Video recording of Kimberly Keith, Executive Director, Hilltop Artists, from the 2019 WILLO Storytelling Festival.

Video recording of Almahz Negash, Electrical Engineer/Power Analyst, Tacoma Public Utilities, from the 2019 WILLO Storytelling Festival.

Video recording of Jaleesa Trapp, PhD Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab, from the 2019 WILLO Storytelling Festival.

Segment about Pierce County incinerating their garbage with Meriam Graves.

Interview with Tom Stenger, the deputy mayor.

Segment about the community and gangs in the Hilltop area. Ron Lewis and Jack Skannes apear from the Tacoma Police Department.

Oral history interview with current president of the Tacoma Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Cynthia Tucker. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 21, 2022 in the Digital Media Lab of the Tacoma Public Library. Cynthia shares her personal story of growing up with strong women who helped her overcome shyness, her life overseas, her family stories and her hopes for the future. Cynthia states, “I am still a Black woman no matter where I go,” so it is important to be proud of who you are. Cynthia believes that you should enjoy what you do for work and build confidence in your life by “seeking yourself first”.

Oral history interview conducted by dindria barrow at the Tacoma Public Library Main Branch's Digital Media Lab on June 1, 2022. Reverend Robert T. Penton was born on December 11, 1947 in Bogalusa, Louisiana. He was born in a segregated town with a large Ku Klux Klan chapter in a shotgun (one-room) house. Bob felt he had no voice in this town and grew disenchanted with his life there. He believed he could make a difference by joining the VISTA program. He was sent to South Central Los Angeles in 1967 to be a community organizer, two years after the riots in Watts. Bob joined the Black Panther Party and became a Minister of Information. He found his voice in Los Angeles. His second year in the VISTA program brought him to Tacoma, WA and the largest public housing complex west of the Mississippi river, Salishan. Bob worked in the anti-poverty program and helped to organize a community center, a family food coop, and youth programs. In the 80’s, Reverend Bob ran campaigns against fear and gang violence by fasting. One of his guiding quotes is: “Poverty of purpose is worse than poverty of purse.” When addressing trauma and divisive politics “it takes something bigger than all of us to break down those walls to bring that common purpose.” Overall, he reminds us that “people need to know how much you care, not how much you know.” Listen to Rev. Bob’s personal purpose and his insights into how to navigate life.

Dr. Mimms, the creator of Evergreen Tacoma has her bust, created by Jasmine Brown revealed 11/14/2021.

Interview with Nick the Barber, owner of Tacoma's Finest Clippers for over fifteen years. Paul and Nick discuss the future of his shop, local happenings in the Black community of the South Sound region, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Jim Tharpe has a large collection of quilts passed down to him from his ancestors, some of which who were enslaved.

Maria Sharp discusses her career path in the cannabis industry and her current position at marketing and sales for Leafly, a cannabis company.

Laurel Friesen discusses her company's CO2 cannabis extraction method and the brand's success in Seattle.

Levi Lyon discusses his career history in the cannabis industry and the possible future for federal legalization of cannabis.

Jason Hutto discusses his presentation on the origin of cannabis strains and his career path in the cannabis industry.

Jasmine gives a short talk about an African Bronze piece and how ancient artifacts of work are now seen as art, often by colonizers.

A conversation with those dealing with homelessness and tent cities. Tracey Collins discusses the conditions in tent cities and the outreach work he does with Northwest Urban Ministry. Members of VOCAL (Voices of Community Activists and Leaders) also discuss their history of homelessness and advocacy work for homeless people. Videos filmed throughout September and October 2016.

Math tutor, Norman Alston, teaches the fundamentals of mathematics to a student in Tukwilla, WA as part of an after school program he offered.