Watch and listen to recordings of past programs and discussions exploring social justice topics like civil rights, intellectual freedom and the criminal justice system. Learn about the Library's work with our community partners and explore diverse viewpoints and perspectives.
Art Club vs. COVID
Over the spring of 2021, Art Club participants from Seattle’s Sandpoint neighborhood worked with teaching artists (Dakota Camacho, Jerrell Davis, and Romson Bustillo) to reflect on pandemic life. Along the way they learned about public health and how to do creative writing that shared a kid's eye view of the pandemic.
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(00:03:45)
| Posted September 2021
Exploring Black Brilliance And Black Joy Through Storytelling And Writing: Family & Friends
Part three in an intergenerational series that celebrates Black joy and brilliance with local authors from African-American Writers’ Alliance, storytellers, youth, and elders from Seattle’s Black community.
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(01:09:55)
| Posted August 2021
Exploring Black Brilliance And Black Joy Through Storytelling And Writing: Nature & The Outdoors
Part two in an intergenerational series that celebrates Black joy and brilliance with local authors from African-American Writers’ Alliance, storytellers, and elders from Seattle’s Black community.
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(01:05:22)
| Posted August 2021
Exploring Black Brilliance & Black Joy Through Storytelling & Writing: Food & Celebration, July 8th
Listen to stories and explore fun writing prompts that can help you explore, create and share your own stories.
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(00:53:28)
| Posted August 2021
Reflections: What The Water Holds
A unique dance festival in partnership with Friends of the Waterfront, Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.
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(01:28:06)
| Posted May 2021
Love in the Time of Covid: Ask an Abolitionist
LOVE IN THE TIME OF COVID is a new series putting its fingers on the pulse of social justice issues during the pandemic in a heart-and-community centered way. Recorded presentation includes segments in English and Spanish with captions available.
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(01:42:39)
| Posted May 2021
BLOOM (Build Leadership Organizing & Orchard Management)
BLOOM is a program of Seattle Together, a collaboration between City of Seattle departments and local communities to foster feelings of belonging, connection, and joy in Seattle. This program took place in 2020.
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(00:04:19)
| Posted April 2021
“A Time for Unity”: The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Native Communities
A Native-led talking circle about the impact of mass incarceration on Indigenous communities. Recorded on May 21, 2019
Listen to Audio
(01:39:05)
| View transcription (pdf)
| Posted May 2019
Over the Moon, Under the Bridge: Building a Stronger Music Community
A community conversation surrounding the intersection of poverty, mental illness and addiction in the local music industry. Recorded on May 12, 2019.
Listen to Audio
(01:32:39)
| View transcription (pdf)
| Posted May 2019
The impact of incarceration - Part III: Serving your time too often is not the end of punishment for the court involved
Judge David Keenan speaks on the individual and community impacts of incarceration. Judge Keenan knows multiple sides of our justice system: he was raised by his mother on public assistance, was arrested and charged as a youth, and dropped out of school after repeated suspensions, later earning his GED. Recorded on Nov. 27, 2017.
Listen to Audio
(00:18:57)
| View transcription (pdf)
| Posted November 2017