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.

By: Silvana Hale

Felix Ngoussou , who came to Seattle from Chad, through Libya, Nigeria, Virginia and Oregon in his continuous efforts to help refugees, decided in 2013 to invest all his savings in the Lake Chad Cafe. He envisioned an inviting community place where people could get together without paying a fee and where they could find good food and develop friendships. It was a very strong and generous commitment that overcame all the hurdles imposed by the city of Seattle. Felix uses his savings to pay for the bills, and prays that God will give him good health so that he can continue to support his vision, month by month.

With his welcoming smile, good food and quality beverages, he is there almost every night to help the community in countless ways. His menu includes among others, a popular salmon salad, Moroccan couscous, a superb Louisiana seafood platter, and his prices are reasonable. If you do not know the place, come sometime and be ready for a surprise. His place is home for musicians, artists and trivia nights. His clientele includes residents from Squire Place, Pratt Legacy, Anderson Ernestine, Franz Bread, Yesler Community Center, Seattle Community Center, Seattle Vocational Institute's student and instructors and many more.

Based on his successful experience with education with a BS in Economy, MS in Technology Management, MBA in Finance and advanced degree in Minority Business Development, and his awareness of the impact on his life,he helps young people to develop a sense of entrepreneurship as a pathway toward their dreams. He focuses especially in young women and is a strong believer that if we had more social workers we would need fewer police. At the present time he is trying to convince owners of abandoned houses in the Central District to let him train people to create a decentralized Pike Place Market where they can express themselves and enrich the neighborhood through art, artisan works, gardening and horticulture.
 
He hopes to convince the Office of Economic Development to fund grants to keep streets clean and to develop business.  He applies all his strength, intelligence and determination to help other people any way that he can.  Felix is truly a compassionate person who is helping to create a Beloved Community; he should be honored as such and supported in his noble efforts.
 
Lake Chad Café
1712 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA  98144

By Anne Stadler

Nanci Main and Jimella Lucas were a legendary partnership pioneering Northwest cuisine for over 22 years at the Ark Restaurant in Nahcotta, Wa., and for six years at their cafe. Jimella passed in November 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer, and is now “cooking for the angels”. Nanci is continuing their tradition of delicious food, creating beloved community with every plateful.

You enter an intimate colorful room, with a snug pub area on your left, and dining tables covered with colorful provencal linens on your right. Nanci greets you as an old friend. The staff is very professional, caring, and puts you at your ease. Your food is sourced from local producers, fishers, oyster harvesters, whom they know and value. One of your servers might be a local young person who is just entering restaurant work, mentored by professional chefs who have won many awards for their superb food and service.
 
Nanci and Jimella’s is a radiant center of compassionate action. Their light extends far beyond the Long Beach peninsula of Washington State.