Peacetrees Vietnam builds beloved community that spans the globe.  For twenty years, this Seattle-based organization has brought teams of Americans and Vietnamese together to repair the wounds of war.  These teams restore the ecology that was obliterated in Quang Tri Province, where the United States blasted a twenty mile wide swath from Laos to the sea, in order to interdict the North Vietnamese army.   They also have built a village for 100 families, schools, libraries, and have assisted many landmine victims in receiving treatment and repairing their lives.
 
As they have restored the land, American veterans and their kin have met with their Vietnamese counterparts to reconcile put to rest the wounds of body and spirit that the war brought about,  truly exemplifying the essential spirit of beloved community.

Peacetrees Vietnam
509 Olive Way  Suite 1226, Seattle WA 98101

By: Anne Stadler

The images on their Facebook page speak for themselves. Faces and voices of homeless people speaking directly to those who would listen and help.

We are a community for ending suffering on our streets. We do this by choosing to see the beauty of person in front of us, rather than the issue that overwhelms us.

Their online community extends to over 45 countries. It is raising awareness for those living without shelter and other basic needs by sharing photos and personal stories that highlight the beauty of persons.

You reach their small office by knocking on their window and entering the service entrance of the University Methodist Church, off the alley. The place is crammed with sleeping bags, bags of clothes and other assistance for people in need. Beloved community is their mission.

We all face homelessness if we don't wake up to the beauty in front of us. These folks are the canary in our planet's coal mine.

By: Anne Stadler

Kay Bullitt's home at 1125 Harvard East in Seattle has been the hub of beloved community since the 60s. When she passes, the land and buildings will become a city park.

Over the years the place has housed Shrimp Feeds, summer picnics, day camps mixing children of different races and ethnic backgrounds (sometimes the progeny of folks whose countries are at war with each other such as Israelis and Palestinians). Many significant activities have been birthed there: activities that have changed the character of Seattle, making it hospitable to people of all races and national origins: desegregating Seattle's schools, improving the quality of Seattle's educational system, starting Target Seattle and other efforts for peace and denouement with the Soviet Union, Peacetrees Vietnam.

At her 90th birthday celebration, a few hundred of the people who have benefited from her hospitality gathered there once again to celebrate her and the place of beloved community she's nurtured and hosted for Seattle since the 60s.

By: Anne Stadler

A stair winds up from the street level past a sculpture that welcomes you into the peace of the garden.

In a relatively small area, flowering trees bloom, native plants catch your eye. There is a P‐Patch garden on the level surface midway up the hill where volunteers and local neighbors till the soil. And chickens share space with humans in a place that has enviable views of Seattle and the surrounding area.

Danny Woo Garden is a place of beloved community that honors all its inhabitants.

Danny Woo Community Garden
620 S. Main Street, Seattle, WA 98104

By: Anne Stadler

"For over 40 years, El Centro de la Raza has been building Beloved Community for all Races. Started by a circle of Latinos/Latinas who occupied an unused school building on Beacon Hill so that the population of Mexican Americans living in Seattle could have a home base, El Centro has become a literal beacon of beloved community for all races, in the whole region and beyond.

The picture shows some key allies in that evolution: (from left) Bob Santos, founder of Interimidca; Enrique Cerna, cochair of the effort to build Plaza Roberto Maestas who broke new ground in local television; and Larry Gossett, an African- American firebrand in the 60s who is now a fixture on the King County Council.

El Centro models a culture of beloved community as it serves people from preschoolers to seniors, by providing the assistance they need to thrive." The walls are decorated with colorful murals and paintings. Today they have over 40 programs serving a very diverse community from pre-school children to seniors.

Due south of the original building, they've recently broken ground for Plaza Roberto Maestas, three mixed housing and commercial buildings clustered around a central plaza, named in honor of Founder, Roberto Maestas.

El Centro de la Raza
​2524 16th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144

By: Anne Stadler

From the street, you see a brick front, built into the hillside, with a colorful mask, a few half built objects and art supplies strewn around. The sign announces: Fremont Powerhouse—and powerhouse it is!

There’s no other place quite like it in the city. The Fremont Arts Council (FAC) runs it and people from all over the city use it. It was the “Powerhouse” for the BF Day Elementary School, from the days when the school was heated with coal and oil boilers. It became an art making space in the early 90’s, completely in keeping with the prevailing ethos of Fremont—the freest neighborhood in the city!
 
According to Denise, an artist who’s been around since the early days of the Powerhouse: “The Arts Council came into this space in 1992 or 93. We needed a permanent space. The school (behind it) had this empty building that hadn’t been used in decades. It was ¾ full of boilers. So with support from the school’s principal, FAC members wrote a grant, and helped dismantle the boilers and move them out.”
 
Now it’s used both inside and outside. Today, people are busy putting finishing touches on their Solstice Parade floats, puppets, and masks.
 
Denise: “Several times a year we have parades and festivals that honor the changing season. Right now it’s the summer solstice happening tomorrow, so this is a busy place.”
In addition to preparing for the summer Solstice Parade, there’s a winter solstice feast. People make hundreds of candles for the feasting tables, and headdresses for all the guests. Then they build installations. Much of that happens at the Power House as well as at the feasting space. And groups can reserve the Powerhouse to make their own stuff for celebrations.
 
Whatever you need for making things is here…or one of the volunteer helpers knows where you can get it. All art materials are donated.

Denise: “The Fremont Arts Council tries to promote the idea that everyone is an artist; some people just haven’t discovered that yet. One of FAC’s mottos is “Here, hold this.” Because when you hand a person a paintbrush or glue gun and encourage her, she often creates something she never dreamed of. People have met each other here, and gotten married, and had children. Barb Luecke, one of the Founders, says a sign of a successful parade is when someone falls in love.”
 
“The place is hugely forgiving. It’s not intimidating. It’s not like we’re making “ART” for a gallery walk! We’re making art because it’s a fun thing to do together. This isn’t to say there’s anything wrong with what people put together— obviously some gorgeous stuff gets made by people who are professional artists but a lot of the pieces are slapped together from paint and cardboard and are really charming!” Even the Fremont troll was made here. Now it’s a hulking tourist attraction up under the Aurora Bridge. People can contribute money up there to help keep the Powerhouse going. Money matters, but the real power of the Powerhouse is LOVE!
 
www.freemontartscouncil.org
Contact: [email protected]

Freemont Powerhouse
3940 Fremont Ave North
Seattle, WA 98103

By; John Hale

My family moved back into Seattle, we didn’t expect that we would still be as close to nature as we had been in the country, but how we were surprised.  Only blocks from our new home we discovered the Union Bay Natural Area, owned by the University of Washington and consisting of the Yesler Swamp, Botanic Gardens and the Center for Urban Horticulture.  Here we experience Beloved Community with every visit in our own neighborhood!
 
Walking the paths through this 90 acre tract brings to my heart and mind the Guiding Principles that move us to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the lives of all who dwell on Mother Earth:  Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we heal ourselves, our relationships and our world.  It is peaceful to be alone with your own pulse in such a natural setting, and the pathways are loops that form the circles of sacred practices.  Yet the environment is people-friendly and it has been easy to engage with neighbors and build new relationships.  Also, being in the city, there is also the connection to the hustle of daily life as evidenced by the view of Hwy 520 across the Bay, and the sight of Husky Stadium suggests the difficult conversations that are necessary to create a culture of compassion.  And that brings me to the Urban Horticultural Center which has meeting facilities open to the public and available to Compassionate Northwest at no charge due to our relationships with the University.  It is here that I envision holding our key planning sessions with community partners as Compassionate Northwest moves forward to achieve our mission:   To inspire, promote, connect and build community around collective action to address the challenges in the community that are the root causes of suffering.
 
This area became a marsh in 1916 when Lake Washington was lowered to create the Lake Washington Ship Canal.  For 50 years the area was used by the City of Seattle for residential and industrial solid waste.  In 1971 the State enlisted the University of Washington to protect and support this 90 acre tract and they have undertaken the restoration of the area to its original habitat.   The Union Bay Natural Area is now a public wildlife area and outdoor natural restoration laboratory for research, teaching and public service.   It is an important habitat and with 4 miles of shoreline, it is the second largest natural system left on Lake Washington. It is considered one of the best bird-watching sites in the city of Seattle, with over 200 species of birds having been sighted here.
 
Union Bay Natural Area, in my experience, is a gem for the city and reflects authentically the spirit and substance of “Beloved Community”.
 
The Center for Urban Horticulture is located at 3501 Ne 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105

By: Anne Stadler

Interfaith Community Sanctuary has been building Beloved Community since 1999 when they opened a small church in Ballard and began to form a community that welcomed people of all faiths and spiritual traditions. They promote peace through love and trusting relationships that truly honor the values and practices of all Eastern and Western religions. Their services are inspiring, their commitment to engage and serve the larger community is well known and their growing influence is drawn from the clarity of what they stand for:

As a community,
we endeavor to live in the openness of heart
and compassionate understanding
that embraces all life.

As a spiritual organization,
we are collectively organized to thrive through
listening, sharing, and caring for one another.

As individuals in awe of the Divine,
we support and respect one another’s
personal spiritual path and spiritual practices.

Our mission
to create a home of Love and Truth as a center of Light for all seekers of Divine Wisdom.
Our goal
to encourage personal growth in unconditional spiritual Love.

Our Vision
We are a truly interfaith community dedicated to healing and education.
We desire our Worship Celebrations and the life of the community to reflect our interfaith openness and welcoming spirit.
Through our openness, welcoming spirit, and mutual respect, we are a center for healing.

We Believe Interfaith Includes the Following:
We consider all faith and spiritual traditions as paths toward One God.
We believe each expression of God valuable.
We honor all expressions of God.
We welcome individuals from all faith and spiritual traditions.
We consider each person’s path valid for him or her.
We honor the personal path of each sincere, open, honest seeker.

We Offer the Following Affirmations:
We seek the truth and speak our truth without fear.
We are open to hearing and learning from each other.
We reflect on our interfaith vision and nurture it in our hearts.
We pray for the realization of our interfaith vision!

Their “place” is an historic building, the oldest continually operating church in Seattle.

Originally built in 1890, this small frame church shares its birth year with the City of Ballard. Constructed to serve what was the relatively new flock of the German Congregational Church led by Pastor Gottfried Graedel, a true traveling missionary of that era, it served as the house of worship for local German immigrant families for about ten years until it closed for lack of support. The Ballard School Board rented the building for a while as a schoolhouse, but it returned to its original intent as a church in 1904 when another German congregation led by Rev. E. Leutwein acquired the property for the St. Paul’s Evangelical Church. At that time, extensive repairs were undertaken, including the removal and replacement of the original tall steeple, which had become unsafe.

Over the years, other congregations have been housed in this historic building, each moving on to larger quarters and turning it over to other newer congregations. The building was purchased by the New Age Christian Church in 1973.
In 1981, Landmark designation was approved by the City of Seattle for this structure. Ordinance Number: 110352.

Today as home to Interfaith Community Sanctuary, it remains a fine example of the small 19th and early 20th century community churches of the region. http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/preservation/n.htm

Interfaith Community Sanctuary
1763 NW 62nd Street
Seattle, Washington 98107

By: Anne Stadler

"Empowering Leaders ….Advancing Ideas."  That is what you read as you encounter 21 Progress on the web at 21progress.org.

Their mission is building a 21st Century Movement for equity and justice. They work with hard working people, particularly young people from ages 18—25, to support their development as transformational leaders who are claiming their place in a more just society that includes the vast diversity of people settled in the NW region of the United States.

21 Progress is an inspiring legacy of the Retail Clerks Local 1001 (now a part of UFCW21) who first built affordable housing for union retirees and seniors. Proceeds from the sale of that building funded this new organization to continue the Union’s contribution to social equity and economic justice . Among their current programs is Fearless Asians for Immigration Reform and a new curriculum for transformative leadership.

By Anne Stadler

It’s a bright place, a colorful place. It feels friendly, and smells like shampoo.

As you come up to the counter, a smiling person greets you, takes your coat, and offers you a cup of tea or cold water. That’s only the beginning. You’ve arrived in an environmentally friendly salon—a place that is painted with Zero VOC paint, with reused mirrors, cupboards, doors. They use and sell environmentally responsible Aveda products, and partner with Puget Soundkeeper Alliance to raise awareness of threatened water resources in our region. The Mission statement on the wall isn’t just words on a piece of paper.
 
According to Della, who’s been working here off and on since 2003, “Our mission reflects our values. We want to make sure that people are welcome, that they feel at home.” The feeling of home comes right from the center. Della continues, “We have a very good team. In my work experience, this is the first place that my bosses are actually part of. They help us feel comfortable with ourselves and with other people. It really feels like home. We’re all different. We have our agreements and disagreements but we always work things out.” When the Salon opened in the Forest Park Center, it was a homecoming of sorts for co-owner Douglas Carl. But he didn’t return alone. Janiece Hoggatt, his partner in business and life, is the practical visionary of the team. She joined forces with Douglas because of his big heart and commitment to service.
 
The Salon is an Apprenticeship Salon, one of the few in Washington State. After apprentices finish, they are prepared to take state boards and start their professional careers. Some of their team are professionals who have immigrated. Their employment at A Better Day Salon has helped them get credentialed in the United States For a nine person operation, it’s a very international place.
 
Della: “One woman is from Romania. When she started, she barely spoke English. I’m Vietnamese. One of our people is Iranian. A former staff person was Japanese.” Some of the team have signed the Charter for Compassion, and they all take their responsibility for compassionate service very seriously.
 
The salon supports literacy in the local elementary schools, providing dictionaries for every 4th grader. They sell handmade jewelry made by a Fair Trade artists coop in Africa, as well as cards by local artists. Last year the salon was named an outstanding community-minded local business by the Lake Forest Park Rotary. Men women and children are loyal customers. Della: “Our oldest customer was over 100. We used to go to her place to do her hair. Our customers’ ages range from infants on up. We have very loyal clients.” Not surprising for a place that is practicing compassionate action, every day, to make your day a better day.