Fathers and Sons Together (FAST) recently hosted a Barbershop Chat, Chew & Play event at the Rainier Beach Community Center, giving youth and adults fresh haircuts and the chance to build bonds with local vendors and community members.

According to Deaunte Damper, the community engagement specialist for the King County Regional Office of Violence Prevention, the gathering helped shift the Rainier Beach community’s negative energy in light of recent acts of gun violence in the neighborhood. "There's a narrative in Rainier Beach around our trauma... but what I see here is our brilliancy, our love for one another,” he said.

The gathering brought together local leaders, including community advocate Myron Curry, Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin, State Senator Rebecca Saldaña, and Detective Denise “Cookie” Bouldin, all of whom emphasized the importance of organizations like FAST in healing communities.

"When we're talking about Fathers and Sons Together, this organization has really been the heart of Rainier Beach,” Damper said.

Learn more about FAST fastfathersandsonstogether.org