Pacific Northwest Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Season kicks off with a grand celebration of music, dance, and song in fan-favorite Carmina Burana. Also on the program, an early Balanchine classic Allegro Brillante, and a world premiere from Ukrainian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, titled Wartime Elegy.

Global Majority Nights at The 5th Avenue Theatre across the 22/23 season. These performances are dedicated to inviting Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color to experience shows at The 5th together.

We are in the final stages of repairs and testing, and we are excited to reopen the bridge. We know the closure has created big challenges. Thank you for your patience and resilience.

Feel the power of love overflowing at this dazzling reimagining of The Wizard of Oz! With a soaring soul, R&B, and gospel score featuring hit songs "Brand New Day," "Ease on Down the Road," and "Home," this fun, fresh 5th Avenue Theatre production is a hit the whole family (ages 4+) will enjoy.

Recognizing that community-centered public libraries can play a unique role in addressing the teen mental health crisis, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded The Seattle Public Library a $249,743 grant for a three-year project titled “Creating Space for Teen Mental Health.”

The City of Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) is investing $1.9 million for tenant improvement grants that will support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Through an open application process, the Tenant Improvement Fund will grant small businesses up to $100,000 to build out commercial spaces and make commercial improvements more affordable.

Seattle JazzED is a music education nonprofit, and they’re expanding their fall programming for young people across the region. Founded to teach and honor the great legacy of jazz music, their goal continues of making sure kids experience the life-changing magic of teamwork, creativity, and confidence that comes from dedicated education in the undoubtedly quintessential Black American art form. 

Seattle Opera pops the cork on its monumental 2022/23 season with Gaetano Donizetti’s delightful summer sipper, The Elixir of Love. After a beautiful film production in 2020, this colorful comedy returns to McCaw Hall in a new-to-Seattle production with an intoxicating mix of ingredients: zany characters, lovestruck buffoonery, and a happy ending—all set to sparkling music perfect for a summer’s day.

One Vibe is proud to unveil the eighth annual Madaraka Festival on Saturday, August 13th and Sunday August 14th. Madaraka Festival brings Africa’s finest musicians and creatives together with world renowned artists and innovators for a celebration of music and civic purpose. The festival will be held from 2:00 pm at Pier 62 at Waterfront Park in Seattle, Washington where we will have live musical performances, African food, and art!

The Seattle Storm recognized KD Hall during a halftime ceremony on July 24 as part of their Believe in Women Night presented by Symetra. Hall was joined by Ljeoma Oluo and Joycelyn Thomas. The event is part of Force4Change, the franchise’s social justice platform. 

As voters began to receive their ballots over the weekend, King County Elections began receiving reports of suspicious and intimidating signs placed near ballot drop boxes, warning voters that the drop box is “under surveillance.” The signs feature a QR code for placing “election incident” reports. Located around King County, these signs appear to be a targeted effort undertaken by party-affiliated activists to intimidate and dissuade voters from using secure ballot drop boxes.

The rechristened Community Home at Beacon Center now offers more aid to young adults experiencing homelessness and new programming with a mental health focus to serve young adults ages 18-24 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. The Day Program opened on July 11. The new programming expands activities at the center which also serves as an overnight shelter from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily. 

The Seattle Community Police Commission (CPC) is disappointed in the inquest’s findings in the fatal shooting of Charleena Lyles’ by Seattle police officers. The CPC hoped that the new reformed inquest would produce a better process where the coroner’s office would provide facts on Lyles’s shooting, and that her family would be able to participate.

The following statement is from Karen Koehler, attorney for the family of Charleena Lyles after today’s findings of Seattle officers who were found justified in Charleena Lyles’ death: “Charleena Lyles’ family rejects the ultimate findings from the inquest jury today. During the 7 days of the inquest proceeding a solid and unflinching blue wall justified each and every action of its officers. The process focused only on the officers’ states of mind. Not on Ms. Lyles. ” Read more.

SEATTLE (June 28) - The Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced awards totaling $1.5 million to support the leadership and cultural education of more than 1,500 Black, Indigenous, immigrant, refugee, and youth of color in Seattle.

STG & Broadway at The Paramount present HADESTOWN at The Paramount Theatre July 12 - 17, 2022.

Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always.

When COVID-19 hit, Jhitana Ball wondered how she was going to keep her 11-year-old daughter Princess motivated and engaged as school facilities closed and on-line learning began. She discovered the Scholars Project through a friend and signed her up. 

Beneath the umbrella of the King/Pierce County-based Life Enrichment Group (L.E.G.), the Scholars Project offers academic support and enrichment activities for youth of color in middle school. Upon completion, students embrace a new perspective and are ready for academic success. 

Seattle Center hosts the third annual Taking B(l)ack Pride, a day-long event focused on empowering Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) queer and trans community members through a festival-like setting on Saturday, June 25th at the Mural Amphitheatre.

Seattle small businesses can now apply for the Digital Sales Access Program — a partnership between the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED), Comcast, Kay Tita, Square, and Quickbooks, that aims to remove digital access barriers that negatively impact small businesses.

Happy Pride Month and upcoming Juneteenth!

This is your friendly neighborhood King County Councilmember, Girmay Zahilay. I wanted to check in, let you know what my office has been working on, and invite your input so we can work together to build a safe, thriving region for all of us.