Got Green?, a program of the White Center CDA, produced a hip hop video highlighting the importance of green jobs, green initiatives, and energy conservation. This video debuted at the 2009 White Center Community Summit in December; featuring longstanding Seattle hip hop figureheads Silver Shadow D, Laura “Piece” Kelley, and more.

After watching that, check out Got Green’s partner organization Green For All’s hip hop video, The Dream Reborn (My President is Green):

Pictured is Tony Rago, White Center PAL Boxing Club coach, whose club was featured on the Seahawks website. Hawks Cornerback Josh Wilson visited the center to check out and support the youth activities at the center. Go Hawks!

Watch the full video here

The White Center CDA staff, along with parents and children from the CDA’s Family Connections program, were featured on a segment on King 5 Television regarding their Community Cafe program!

Bao Nguyen, a member of the White Center CDA’s 2009 Resident Fellowship program.

Edna Noga, Family Connections coordinator.

Laushonda Barquet, Family Connections program assistant.

Patricia Valasco, a Family Connections parent ambassador.

Sarah Weir, White Center CDA’s director of Family Development.

Here is the article, with a link to the video at the end:

Learning for LIfe: Community Cafe brings parents, neighborhood together

by CAM JOHNSON / KING 5 News

Posted on November 18, 2009 at 2:41 PM

WHITE CENTER - It’s probably not the cafe scene you’re used to in Seattle.  Sure, there’s coffee and pastries.  They’re even free.  But the meeting, this time, is in the back of a school house.  It’s called a Community Cafe.

Organized by the White Center Community Development Association, Community Cafes invite parents from the neighborhood for a casual chat and supportive company.  Small groups of parents gather around decorative, inviting tables.  In the middle of the table is a big notepad and some pens.  A host at the gathering offers more than just coffee.  She also offers up a question about parenting.

What is special or precious about the first years of a child’s life?  That’s the first question offered.  Parents get busy with their answers.  Conversation starts slowly, but then picks up and becomes more lively.  Parents learn they’re truly in a supportive environment.  Parents start writing down some answers on the notepad that seem to represent a common thread.

“Ask Grandma!”  That’s one bit of wisdom a parent shares on paper.  Parents around the table all agree that when you’re confused about parenting or what to do, parents should feel okay about reaching out and asking for guidance from people who’ve been there. People like Grandma.

You can hear bits of conversation from each table.

“They’re always asking, asking, asking.  So many questions.  Sometimes its hard to answer all the questions they have,” said one woman, struggling a little with her English.

At another table, a mother shares her surprise that her toddler was learning her letters so easily.  “She said “M,” that’s for McDonald’s,” said the woman to the laughter of the other parents at her table.  “She was so little, but already learning so much,” she said.

No heavy subjects come up today.  But parents walk away feeling a little better about the job they’re doing.

“It gives me confidence to hear about the other parents’ experience,” said Patricia Velasco, a mother of two young children. “I think that helps me to be a better mother.”

The Community Cafe also helps a neighborhood like White Center build community bridges.

“We have people from so many different backgrounds, so many cultures,” said Sarah Weir, the Family Development Director for the White Center Community Development Association. “But that’s the beauty of it.  We can have different cultures, different beliefs but we all want what’s best for our children.  It’s easy to make a connection.”

Every community has its problems.  But that “connection” may help parents and neighborhoods find common solutions.

The hope is that more neighborhoods will adopt Community Cafes, bringing neighbors and parents together.

Source: King5 News (click on the link to watch the video!)

Click on the photo above to watch the video!

15 minute documentary profiling The Aztecs soccer team of White Center, Washington. The White Center Teen Program as part of King County Parks and Recreation founded the team in 2007 to provide alternative after school activities for “at risk” youth. This short doc focuses on the strong personalities, the importance of the program and the activities of a season in the life of The Aztecs. For more information contact heathward@hotmail.com

Today, 4 staff members of the White Center CDA attended the Mayoral Candidate Debate between Mike McGinn and Joe Mallahan at the Cinerama theater in downtown Seattle. After introductions and answering a couple questions from the moderator, the first question from the audience was about annexation, coming from our staff member Virgil Domaoan.

Watch the video here. Virgil’s question comes in around 26:30.

What are your thoughts about the debate? What are your thoughts about their answers about annexation?

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Check out this video courtesy of our community partner, Youth Media Institute (YMI), featuring talented White Center youth (in front and behind the camera). Check out youthmediaseattle.org for more info about YMI. Happy Tuesday!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO!

Yesterday, a groundbreaking ceremony for the pathway to connect the Greenbridge neighborhood with the 16th Avenue business district turned out dozens of spectators, community partners and elected officials. The third video features White Center CDA executive director Aileen Balahadia regarding her thoughts on the project. For even more video, and information about the project, visit the King County Parks Blog.

On Monday, June 22, Got Green youth and their community parters (White Center CDA included), attended Seattle City Council to advocate for living wage jobs for low-income families and youth. Got Green produced 1,000 pledge cards from the community - our White Center neighborhood included - and handed them all over to the City Council to encourage support for stimulus dollars to go straight to low-income communities.

Watch Got Green advocates on the Seattle Channel to learn more!

On Saturday, March 14, a group of youth representing White Center/Burien/Boulevard Park/West Seattle hosted the first ever Building Our Own Movement (BOOM) youth summit at the White Center Salvation Army. As a result of the summit, these youth have followed up on various projects, including these video projects put together during spring break. You’ll notice that Virgil and Ian, both of the Community Building team at White Center CDA were interviewed for this project. Enjoy both of the videos!

PART ONE:

PART TWO:

Videos courtesy of Youth Media Institute and SCAN Youth Media.