When I heard about Civic Bootcamp, I was immediately intrigued and but sure what to expect. I have been volunteering my whole life. I did not need a "bootcamp" to get motivated crossed my mind. However the event was located close to home and the agenda was especially interesting. Being a freelance professional, I also qualified for a scholarship which was another win !
It was a rainy and full day of great networking and learning that started at Mohai (Museum of History and Industry) ! After coffe and an opening speech from the Director of Mohai, Leonard Garfield, we were on foot !
Mohai
Our 1st stop on the tour was the Center for Wooden Boats which my family and I are a member of. This great non profit has inexpensive programs to teach youth sailing and brings in these eager sailors from all over Wa every summer. There is also a free Sunday sail and much more ! Mike Mcquaid of the SLU Community Council gave us a great talk about this landmark and many others throughout the day.
The Center for Wooden Boats. Recreate on a historical waterway, Lake Union, named for bringing the Puget Sound and Lake Wa. together.
How to create community in the heart of a tech neighborhood ? There is much more to SLU Amazon. We stopped at Madart which is a hot bed for creative art exhibits and trys to lure in the workforce from behind their smart phones.
Mad Art on Westlake Ave. Put down your phone and come in !
Old with the new ! Look-up. SLU is incorporating old with new with some creative developers.
Highlights for me included learning about historic preservation and some specific projects as well as attending a church I did not know was also a homeless shelter, Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Cascade Neighborhood near SLU.
The nearby YMCA Cascade People's Center was also a win for me due to the many outdoor youth programs it offers. Nearby Mirabella, retirement home, also reminded me that there was an energetic group of seniors in SLU and a stop at Cafe Torino reminded me that there were non-corporate small businesses that needed our support !
The neighborhood was much more than Amazon. Along the way I had great conversations with other "uber volunteers." 1 women had traveled all the way from Bremerton to incorporate findings from the day into her own neighborhood. There was also a group of lawyers there to see another side of the neighborhood as well as corporate employees learning about how their companies might help build community. We toured on foot and on a street car in and out of buildings and listed to interesting speakers. We also met councilwomen, Sally Bagshaw, who spoke during lunch at the church and emphasized contacting her at any time for support with a cause.
Lunch with Councilwomen Sally Bagshaw
My favorite speaker was Kathy Sakahara, from the League of Women Voters, who honed in on the importance of picking 1 cause rather than many in order to make the most traction.
This is now my goal for 2017
Kathy mentioned it was very easy to get stuck on the little things.
The biggest surprise ? I was one of the few locals that attended which was eye opening on the importance of promoting my neighbors to connect and become involved citizens.
Final takeaway: Start small and grow an issue and START !
Agenda for the Day !
- 9 am Welcome, Introductions and Orientation
MOHAI Conference Room - 9:45 am Presentation – History of South Lake Union
- 10:20 am Presentation – Historic Preservation
- 10:40 am Walking tour – South Lake Union (with Streetcar Ride)
- 12:20 pm Luncheon Discussion with Community leaders
Immanuel Lutheran Church
- 1:45 pm Walking Tour – Cascade Neighborhood
- 3:15 pm Workshops – Civic Engagement
- 4:20 pm Civic Engagement in Your Community
- 4:45 pm Closing and Evaluation
- 5 pm Happy Hour – Row House Café
More Info
https://seattlecityclub.org/home/our-programs/civic-boot-camp/
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