A contribution from Abigail Kok's Porch Portrait Project; Tyson, 38, electrictiona. Mariesa, 36, Public Relations for TPL. Decca, 4, wants to be an astronaut. Standing outside of their home in Central Tacoma
A contribution from Abigail Kok's Porch Portrait Project; Jeff Southard of Swoon Records and his roommate, musician James Jenkins staying extra safe inside
A mural outside Grit City Gridehouse skateshop located at 311 S 7th ST, Tacoma. The mural shows Rick, from the cartoon Rick and Morty, saying "Uh-oh Morty, it looks pretty rough out here in this dimension..."
Dr. Maxine Mimms, founder of Evergreen College Tacoma, is the spotlight of this film produced by Dr. Gilda Sheppard. Dr. Mimms discusses the cultural importance of hip-hop music, her musical inspirations, and her father's encouragement of her pursuit of knowledge in spite of growing up in a segregated community.
Slideshow video of pictures from Paul Jackson and Jasmine Brown's wedding. "Jumping the broom" is a tradition within the Black community to signify a couple's commitment to each other, and dates back to the enslavement of Black people in the United States who were barred from legally recognized weddings.
Erin Jones discusses her defeat in the running for Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2016 election, the issues surrounding the 2016 Washington teacher's strike, and her role as a player and chaplain for the women's basketball team the Seattle Storm.
Marilyn Strickland, former Mayor of Tacoma, introduces herself as the President/CEO and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and discusses the Taber 100 business meeting she is attending. Strickland discusses the Chamber's push against the proposed "Head Tax," officially the "employee hours tax" that would tax businesses to generate funds for homeless services.
Videographer Paul Jackson interviews Erin Jones, candidate for Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2016 election. Jones discusses her adoption, growing up in the Netherlands, and her adulthood in the United States. Jones has been working to advocate for children marginalized in public education since she was nineteen years old.
This sculpture, created by Jasmine Brown took 3 years to produce thanks to COVID. Billy Ray Shirley III was a resident in Tacoma's Eastside and dedicated volunteer in his community. His homicide in 2011 prompted the building of the new Eastside Community Center, which opened in 2018. The bronze statue was created by Jasmine Iona Brown, and was unveiled in October of 2021.
Ah, founder of Cannabis Basics and Paul Jackson talk about her career in the cannabis industry and how she helped write the CHABA law for Washington State, which allows for the sale of THC products without a cannabis license under certain conditions.
Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Lorenzo Cervantes conducted by dindria barrow on August 23, 2022. In this interview, Lorenzo talks about his passion for HIV Prevention as well as education overall. Lorenzo describes how education was the primary way that his life changed and that it was a gift given to him by his immigrant parents. He knew at a young age that he loved differently and was gay. He also knew about injustice at a young age because he was ignored for not speaking English or looking white. Lorenzo leaves us with this advice: “A child needs advocates when they go to school… Education is key for everything…a way of getting out of poverty…we need to support our youth to be able to have the schooling that they deserve to have. [and] About HIV right now, is that we don’t hear about it as much as we should; it’s still an epidemic…talk about it with your friends, talk about it with your family, and even with your mom.” Lorenzo is the Prevention Director of the Pierce County AIDS Foundation (PCAF).
Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Candria Slamin conducted by dindria barrow on January 7, 2023. In this interview, Candria shares their story about coming to know themself over time. Even though Candria admits they have a long way to go in realizing where they will be in the future, they explain how identifying who they are is crucial to moving forward. “You can only be who you are, because of where you’re from.” In other words, you must know where you come from to figure out where you are going and who you truly are. Candria shares their work with the Rainbow Center and their work life thus far during the global pandemic. Candria also discusses how the past and the future can have dark parts along with bright parts—that life has an ebb and flow. “Not everyone’s race is at the same pace. I’m not running their race, I’m running mine.”
