Blog Summary:

• Former Friends board chair Maggie Walker was named a 2026 Hero of the Deep by the Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation, recognized for her decades of civic leadership, philanthropic investment and steadfast commitment to inclusion and equity in public spaces.

• Friends public programs manager and Indigenous programs curator Jordan Remington received the same honor in 2024, marking two years of recognition for the people behind the work that makes Waterfront Park a welcoming, vibrant gathering place for all of Seattle.

At Friends of Waterfront Park, we are lucky to work alongside people who show up because they believe in something bigger. This year, we’re proud to celebrate two of those people: former Friends board chair Maggie Walker, named a 2026 Hero of the Deep by the Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation, and Friends public programs manager and Indigenous programs curator Jordan Remington, who received the same honor in 2024.

Former Friends board chair, civic leader and philanthropist, Maggie Walker

Maggie Walker had been board chair of Friends of Waterfront Park since the organization’s inception in 2012, stepping down in 2025. For more than a decade, she helped lead Waterfront Park project from conception to construction and opening alongside civic leaders, City staff, and a range of stakeholders.  This includes guiding Friends through some of the most complex, exciting, and challenging moments—from a giant tunnel boring machine getting stuck underground to a global pandemic that hit in the early days of park construction – and finally raising $170M for the Campaign for Waterfront Park.   Through all of it, Maggie’s calm, strategic and fearless leadership kept the extraordinary vision for he park alive.

Maggie has continuously rolled up her sleeves alongside staff and partners, bringing deep understanding of public-private partnerships and an unwavering commitment to Seattle’s future. She holds tight to a vision for this city that includes safe, welcoming public spaces, a vibrant arts scene and strong stewardship of our natural resources—and she has dedicated herself to bringing others along in that vision.

The Hero of the Deep award, presented by the Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation, recognizes individuals who advance inclusion, diversity and racial equity, uplift communities and inspire others through their service. Maggie embodies every one of those values. As Friends president & CEO Joy Shigaki shared in her nomination: “Maggie understands that great cities don’t happen by accident. She has dedicated herself to lifting up Seattle and all who call this place home.”

Public Program Manager and Curator of Indigenous Programs, Jordan Remington (Quileute)

In 2024, Friends public programs manager and Indigenous programs curator Jordan Remington (they/them) was honored with the Hero of the Deep award—a recognition that speaks to the heart of the work Jordan brings to Waterfront Park every day.

Jordan is a Quileute and artist, curator and community builder who has dedicated themselves to creating inclusive, healing spaces for Seattle’s Indigenous communities. In their role at Friends, Jordan has been instrumental in ensuring that Waterfront Park becomes a civic space that truly reflects and celebrates the diversity of Seattle—centering Indigenous tribes and community members who have historically been excluded from public spaces.

Jordan’s commitment to community was catalyzed during the pandemic, when they co-created the Reflections Dance Festival alongside Indigenous and Black artists, inviting performers to explore the theme of “what the water holds.” That experience deepened Jordan’s belief in the transformative power of art in public spaces and shaped the programming philosophy they bring to the Park every day.

Beyond their work at Friends, Jordan is also Seattle’s premier Indigenous drag queen, known as Hailey Tayathy. Through this work, Jordan uses their queer Native experiences to bring healing to Indigenous communities and to make clear that Indigiqueer people are still here and thriving.

Two Years. Two Heroes. One Community.

Dual year Hero of the Deep honorees from Friends of Waterfront Park is not a coincidence; it reflects the people who make this place what it is. We are grateful to the Seattle Kraken and One Roof Foundation for recognizing the work happening right here on the waterfront, and even more grateful to Maggie and Jordan for showing us what it looks like to show up for community, every single day.

Congratulations to both of them!