Blog editor’s note: The following letter was written in response to an opinion piece in the January edition of Shorewood on the Sound Community Club’s newsletter. A copy of this piece was stapled to the White Center Chamber of Commerce’s agenda for their Tuesday, March 9 meeting. You can also read the original piece above.

March 9, 2010

Shorewood on the Sound Community Club

Kevin DeLashmutt, Editor

Michael Armstrong, President

Delivered via email to: kevinde@msn.com

RE: January 2010 Shorewood News edition

Dear Mr. DeLashmutt and Mr. Armstrong:

My organization received a copy of your latest Shorewood News edition at the March 9th, 2010 White Center Chamber of Commerce meeting and were quite disturbed by one of the articles titled “Dog-doo doings….Ewww.”

We are an organization formed by local residents to promote a vibrant neighborhood and high quality of life for White Center residents. We value treating everyone with dignity and acting with cultural competency by respecting the values, history and culture of our diverse communities. We also overwhelmingly believe in our community’s strengths and operate with an open partnership approach to our work.

This is why we were offended by your remark stating that “At our next community club meeting we will be discussing penalties for anyone caught not cleaning after their pets. Something equally if not more egregious, like maybe catapulting flaming bags of poo through their windows, or sending their beloved pets to White Center to be recycled (eaten).”

We do not find this remark funny- we find it offensive, as this stereotype is obviously applied to the communities of color in our diverse White Center. It is also abusive to our goal to market and promote our wonderful, hard-working, and largely immigrant owned small businesses and restaurants.

We appreciate community residents like yourselves getting together to improve your neighborhood. We’d implore you to please do so without dragging down a neighbor, especially one like White Center that has done so much to counter such negativity over the last few years.

Additionally, we’d welcome the opportunity for further conversation with your group as part of a larger North Highline community. Please contact me at aileen@wccda.org or 206-694-1802 x164. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Aileen Balahadia

White Center CDA Executive Director

Karen Veloria

White Center CDA Board President & Blvd. Park resident

Heather Downey

White Center CDA Board Vice President & Shorewood resident

Billy was featured in the White Center CDA's Neighborhood Action Plan, which you can download at the "Neighborhood Plan" tab on our website. Image above is copyright of White Center CDA and cannot be used to repost.

Samway Supermarket was among some of the businesses highlighted in this wonderful piece written by Hugo Kugiya for the Seattle Times. They even quoted Billy (pictured above) in the article:

“…Billy, works most days. He was born and raised in Louisiana, and speaks with a bayou drawl. He has learned friendly phrases in a half-dozen languages so he can properly address his customers.

‘I can speak a little,’ Billy Yim says. ‘Just enough to make them smile.’”

Got Green, a program of the White Center CDA, is hosting its first open house on Wednesday, March 17!

Expect food, entertainment, multimedia presentations and the chance to network with Got Green and their community partners on how to support Green jobs, Green initiatives, youth, low-income communities of color and more.

Child care is available - this event is open and free to the public.

Please see flyer above for more information.

Attention youth and students! This year’s Youth Summit planning is underway, so if you’d like to get involved and/or if you’re looking for service learning hours, please contact estevan@youthmediaseattle.org. Youth Media Institute and other youth organizations at Youngstown have been longtime partners and supporters of White Center CDA. Last year, the youth summit was held in White Center, and this year it will include all of our South Seattle communities, so expect a larger event and even more fun!

Photo courtesy of King County Parks blog.

From King County Parks regarding the new playground at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center:

“The new playground at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center is now officially OPEN! Featuring some very groovy Scandinavian-designed equipment for kids aged 2-5 and 5-12, there are slides, swings, and lots of spinny things. And of course, safety surfacing so you don’t get hurt when you fall down and go boom.”

Thanks to Darlene Sellers from the Teen Program for giving the White Center CDA a heads up about this!

This was sent to us from Darlene Sellers, White Center Teen Program Recreation Coordinator at King County Parks:

“Thank you all for your continued support of the White Center Teen Program Aztec Soccer Team! The program is continuing to grow with over thirty committed players and two competitive teams. We are pleased to share that the younger team is playing in the U15 championship game this Saturday at 1:00 at Starfire sports complex (Interurban Ave S & Fort Dent Way, Tukwila). If by chance you happen to be in the Tukwila neighborhood this weekend - we’d love to see you there. The game runs for a total of 45 minutes and will be played indoors on field 2. Admission is free but Starfire will most likely be collecting $5 for parking. Thanks again for your support and please have a great weekend”

Go Aztecs! If you missed the video documentary on the team, click here to watch it.

Funding is available for facade improvements in Downtown White Center!

The program aims to:
Beautify Downtown White Center
Strengthen our local businesses
Increase public safety
Build pride in our community

The White Center Façade Grant program is designed to improve the appearance of the business district by encouraging property and/or business owners to make physical improvements in their storefronts. The White Center CDA will offer a grant to help offset the costs of the improvements. In some cases, the grant may pay for the majority of the work. This program will take place from February 2010 - July 2010. The program is administered by the White Center CDA.

Program Goals
• Stimulate economic activity and increase business viability through good design visible to customers, neighboring merchants and residents.
• Renew or improve the exterior of businesses in a manner that recaptures the integrity of the buildings’ design and character.
• Enhance the shoppers’ experience of the commercial district.
• Improve neighborhood safety.
• Encourage investment in the neighborhood.

Eligible projects include:
Non structural building improvements such as new signs, new awnings, painting, replacement of doors and windows, new lighting or lighting improvements, removal of bars on storefront windows.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE APPLICATION BY CLICKING HERE.

Please help us spread the word!

Your time and commitment can change a child’s future

TechStart is a free after-school program for students in 1st through 8th grade. The focus of TechStart is providing technology and academic education to underserved children of color. Technology Access Foundation is in need of Classroom support in White Center and South Seattle.

Volunteers support the Teacher by answering questions, keeping students on task and determining which students need extra support in the areas of Science, Technology, math and reading.

This opportunity is great experience for those seeking a career in teaching.

Also this position is ideal for volunteers who enjoy working with younger children, are passionate about technology, and are looking to be part of a dynamic and diverse learning community.

Please respond with any question or inquiries. Here is a link to our Website with more information on volunteering.
http://www.techaccess.org/Partners/volunteers.html