Oral history interview of Juanita Olivas, an unhoused neighbor living in Tacoma, conducted by dindria barrow on April 9, 2022. Juanita shares how she became homeless, how her faith has carried her through life, and why she does volunteer work. Juanita is 60 years young and plans on completing high school so that she can get a job as a medical insurance billing and coder. Juanita dreams of being “somebody that can help out with the community, always. I would love to have a really big apartment building that I could just take in all the homeless…just pour my heart out to ‘em, because people out there, you never know their story until you actually talk to them and I’ve met a lot of people that is so talented out there and so educated, but their story just breaks my heart.”

Oral history interview with former Puyallup Tribal Council Member, Ramona Bennett. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 2, 2022, in the Digital Media Lab of the Tacoma Public Library. Ramona discusses her views on Indian and Indigenous rights, the people she encountered on her advocacy journey and how she continues living during difficult times. Ramona reminds us that “things shift slowly”, to “love whoever is left” after someone passes away, to put “just one foot after the other” and that her people live on because of “all the ways we pray are so hard”.

Cynthia Tacye Tucker at age 21 years old, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, August 1971.

Cynthia Tucker's mother (6/17/31-2/23/2010).

Cynthia Tucker's grandmother, born April 25, 1917. A July 19, 1936 article from the West Chester, PA Daily Local News newspaper stated, "Mrs. Tacie Steele was last night elected permanent chairman of the Citizens' Civic and Welfare Club, an auxiliary unit to the recently organized Citizen's Political Club of Chester County. Mrs. Steele is s committee woman." Cynthia was so proud to find this clipping amongst family artifacts given to her by her mother. "I always wondered why I was so eager and interested in community work. Now I know." Tacie Steel's mother was Mary Etta Draper Cooper Washington Dorin (9/5/1874-11/22/1971) and lived in Philadelphia, PA.

Flyer for the Trees for Justice event, featuring the Legacy of Nettie J. Asberry and the garden at her house. Sponsors of the event are listed as well as an agenda for the program.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Bernice Morehead conducted by dindria barrow on August 16, 2022. In this interview, Bernice tells us that she was a born into a family of sharecroppers who descended from slaves forcibly brought to Mississippi. Bernice lived on a farm until she was 16 years of age who spoke the language of animals until she moved to Iowa and worked with her mother as a Domestic Engineer. Bernice describes how she enjoys a challenge such as running four marathons, learning to swim at 50 years of age, finishing a triathlon, driving from Iowa to Washington state with two children and a grandchild, then earning two college degrees. She has worked for the state, run her own business, been a substitute teacher, is a certified Life Coach and is now helping others at the Bethlehem Baptist Church Shelter. Bernice reminds us to dream of new challenges and to take pride in whatever you do.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Deborah Ranniger conducted by dindria barrow on September 20, 2022. In this interview, Deborah tells us how the landscape of Tacoma with its evergreen color and specifically the sight of Mount Rainier made her decide to live here at 10 years old. Deborah tells her family’s story of fleeing from Eastern and Western Europe to escape persecution. Deborah shares her journey from Seattle and Kent to Tacoma based on the burgeoning art scene. Deborah has recently published a memoir about her father and his influence on her life called, “Against the Current: A Conscientious Objector During World War II and the Daughter He Inspired.”

Reverse side of photograph contains following text:
"listening to speakers -
Leua Horne
Air-line Stewardess
Note maj. and minority crowds"

Kat Wood holding a sign reading, "Fundamental human rights should NOT depend on your zip code!" with an LGBTQ pride flag sticker and a map of the United States with x-marks over states that restrict or outlaw abortion access.

Interviewer: What brings you here today?
"Oh, so much anger and so much sadness. Um, Roe has been around my entire life and I can’t believe we’re fighting the fights of our grandmothers again and again and again… and trans people and non-binary people are especially gonna be hurt by these laws. I mean, really, all people who need abortion care and need health care deserve to be able to have that equitably and safely and with dignity and I can’t believe we’re having to fight this again."

Kat Moulton holds a sign reading "Expand abortion access."

Declined to comment.

Serena Jouers holds her small dog and a sign reading, "If I wanted the government in my uterus I'd fuck a politician."

"I feel like I need to do what I can to help spread the message and to help show that we will stand up for our rights and not let this get overturned and that there’s people out here, everywhere, that want – that feel passionately about it."

Autumn Fiore holds a sign reading, "If your activism isn't intersectional, then who is it for?"

"Overturning Roe v. Wade is much more than just taking away a person’s bodily autonomy, it could be a slippery slope into other landmark Supreme Court decisions that protect our rights to privacy, bodily autonomy, and just, our choices to do what we would like. Uh, and so I wanna take a stand and make sure that doesn’t happen. Um, the government doesn’t have a right to dictate who we choose to marry, whether we choose to keep a pregnancy, none of it. Um, and I know that there worst fear is us standing up for our rights, but, that doesn’t mean that we just let them do whatever they want."

"Salishan" Past, Present, & Future" is a film created in 2003 by teacher Bryan Johnson and 5th grade students at Lister Elementary School.

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.

Back of Photo: Elder Pham and Elder Wetzer + Chamman (sp?) and Sarath and Paula and you Vanna; Love Paula Bear Paul Prom

Photo description from Vanna Sing:

When taken: 1980s and 2000s
Where taken: Eastside, Salishan
What memory is contained in these photos? Vanna Sing's childhood in Salishan and Eastside; Growing up in Salishan, spiritual healing. 43 year old survivor from the country of Cambodia. Roots are from SE Asia, Cambodia, Thai, and Laos. Our family escaped the Khmer Rouge in 1978 In July 1979, we entered United States. Our sponsors were from Mineral Wells, Texas. Trying to adapt to the American culture was a struggle. Through the word of mouth, Tacoma, Washington was the place to be. 15 families migrated to Tacoma, WA. We first arrived in Hilltop, Tacoma, around St. Joseph hospital area. We spent a year here. Tacoma Housing Authority supported refugees by providing rental assistance. Department of Social and Healthy Services gave us TANF, food stamp, and medical.