The Music in the Plaza & Backpack Giveaway event in White Center, Washington, recently brought community together at Greenbridge Plaza to celebrate culture and support local youth preparing for the 2026/27 academic year. 

Jointly hosted by the White Center Community Development Association (CDA) and the King County Housing Authority (KCHA), the gathering combined musical performances with practical mutual aid, distributing backpacks and supplies to local students. White Center CDA Marketing Manager Quynh Trinh noted that the initiative aimed to create a sustainable ecosystem where families felt connected, celebrated, and supported by institutional networks.

The event highlighted an operational partnership between regional institutions committed to public housing and community development. KCHA Resident Services leaders Debra Grant and Lisa Galvin said that bringing people together in shared civic spaces like Greenbridge Plaza allows residents from all walks of life to form meaningful connections.

Beyond providing academic supplies, the event cultivated belonging and community resilience through live music and arts. Integrating local artists into resource delivery elevated standard civic outreach into a celebration of identity and shared joy. 

Learn more about White Center CDA at www.wccda.org 

Learn more about the King County Housing Authority at www.kcha.org 

Video: Dylan Wiest