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.

By: Anne Stadler

Beloved community is alive and well at Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park’s indoor park!
Picture a sizeable common space, under an atrium that lets in natural light. It is ringed with locally owned cafes, and next to a bookstore. People talk and eat around a motley assortment of tables. Some work at laptop computers.

Two middle schoolers play chess on a floor chess board with large chess pieces. A four year old pushes his train around a small track on the table while waiting for Mom to bring food. Seniors play Mah Jong at several tables. A book club is discussing their latest book at another. Up at the stage, sound is being adjusted for a flute player, a guitarist, and a drummer who will be playing some- time during the next half hour. That’s pretty typical of Third Place Commons in Lake Forest Park.
 
I live in Lake Forest Park—a town of about 12,000 people on the very northern edge of Seattle, Washington. Our town center, the mall, was a dreary place that never lived up to its potential–until 1998 when Ron Sher leased space in the Lake Forest Park Town Centre. He opened Third Place Books to which was attached a large commons space with a stage and five locally owned cafes. He was inspired by sociologist Ray Oldenberg’s observation that humans need three places: their home, their work place, and a common public space where they can be with others.
 
My family and I can walk to Third Place Commons for a staggering variety of offerings from community and near-by groups. And our community is enriched by the fact that people from all over the area come to the Commons to enjoy its free amenities. Private groups can also gather in the Stadler Room at the back of the
Commons. Music and performing arts include offerings from Lake Forest Park El- ementary School students, a community band, Northwest Ballet School, Shoreline Community College Jazz Ensemble, and many more. Community partners have collaborated in offerings as diverse as a Gardening Fair, a Care Conversation on Intercultural Communication; grandparent support and education; Par- ent/Caregiver/Child playgroups; Teen Book Club: Pizza and books; Healthcare Fairs, Transportation Fairs, Playback Theater telling the stories of audience mem- bers, and an LFP History Project! Last year more than 900 formal events hap- pened at the Commons!
 
From May through mid-October, we buy fresh local food at the Friends sponsored Sunday Farmers Market. The Farmer’s Market attracts people from all economic circumstances through its offering of market dollars and other financial support.
 
Third Place Commons, originally conceived as an adjunct to the business of Third Place Books, is run by an unusual partnership. Citizens, non-profits, mall businesses, and local government all got together with Third Place Books to make the Commons a real community place. A three-legged partnership includes businesses, government and citizen groups all working together in the non-profit Friends of Third Place Commons.
 
AND, day and night, I meet people at Third Place for work and/or coffee, bump into them for conversation and news, listen to an author read from a new book, or just sit with my latte and read a weekly newspaper!
 
For many years I felt my town was only a suburb, with real “life” happening in Se- attle. Two factors have changed my experience of Lake Forest Park. One is the ex- istence of Third Place Commons in the heart of our local economic and political life. The other is the spirit of “Yes!” coming from Friends of Third Place Com- mons. That “Yes!” invites the gift exchange that is the root meaning of the word “community”! Countless compassionate actions happen in the Commons, weaving the web of the civic culture that sustains community. Instead of being a property owner in an accidental suburb of Seattle, thanks to Third Place Commons, I am now a member of a community in Lake Forest Park, Washington!

By: Reed Price

The Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap Interfaith Council hosted Bill and Joyce Ostling, whose 43-year-old son died at the hands of Bainbridge Police officers, along with Lieutenant Phil Hawkins of the department.

The meeting, in September 2013, came three years after the confrontation that ended their son’s life and midway through the Ostling’s efforts to press the Washington state Legislature to require better training of the police departments in working with the mentally ill.


The Ostlings shared a frustration and anger unchanged by the intervening years, describing how their efforts to intervene were rebuffed by officers that night and detailing how they were forced to stay in their home while the officers and their son, Doug, clashed in his apartment – mere steps away in an apartment above the family’s garage.

After the Ostlings described how events unfolded that night, and the confusion and distance they felt from many—not all—of Island residents after the tragedy, Lt. Hawkins spoke of the remorse he felt on behalf of the police department.

The Ostlings, who pressed a federal lawsuit in the case an received a $1 million settlement, described how they then turned to legislation that would require police departments across the state—large and small—to train officers in how to intervene in crises without escalating them.

Bill and Joyce asked the Bainbridge Island/North Kitsap Interfaith Council members to write letters in support of their legislation, which had passed but without necessary funding.

In 2015—two years later—Gov. Jay Inslee would eventually sign the bill into law, then known as the Douglas M. Ostling Act (link here).

Photo by Tad Souter for the Kitsap Sun

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.