Stewart Wong

Artist with Purple Moon Design

Artist Stewart Wong is from Oahu, Hawaii. He is Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), Chinese and Russian ancestry. His mixed media craft and artistry spans from two-dimensional works to three-dimensional constructs and sculpture, including large scale public art installations. His work reflects his knowledge and experience melding craft with technology, artistic applications and techniques in differing concepts and methods with low and high technology. Architecture, civilizations, history, and world travels inspire Wong’s work. He is influenced by the arts and crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work is also inspired by his curiosity of the built and natural environment, the structure and mechanics of those environments and the diversity and complexity that exist within.Relocating to the Pacific Northwest from Hawaii in the 1980s imposed a cultural shift and environment change which has been transformational. This transition influences and informs his work and propels him to produce works that acknowledge, commemorate, and embrace his multi ethnic identity, heritage and experiences. Our contemporary social justice climate compelled Wong to shift focus from studio work to social justice, historic and culturally informed public artworks.“I am evermore compelled to continue in social justice work as an AAPI through my creativity to address our continuing struggles and conflicts and to be one of many voices in support of the community.”

Black Collectivity - A Practice of Return

Dancers

Black Collectivity is a collaborative project developed by Nia-Amina Minor, David Rue, marco farroni, and Akoiya Harris. A Practice of Return (premier in April 2023) is a celebratory archival practice conceptualized by the Black Collectivity project. A Practice of Return weaves together embodied knowledge and research in pursuit of ‘return,’ a practice of looking back to see where you are. This program is the result of a research collaboration inspired by the ongoing legacy of Black dance artists in Seattle beginning with Syvilla Fort.

Photo Credit: Chloe Collyer Instagram – @chloetry www.chloecollyer.com/

Ebony Welborn

Director of Corporate Engagement, Sea Potential

Ebony grew up on the farm lands of South Carolina where she played in the creek with her brother catching frogs and dragonflies. Those moments led to her wanting to be a marine biologist. Committed to the dream as a middle schooler, she kept that in the front of her mind. Not until college was she presented opportunities to engage in the career. However, she was eager all the same. Majoring in Environmental Studies in college, she took an unique route. Instead of focusing on the academic path into marine biology, she focused on experiences based in marine science. Ebony acquired her Advanced Open Water Certification, worked in environmental education and wildlife rehabilitation in the southern most parts of Florida, was a guide in a marine science summer camp, and continued to take opportunities based around water. In 2019, she joined EarthCorps, an environmental restoration non-profit based in Seattle. She got to learn restoration practices for many habitats including salmon habitat. While at EarthCorps, she realized she wanted to carve a path for more BIPOC to have a reciprocal relationship with water. Ebony is passionate about facilitating joyous moments in nature for all, working with youth, and creating opportunities. In particular, you’ll find Ebony talking about scuba diving or sup touring! Let her know if you need a water adventure buddy!

Savannah Smith

Director of Youth Engagement, Sea Potential

Savannah is someone who sees the world through intersectionality and often finds herself evoking catharsis through a variety of creative activities and vulnerable conversations. She finds excitement and expansion in trying new things and is passionate about fostering curiosity, illuminating opportunity, and engaging the heart. Savannah’s day job is working as the Co-Founder and Director of Youth Engagement at Sea Potential. Healing centered work is at the forefront of Savannah’s mind and she aims to highlight BIPOC perspectives and cultural resilience as she navigates life.

Jourdan Imani Keith

Poet

Seattle Civic Poet 2019 -2022, featured on NPR and Forbes magazine, 2022 US Water Alliance Outstanding Artist and recognized as a Black Arts Living Legacy Jourdan Imani Keith is the founder of Urban Wilderness Project and the Women and Whales First: Poetry in a Climate of Change campaign.

Jae Eun Kim

Artist and Writer

Jae Eun Kim (they/them), is a mixed Korean printmaker and writer who explores themes of futurism, diaspora, connection and mysticism through various mediums. They communicate these themes through speculative fiction, poetry, performance, visual and fiber arts.

Rasheena Fountain

Writer

Rasheena Fountain is a published writer from the west side of Chicago and PhD student in English at the University of Washington, with a focus on Black environmental memory. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Washington and MAEd in Urban Environmental Education from Antioch University Seattle in partnership with IslandWood. Her work has been published in the Black Embodiments Studio journal, Jelly Bucket, swamp pink, You Are Here: The Journal of Creative Geography, the Natural Resources Defense Council blog, and more. Fountain received a 2021 Honorable Mention from the Trillium Arts “Miss Sarah” Fellowship for Black Women Writers and was a Finalist for the Solstice Magazine 2022 Stephen Dunn Poetry Prize for her poem “Not an ‘other’ Climate Poem”. Fountain’s forthcoming book Starfish Blues: A Memoir will be published with Chin Music Press in Spring 2024.

Sierra Parsons

Community Organizer, Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute

Sierra Parsons is a community organizer who works and lives in southeast Seattle. She helps to lead WA-BLOC, a community-based organization rooted in the Rainier Beach neighborhood. Some of Sierra’s work includes advocating for and designing restorative alternatives to youth incarceration in King County, disrupting the relationship between police and Seattle Public Schools, and fighting for tenant rights to hinder displacement amongst a coalition of other community organizers and local political leaders. Sierra is invested in cultivating intergenerational leadership and elevating youth voice. She shares Ella Baker’s belief that knowledge of Black history is the foundation of grassroots collective action. In her free time, Sierra enjoys learning how to computer program, eating mac and cheese, and occasionally roller skating. ​

Ricky Reyes

Researcher and Creative, Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute

Ricky Reyes is a Seattle-based, Tacoma-born, researcher, creative, and arts administrator. An avid musician, writer, and photographer, Rick finds community in creating with and performing alongside fellow musicians, writers, and creatives

Bettie Luke

Community Advisor, Wing Luke Museum

Diversity Trainer for educators, businesses and government. Community advisor for Wing Luke Asian Museum, artist, historian, community activist. Co-author of two Chinese Activity books for children, conducted multicultural training in 36 different states across the nation.

Roger Fernandez

Indigenous Storyteller

B.A., Native American Studies, The Evergreen State College

M.A., Whole Systems Design, Antioch University

Roger Fernandes is a Native American artist, storyteller, and educator whose work focuses on the culture and arts of the Coast Salish tribes of western Washington. He is a member of the Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe and has a B.A. in Native American Studies from The Evergreen State College and an M.A. in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University.He has worked in a variety of arenas including Native education, social work, arts, and culture. As an artist he practices and teaches Coast Salish design and as a storyteller he shares storytelling as a foundational human process for teaching and healing. He currently teaches courses on storytelling and art at the University of Washington, Northwest Indian College, and other learning institutions.

David J. Della

Principal Owner, Eco-Ready, LLC

David J. Della is principal at Eco-Ready, LLC, a business and community consulting company and a lifelong resident of Seattle and Washington State.  He is a government, business, and community relations professional with over 20 years’ experience in the public sector in appointed, elected and managerial positions in local and state government including Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Norman Rice, serving as a member of the Seattle City Council (2003-2008), and as Executive Director of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs under Governors Mike Lowry and Gary Locke (1993-1999). He has also worked for over a decade in the private and non-profit sectors, including Director of Community Affairs at United Way of King County, through his own sustainability consulting practice, and managing contracts/community relations for a national environmental services company, and directing community/government relations with United Way of King County.  His expertise is in government policy, legislative advocacy, community and coalition building, and resource development.  He and his wife, Odette Polintan are empty nesters and live in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood.