership and I look forward to seeing all the community’s brightest dreams achieved in the future.”

Please join us for a good bye and appreciation party for Ms. Balahadia and to meet Ms. Savusa on Friday, March 23, 2012 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Greenbridge Community, Educare Building (adjacent to White Center Heights Elementary) at 625 SW 100th St. Seattle, WA 98146.

(Photo from King County Elections Dept. website)

On our way back from a story to the east, we stopped at 3.14 Bakery in downtown White Center to see how Pi(e) Day (3.14!) was going – and found a table full of distinguished gatherers who had chosen 3.14 for a meeting. From left, if you don’t recognize them all, that’s Mikel Davila from White Center Community Development Association, King County Sheriff’s Office Storefront Deputy BJ Myers, Michelle Allison from King County Councilmember Joe McDermott‘s team, and CM McDermott himself (who pointed out they had already purchased boxed pie to take back to the office downtown). As for us – decided not to go with the pie, but the triple-chocolate cake ball is to die for.

(Aileen Balahadia, 2nd from left at Unity Village groundbreaking, WCN photo from Sept. 2010)
Just received from the White Center Community Development Association:

The Board of Directors of the White Center Community Development Association (CDA) today announced that the CDA Executive Director, Aileen Balahadia, plans to leave her position next spring. Ms. Balahadia has served as the organization’s Executive Director since January 2004.

“Under Aileen’s leadership the White Center CDA embraced a completely new model of comprehensive community development. Over the last eight years, she helped to grow the CDA from 1.5 FTE to a professional staff of 11.5 FTE and a $ 1.5m annual budget,” said Heather Downey, Board President and Burien resident. “White Center is a stronger, healthier community because of Aileen’s leadership.”

Accomplishments under Balahadia’s tenure include the successful management of a multi-million dollar Making Connections comprehensive community change initiative of the Annie E Casey Foundation, the launch of an emerging White Center Promise neighborhoods campaign, the opening of the 30-unit Unity Village affordable housing project, and the stewardship of core CDA programs like Family Connections and neighborhood business district revitalization.

“I have great mixed emotions as I announce my resignation from an organization that has been my heart and soul for the last eight years. The White Center CDA is now in a great place to move to a different level- it’s much bigger than any one person now. We are rooted locally, but on the cusp of being known nationally for its innovation,” said Ms. Balahadia. She added, “I’m also excited to take some time off from executive leadership to recharge and refresh. And it always feels good to leave on a high note, especially when our organization and our budget are in a healthy place.”

Board member and White Center resident Pat Thompson applauds Ms. Balahadia’s creative approach to community building and the organization’s values of resident leadership and authentic partnership. “Aileen’s legacy is that today White Center has its own voice. The results speak daily for themselves through our neighborhood improvements, better academic achievement scores, a Community Summit attended by 400 people each year, and partnership projects with Southwest Youth and Family Services, Highline Public Schools, Impact Capital/Seattle Office of Economic Development, Port Jobs, White Center Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.”

In preparation for this change, the Board has commenced plans for the executive transition and hire of the CDA’s next leader. Ms. Balahadia’s last day will be on March 31, 2012.

The Board has adopted an aggressive timeline to find the next Executive Director for the CDA. Board Secretary and Burien resident Karen Veloria says, “We are moving quickly to assure a quality leadership transition. We plan to find a new leader to coincide with Aileen’s last month at the CDA.” The CDA has retained the services of Watanabe Consultation to assist in the recruitment search and hiring process for the CDA Board of Directors.

Take a close look – WCN contributor Deanie Schwarz took that photo on Friday, and this photo exactly one week earlier:

You can see a bit of progress, as the iconic Marv’s Broiler sign on 16th SW gets a facelift, Deanie reports. She talked with manager/bartender Tammy, who says Marv’s owners will be restoring the sign’s neon and lights, with the help of White Center Community Development Association grants. Tammy also told Deanie that the rest of Marv’s exterior will get new paint in the coming year.

Five days till the big “Shop Fresh” event around White Center – here’s the official announcement:

The White Center Community Development Association is leading the effort to organize the first White Center Business District Summer Shop Fresh Event in the White Center Business District on Saturday, August 20th from 5-7pm.

The purpose of this event is to raise the awareness of fresh, healthy foods now available in six produce markets and three Halal stores in White Center’s business district. “Exploring Summer Shop Fresh by foot in White Center’s walkable, pedestrian-friendly business district, will allow visitors to purchase healthy fruits and vegetables while learning about unique culinary traditions of our community neighbors,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association. The White Center CDA is a catalyst for a healthy community and new prosperity in White Center – creating a better place to visit, shop, and live.

As White Center shoppers enter participating Summer Shop Fresh stores, they will check in at a “Healthy Foods Here” table where attendees will participate in an activity relating to healthy food and fitness. Afterward, they will be gifted a “Spend $6, Get $3 Off” coupon. For every $3 dollars of money spent on a purchase, White Center residents will be able to use this coupon to buy additional food. The coupon is only valid for purchase on August 20 and at participating stores. The more stores the residents visit, the more coupons they will be gifted.

Healthy food cooking demonstrations will also be provided at one of the markets. There are nine food stores participating in the event: Lee’s Produce, West Seattle Halal Market, White Center Market, White Center Mini Market Halal and Deli, White Center International Deli and Halal Store, Phnom Khiev, Samway Market, Hung Long Asian Market and New Golden Village Market.

The White Center CDA thanks co-sponsor Healthy Foods Here project which supports small, local businesses selling fresh fruits and vegetables become certified in the Federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. Stores that accept SNAP and WIC increase access to healthy foods for low-income residents. For more information about the Healthy Foods Here project, please visit the official website at www.healthyfoodshere.com.

Hundreds of people are having a great time at Greenbridge Plaza right now, as the White Center Promise celebration continues till 6:30 pm. The poverty-fighting initiative is about education in a big way – and local high-school students are helping underscore that, including the cheer team, above, and the Highline High School robotics team, below:

Plenty of sun, and a chance to learn more from WCCDA about the White Center Promise program – “cradle to college to career strategies,” as explained here.

Couldn’t be better weather for a big celebration at Greenbridge Plaza (8th SW and SW 98th) today – part of the White Center Community Development Association‘s White Center Promise campaign, aimed at eradicating poverty in WC. Be there 4-6:30 pm for free local food and entertainment.

It looks a little more done on the outside than the inside, but community members were invited to come over this afternoon to tour Strength of Place Village, the new 30-unit low-income housing complex at 14th SW and SW 100th. You’d have to use your imagination to think about the possibilities of the still-being-built interiors – this is going to be a community room:

The living spaces are taking shape – note the windows and brightness in this one:

As reported here earlier this month, applications are now being taken for prospective tenants. Strength of Place Village is a partnership between Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, White Center Community Development Association, and Capitol Hill Housing, whose Kate Gill de la Garza was a tour guide this afternoon. Ground was broken for the project last September.

(Photo courtesy White Center Community Development Association, used with permission)
Next time you’re at 16th and Roxbury, take a close look and appreciate the freshened-up planting areas! Nhan Nguyen of the White Center Community Development Association shared the news today that a small group went out on Sunday to beautify the corner. He says that nearby Pho Lynna and Decoraciones Ely have ” volunteered to take care of regular watering.” The planting, according to Nhan, was led by Erika and Clark from Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle and WCCDA member Judy.

Want to be part of an occasional “mini-cleanup” in the business district? WCCDA would love to hear from you – and Nhan says they’ll supply the trash bags, trash pickers, and gloves!

By Tracy Record
White Center Now editor

Business owners from around White Center gathered Monday night at the Salvadorean Bakery for the monthly meeting/mixer facilitated by the WC Community Development Association.

The bakery’s proprietor Ana Castro (right) offered words of welcome to the two dozen-plus participants: ‘Thank you for supporting the community.” (She had also prepared a dinner feast for those on hand, including the eatery’s famous pupusas.)

Business owners/reps have been convening for these gatherings for more than a year, said WCCDA’s Peter Chum, “and we have accomplished a lot as a community.” He and co-worker Nhan Nguyen facilitated the meeting.

One accomplishment – branding, with the new signs and banners around the area, and a poster unveiled at the meeting:

WHITE CENTER POSTER: The artwork for a new poster was unveiled by Kathi “George” Wheeler and artist Terri Sargent Peart, who was commissioned to create the artwork on which the posters are based. The image, it was explained, was someone weaving a basket together with different-colored cords, the community coming together, acrylic painting on canvas, the diversity coming together. The posters were printed by local business Graphics Plus. “To celebrate our place and our people, how we are pulling together,” said Nguyen.

WHAT ABOUT THE WHITE CENTER BRAND/LOGO? Wheeler showed two versions of the logo – one with the rainbow rings, one with the baskets inside the rainbow rings (modeled after the ones in the small park in the Delridge Triangle), and asked for ideas on how to use it. A brainstorming session ensued. (57 banners with the new logo are now up around Roxbury, it was noted.) Ideas included tying it into the forthcoming shoppers-reward card, or putting it on bumper stickers/window decals. However it plays out, the logo will be made available for businesses to use, Wheeler assured attendees.

SPEAKING OF THAT LOGO … SPONSORS SOUGHT FOR WELCOME SIGNS: Mark Ufkes from the White Center Chamber of Commerce said that two signs, 108th/4th and 16th/130th (near McDonald’s), need sponsors. He also talked about a plan for a White Center food guide that would probably launch in 2012, in connection with local business groups. He also provided an update on the “Good Neighbor” agreement for alcohol businesses; they’re hoping for more participation. And they’re looking for people to adopt trash cans in the business district.

WHITE CENTER BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE: A draft version of this brochure was circulated, with information to help businesses find resources to assist their growth and operations. Some of the resources listed in the guide can even help businesses find financing, said Nguyen (left). It also lists media – not just the “mainstream” local media (including WCN), said Nguyen, but also area community/ethnic media, so that businesses can find people who will help them get the word out about their businesses. WCCDA is also looking for ideas on the resource guide – “what’s missing, how can we make it better, how can we make it more user-friendly?” First suggestion: Make it more photocopy-ready. Another suggestion: List more websites. Yet another: Make sure the information is accessible on the WCCDA website, as well as in brochure format. And: What about a list of businesses that might be willing to trade with each other? Plus: Categorize the types of listings – private, public. Host Castro suggested, “E-mail it to everybody.” Nguyen said the guide is “something to be proud of” as the first such resource for the White Center business district.

PLANTER BOXES: More than 20 were given out with help of a grant from the Seattle Foundation, but some are gone – stolen, vandalized – while others are kept “in great condition,” as Nguyen put it, like the one at the Salvadorean Bakery. A new City of Seattle grant for $500 has come in, and they’re brainstorming what to do with it. Mikayla talked about one idea of planting edibles – which was viewed skeptically by some, she said, considering that some planters have been used as makeshift ashtrays. Suggestions for the planter boxes included evergreens – “might be less trouble” — or maybe even replacing them with hanging baskets. Nguyen said it’s up to businesses to step up and take care of the planter boxes, or else businesses that don’t will lose theirs, and they’ll be moved elsewhere, as there’s a long waiting list, he said.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA ‘MISHMASH’: King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s law and justice policy adviser Gail Stone addressed the issue, which also was a topic at the last meeting of the White Center group, since two medical-marijuana establishments have opened recently on 16th SW in the heart of the business district. She recapped what happened with the failed legislation in Olympia. “The legislature didn’t clean any of that up, and it has left state and local governments at odds about how do we deal with this mishmash law and regulation. .. We know that the current dispensary business models won’t fit under state law, but the county and the city have been working to figure out what’s the approach that’s going to serve the community.” She said she had no specifics about what that approach will turn out to be: “Do we license these things … what do we do, where should they be located, dealing with zoning and making sure these businesses are in one kind of an area or another … It would be really helpful for us at the county to have some input about what are your concerns about where these are sited, how they should or should not be regulated by cities and counties.”

One attendee asked about prospective shutdowns: “Can we expect an iron fist?” “We’re really trying to figure that out – we’re meeting every other day with (a group including prosecutors, sheriffs, Seattle officials),” she said. She indicated no decisions have been made but “hopefully soon after July 22nd, when the state law goes into effect” they will know what they are doing.

“It’s going to be interesting to find out what happens next year in Olympia,” she added. It was also pointed out that a legalization initiative is circulating as well. WCCDA’s Nguyen wondered if existing dispensaries would be grandfathered in, and all Stone could say is, “That’s a good question,” while musing aloud whether they could change their business model to fit the new rules for “collective gardens.”

Why doesn’t the county just go to the State Attorney General’s office and ask for a ruling? it was asked. “It’s an interesting question,” Stone said, again, adding that she will forward the suggestion. If you have any questions/comments/ideas, she said, contact her. All she could say they know for sure is that they know businesses, patients, and others involved need “clarity.”

King County Sheriff’s Community Service Officer Peter Truong, asked for comment by Nguyen, said he had none – “(people) complain about it, but .. (the way) the law is, there’s nothing we can do about it right now.”

BICYCLE SHOP FOR WHITE CENTER? Ellie Weiss delivered a presentation – asking rhetorically “Why should Ballard have all the fun?” – positing that White Center deserves a bike shop, and presenting a variety of reasons why. As a transitional point, she is suggesting a “regular repair clinic” to have “some kids come in and work on bicycles.” She pointed out that White Center is making strides into the bicycling world – with bike parking introduced to the central business district by Proletariat Pizza (whose co-owner Mike Albaeck was among those at the meeting). Nguyen challenged the group to see if anyone knows of a space “to put this idea into motion.” No particular space requirement, she clarified, “even if you can get in there with one bicycle and work on it” – they would just like a regular weekly or even monthly clinic space to start with.

WHITE CENTER ART WALK: Amanda Kay Helmick talked about the film festival – three 30-minute programs, starting at 6 pm at Southgate Roller Rink, then on to Full Tilt Ice Cream, then to Big Al Brewing – that is the theme of this Saturday night’s WC Art Walk. (Here’s the preview we published Monday.) “This is the first month we’re going to do something big for the community,” Helmick said. “(Before) there really wasn’t a lot to bring the outside in … we’re hoping to draw from a large area.” Next month, she said, they’re planning on live painting. “Every month we’re just going to do something bigger and bigger. … In September we’re going to have the White Center Weird Festival again – would love to shut the street down … not as easy as it sounds, but it would be cool to shut it down. We’re working toward that.”

KING COUNTY IN MOTION: White Center is getting involved with In Motion, partnering with WCCDA, with a goal of reducing car trips.

BUSINESS OWNERS’ HAPPY HOUR: Aileen Sison announced that her next Happy Hour for WC business owners is going to be at Be’s Crawfish Grill – while there’ll be a Family Happy Hour too, at Zippy’s Giant Burgers.