The Seattle Public Library Foundation | Fall 2019

Children living at Brettler Family Place in North Seattle participate in a photo shoot at a celebration capping off this spring’s Art Club, an after-school art program
hosted in part by The Seattle Public Library. Photo credit: Michael B. Maine

‘They’re beautiful and brilliant’:

Library fosters self-expression to empower youth

W
hen 30-year-old pregnant mother of four, Brettler Family Place serves as a prime example of an
Charleena Lyles, was fatally shot by police in her opportunity for The Seattle Public Library to listen to what
North Seattle apartment at Brettler Family Place the residents need and develop public engagement projects.
in 2017 during a reported mental health crisis, Library staff
After working closely with community caregivers, Lyles’
sought to explore ways to help her community.
death galvanized Library staff to initiate a new effort: an
Brettler Family Place, an apartment complex managed by after-school youth art club.
the nonprofit Solid Ground, supplies permanent housing to
“The Art Club at Brettler is a really profound example of
people who previously experienced homelessness. Though
what it looks like when community voices are the focus of
idyllically set next to Magnuson Park on the shores of Lake
equity work,” says Davida Ingram, public engagement and
Washington, it’s relatively isolated – the nearest grocery
programs manager at The Seattle Public Library, who led
store is a high-end market 2 miles away, and the Northeast
the implementation of the program. “When community
Branch of The Seattle Public Library is also 2 miles off,
members who deal with disproportionate violence know
neither of them convenient pedestrian destinations.
they matter to us and that we will help them create the
Continued inside
Anyone can be a Homework Helper

J
ed Fowler says you don’t need to be a
brainiac to volunteer at Homework Help.

As a longtime Homework Helper, he says his

role consists of “part cheerleader, part coach,
part road block diagnostics.

“Sometimes it’s about the homework, sometimes

it’s about the helping.”

Homework Help is an after-school drop-in

program for K-12 youth that supported 12,000
student visits across 11 branch libraries last year.
The Foundation supports these tutoring sessions
as part of the slate of Youth and Family Learning
programs it funds.

Fowler and his wife, Elisabeth Beaber, have

Elisabeth Beaber and Jed Fowler, pictured with 2-year-old daughter Helen, have volunteered as
volunteered for seven years as Homework Homework Helpers at the Douglass-Truth Branch for seven years.
Helpers at the Douglass-Truth Branch in the
Central District.
The couple counts problem-solving among the most
They’ve also supported the Foundation as donors for important skills as a Homework Helper.
six years.
“You don’t need to know about trigonometry, you just need
Beaber was inspired by her ancestry to start volunteering at to know how to learn about trigonometry,” Fowler says.
the Library. Her grandfather immigrated through Ellis Island
And if there’s something you don’t know, reference
and never attended high school, but he emphasized the
librarians are always there to help – giving the students and
importance of education with his own children.
grown-ups alike some research assistance.
Beaber, herself now a staff epidemiologist at Fred Hutchinson
Thinking of becoming a Homework Helper, yourself?
Cancer Research Center, says she’s “paying it forward.”

After one year at Homework Help, Fowler – president of For questions about volunteering for Homework
H.D. Fowler Company in Bellevue – joined in. Self-described Help or an array of other Library programs, contact
math specialists, they now take turns on their weekly shift Volunteer Services Coordinator Anne Vedella
so they each volunteer once every other week. at volunteer@spl.org.

“What I really enjoy is talking to high schoolers about their

“Definitely try it out,” Beaber says. “Everyone has
aspirations and ambitions,” Beaber says. “I like to share my
something to offer in terms of being an adult advocate.”
path and hope it gives students some ideas.”
Homework Help will accept volunteer applications
While most kids need direct homework help, others use
throughout the fall. Tutors are especially needed at
Homework Help to play educational games during the
the Columbia, NewHolly, Rainier Beach, and South
period before their parents come home from work. Most
Park branches.
of the kids at Douglass-Truth speak a language other than
English at home, making it difficult for their parents to look “I can’t imagine a place that’s more fun to volunteer than
over their schoolwork, Fowler says. the Library,” Fowler says.

The Next Chapter | Fall 2019

‘They’re beautiful and brilliant’: Library fosters self-expression to empower youth
21st century healing tools they want to have, that is social
justice through and through.”
Ingram’s position is one of five Library staff roles funded by
the Foundation.
The program kicked off this year, running for 16 weeks from
January to April and allowing Brettler Family Place’s children
the opportunity to engage in several different types of art,
from printmaking to hip-hop to photography. In coordination
with the City of Seattle’s Office of Arts and Culture and Solid
Ground, teaching artists and Solid Ground staff provided
hands-on support – sometimes to show a child how to use
a digital camera, and sometimes just to be a reliable adult
presence and lend an ear.
“I was just trying to create a safe space for young people to
express their creative genius,” says Dakota Camacho, one of
the Art Club’s teaching artists who shared their dance and hip-
hop talents with the youth. “I think it’s just about showing up
and seeing that they’re beautiful and brilliant human beings.”
Time was divided between creative play and deep discussion
about social justice issues such as police violence and racism,
says Ricky Reyes, a songwriter, poet, and musician who staffed
the program in his capacity as racial equity coordinator for the
Office of Arts and Culture.
“I think we don’t give kids a lot of credit,” Reyes says. “We
discount that they actually understand what’s going on around
their community.”
Ingram says the Art Club arose from parents’ and caregivers’
desire for activities that connected art and social justice.
But staffers and artists say it not only gave kids something
to do; it gave them a safe space in which to be creative
and vulnerable.
“The group was really an empathy experiment for a lot of
kids,” says Oliver Alexander-Adams, children’s advocate at
Solid Ground. Youth participated in sometimes uncomfortable
activities, like listening to each other’s rhymes, sharing their art,
and expressing feelings, but they became drawn to the Art Club
and looked forward to it. “People were excited to be there,”
Alexander-Adams says.
When he told kids, “The Library’s coming,” it would elicit an
The Next Chapter | Fall 2019
Continued from front
Kids at Brettler Family Place
Art Club experimented with
drawing, hip-hop, poetry,
and photography.
enthusiastic reaction.
“Art empowers children to see their vision of the world has
value,” says David Olivera, lead childcare specialist at Solid
Ground, and a constant presence in the lives of Brettler Family
Place’s children.
What helped the program’s success, Camacho says, was
keeping the children’s needs central to the mission and
showing them that people who look like them can achieve
their dreams.
“People don’t realize that there are people who look like them
traveling around the world being an artist and there are people
who are very successful looking like them,” Camacho says.
Michael B. Maine, a photographer and teaching artist, says
that through that effort, the kids displayed their abilities to
express what they were passionate about.
“They’re celebrating their environment and the people they
care about,” Maine says. “They were living up to expectations
that maybe they didn’t even know they had for themselves
and it was beautiful to see that.”
The Library maintains its presence at Brettler Family Place with
weekly art programs throughout the summer, accompanied
by Library materials to check out and Foundation-funded
giveaway books for the taking. During the school year,
Northeast Branch librarians come to the kids’ schools and
ensure Brettler Family Place kids participate in the annual
district-wide Global Reading Challenge.
Continued next page
Cover story, continued 2019 Board Of Directors
OFFICERS
The efforts that work well in that location will inform potentially similar equity Grace Nordhoff, President
Patricia Walker, Vice President
initiatives in other Seattle communities, says Robin Rousu, a supervising librarian on the
Irene Yamamoto, Treasurer
Mobile Services team. Ellen Look, Secretary

The Art Club might serve as inspiration. Those Do you want to MEMBERS EMERITUS BOARD

involved say that the culminating celebration that Cat Arnold Susan Adkins
support programs Stephanie Axelrod Patricia Akiyama
took place in June and featured the participating
such as Art Ross C. Baker, Immediate Gilbert W. Anderson
kids sharing their art with their caregivers and Past President Ruthanna “Fam” Bayless
neighbors attracted the biggest crowd for a public Club? Contact the Morgan Collins Marcella Benditt

program in memory at Brettler Family Place. Foundation to help Theodore J. Collins

Patricia L. Dawson, MD
Greg Berkman
John S. Calhoun
“I hope it gives kids a different idea of what the
at foundation@ Sue Donaldson Ron Chew
Davis Fox
Library can do,” Alexander-Adams says. “Kids supportspl.org. Sibyl Frankenburg
Sue Coliton
Terry Collings
associate it with artists and activities now.” Justo Gonzalez David R. Davis, M.D.
Sharon Hammel Dan Dixon
It also positions the Library as a trusted partner in the community, Ingram says. Judy Kelley Jack Faris
Lori Kilberg Anne V. Farrell
“When libraries say black lives matter and race and social justice is important, it builds Sarah Kohut Jodi Green
trust,” she says. “It was a true team effort.” Kitti Lile Suzanne Hittman
Ellen Look Maria L. Koh
The Seattle Public Library Foundation is proud to support this program thanks to Mary Mara Linda Larson
Ruth Massinga Carla Lewis
generous supporters like you. Robin Mendelson Eric Liu
Tyler Preston Mickey Marie McCaffrey
Nick Momyer Gordon McHenry, Jr.
Tuan Ngo Dave McShea
Leave the lemon behind with our Susan Potts
Anne Repass
Matthew G. Medlin
Lynn Pigott Mowe
new car donation program Deborah Rosen
Lori Scott
Glenna Olson
Michael Parham

I
Annie Searle Chuck Riley
f you need to kick your clunker to the curb but don’t want Claudia Skelton Ira Rubinstein
to deal with the hassle of selling your car, donate it to The Seattle Public Library Jennifer Southwell Ryan Sawyer
Bill Stafford Peter Steinbrueck
Foundation for its cash value.
Sarah Stanley Dan Sudit
The Foundation has teamed up with CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services) to David Strauss Neal Sullins
Ina Tateuchi David Williams
accept used cars as yet another way you can help benefit The Seattle Public Library. Hewan Teshome Steve Wolf
Julie Zunker
CARS will pick up your vehicle for free and handle its sale to an auction – they can
even fix it up to improve its sale value. Then they send The Foundation a check for 80 THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TRUSTEES
Jay Reich, President
percent of the vehicle’s value (CARS, itself a nonprofit, retains 20 percent for its social
Ron Chew, Vice President
services programs). Theresa Fujiwara, Liaison
Kristi England
These donations will help the Foundation continue to support literacy programs,
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
early education, free cultural events, and Library collections – all while saving you time
Steve Griggs, President
and money.
EX-OFFICIO
To donate your vehicle, visit careasy.org/nonprofit/seattle-public-library, or
Marcellus Turner, Chief Librarian & Executive Director
call 1-855-500-7433. Or consider any of the other ways you can contribute – through The Seattle Public Library
monthly giving, a Donor Advised Fund, gifts of stock, or through your estate – by THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
visiting supportspl.org/ways-to-give or giving us a call at 206-386-4130. Jonna Ward, Chief Executive Officer
‘Virtual user’ expands reading horizons

C
arolyn Fairbanks of Madison Park opened her
Library account six years ago upon moving to
Seattle with a single stop at the Central Library.

“I’ve since never set foot in one,” she says.

Yet she’s an avid Library patron, evangelizing its collection

among her fellow bridge players.

Fairbanks calls herself a “virtual user,” relying on the Libby

app to read several e-books and e-audiobooks at a time on
her Kindle reader.

Last year, the Foundation supported the purchase of

6,500 e-books and e-audiobooks to maintain a robust
electronic collection.

Fairbanks enjoys books in different formats, from reading

on her Kindle in the evening to listening to audiobooks
while she goes to the gym, drives, and performs
household chores.

“That gives me the opportunity to vary what I read,” she

says. “Now I just read everything.”
She says the Libby app is so intuitive that she’s a self-taught
user, managing her holds and loans from her smart phone.
Fairbanks enjoys thrillers and romantic comedies, yet has
also enjoyed recent nonfiction releases by Michelle Obama
and Melinda Gates. Other recent titles she’s read include
“Magic Hour” by Kristin Hannah, “Eleanor Oliphant
is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman, and Barbara
Kingsolver’s “Unsheltered.”
Madison Park resident Carolyn Fairbanks enjoys The Seattle Public
Library’s catalog with e-books and downloadable e-audiobooks.
Photo credit: Brian Lawrence
Her use of e-books and e-audiobooks has bumped up her
annual reading rate to 40 to 50 books per year, she says,
making it a favorite pastime.
“It’s the most wonderful preparation for life you can
have. It’s entertainment, it’s education, it connects you to
the world.”

GET TECH HELP FROM LIBRARY STAFF

Want to be like Carolyn and become a whiz at using e-materials?
Each branch of the Library offers one-on-one appointments to help you use your phone, computer, or e-reader
to access Library materials. Several branches also offer drop-in tech help sessions at various times throughout the
week, including some in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish. For more information, call your local branch library or
visit spl.org/classes. To schedule a tech help appointment, call 206-386-4636 or sign up in person.

The Next Chapter | Fall 2019

 Fall events at the Library
The Evolution of the Duwamish River
in Virtual Reality
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 9-28 (closed Sundays)
Central Library, Level 8 gallery

SAVE THE DATE Author’s Series panel: Paula Becker

“A House on Stilts: Mothering in the Age of
Opioid Addiction”
We’re looking for table captains who can share their love of the Library and 2 p.m., Sept. 21
expand its reach at next year’s Discover Your Library Luncheon. Central Library, Microsoft Auditorium
Our second fundraising luncheon will take place March 17, 2020, at the SPL PlayBack concert feat. Tres Leches,
Sheraton Grand Seattle, located at 1400 Sixth Ave., Seattle. Dark Smith, Specswizard, and Black Ends
Learn about how your support of The Seattle Public Library Foundation 8:30 p.m., Sept. 27
Clock-Out Lounge | 4864 Beacon Ave. S.
improves the lives of our neighbors and ensures the Library’s lasting success
in every community. “Answers to Common Estate Planning
Questions”: Planned giving seminar
You can participate by registering as a table captain or signing on as a sponsor.
with attorney Tiffany Gorton
You can find more information and register at supportspl.org/luncheon.
10:30 a.m. to noon, Oct. 2 at Bellevue Library
We can’t wait to see you there! or 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Seattle Central Library
Please register at rsvp@supportspl.org

supportspl.org | 206-386-4130 |