Inside White Center

The outgoing Evergreen HS ASB President Felix Koontz and the new ASB President Richy Ramirez are in the studio with Christian Tautua reflecting on the 2023-24 school year went and revealing their thoughts for what is coming in 2024-25!  These bright, young leaders are visionaries, mountain movers and wholly devoted to building a culture of belonging not only in their school but wherever they go!     *Recorded in Studio B

Rasheed Smallwood and Peanutt Ngeth are the perfect people to talk to about What's Up in the community.  Through their work at the Log Cabin and with Highly Hated, they continually create space that empower young people to discover and become their absolute, awesome self...and they're gonna have fun doing it!  So, they've got a lot going on and we are taking this opportunity to share what they're planning for our children & youth this spring, summer and even a few events into the fall! Everything from Culture Connection to a wild Kick Ball Tournament in August!  You KNOW you want in on that!!   Make sure to follow @highlyhatedfoundation and @atthelogcabin on IG to stay up and in the know!      Recorded at Studio B  

A conversation with an old friend, a fun friend, a wise friend.  Also, a great friend to community. Gary is a fantastic story teller, one of my favorite, in fact.  So many stories about growing up in the neighborhood, race car driving, some interesting life choices, staying on his toes at home, sprint boat antics and living in and loving our community.  It's always entertaining to be in Gary's presence and very often enlightening too!  You may not know Gary before you hit the play button but you will feel like you have another friend by the time this podcast is over.     *recorded at Studio B  

“Throughout my career, I have brought diverse coalitions together to pass landmark policy changes. I want to bring that progress to the King County Council so that all working families can be healthy, housed and resilient. Together we can invest in behavioral health and public health, expand housing that allows all of our neighbors to stay stably housed, and invest in child care, transit and training and apprenticeships for working families, which in turn supports small businesses and our local economy.”    Teresa Mosqueda Visit Teresa's election website for more campaign information:  https://www.teamteresa.org

"I'm the result of the diversity, challenges, and promise that the county has to offer. I want King County to be a safe, healthy, and inclusive community that families can call home for lifetime. With 20 years of experience in state legislative advocacy, as a Burien City Council member and Mayor, I'm committed to bringing our communities together to create a King County where we all have the opportunity to thrive."  Sofia Aragon Visit her election website for campaign information:  https://www.votesofiaaragon.com

IWC's Pat and Christian reign in the fall and Homecoming season with Evergreen HS ASB president Felix Koontz! Listening to Felix reflect about belonging and what it might take to change school culture is truly inspiring! Felix is a smart, wicked funny, thoughtful, strategic leader who is diligently working, alongside his friends in leadership, to make Evergreen the school that they and their community is dreaming for it to be, the school that our community's students deserve for it to be!  It's hard work but Felix and his fellow Wolverines are determined!   We also talk Homecoming, Wolverine affinity groups, assemblies and athletics, White Sunday, news and new projects in the community, and things to look out for this fall.   *Recorded at Studio B

A little bit ago, Lisa, Christian and Frank, the Youngers of the IWC team, sat down together and were chop'n it up in Studio B!  Sharing their reflections and perspectives from being raised and living in White Center and also, their hopes about our community's future, too.        

Zack, Kimnang and Pat, the elders (soon to be card-carrying AARP members) of the IWC team, went into the studio to have a very real and sometimes raw conversation about their lives in White Center. 

Our guest is Kevin Hoang, senior at Evergreen High School who is Evergreen's A.S.B. President for the 2022-23 school year! Kevin is fun, good natured, creative and light hearted but is also equal parts, serious, intelligent  and determined as you will find in his conversation with Christian Tautua and Frank Johnson! Kevin loves EHS and White Center and has worked tirelessly this year  to make the life he shares with his community, his schoolmates and his family better!  We can't wait for you to meet him in this episode. He is a delight.  Our hope is that Kevin will come back on the podcast in the coming years to let us know where he is and how he is changing the world because trust: he will change the world.   We are late to publishing so some of the dates they speak of are passed, many apologies!  Beyond that, enjoy.   Post Production: Zack Hamilton *Recorded at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church

We learned a lot from Ranny Nguyễn who visited with IWC's Lisa Nguyen and Zack Hamilton to share about the important work of Family Law CASA! Family Law CASA advocates for local children in high-risk custody cases so they have a chance for a safe, secure home life, significantly reducing the risk of abuse and neglect.  When you listen in on this conversation, you will find Ranny to be a very interesting, intelligent, light-hearted, passionate, inspiring and hopeful young woman while she navigates her way through changing careers, life at home and in community, becoming a leader in the non profit world and staying in a diligent pursuit for ways to lend her gifts, talents and resources to work on behalf of her community.    Ranny currently works in development as the Major Gifts Associate for Family Law CASA. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in Ethnic, Gender and Labor Studies from University of Washington Tacoma in 2021 with a focus on labor rights.  If you are interested in learning more about Family Law CASA visit https://familylawcasa.org    Post Production: Zack Hamilton *Recorded at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church

Isaiah Slattery and Kiya Cornelius are sophomores at Evergreen High School.  Listening to them share their reflections about community, that "10th grade life", the construction of a new school and what it might take to get the bond passed in November is both, humbling and encouraging!  We were all bowled over by their wit, good nature and intelligence! Our time with them serves as an excellent reminder of why it's vital and absolutely our responsibilty to invest in the lives and in the future of our youth!    Post Production: Zack Hamilton Recorded at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church

Pt. 2 - picks up where we left off in Pt. 1, IWC Hosts Lisa Nguyễn and Christian Tautua in a sit down with community leader, mentor, colleague and friend, Aaron Garcia for this episode to share childhood stories and hear his reflections about growing up in White Center, leaving the community to go to college and then coming back to build a life in the neighborhood he loves.  Aaron's community work is stellar and he really is just getting started!  He is young, smart and passionate, driven by a vision and belief that our community's children, teenagers and youth, young people and their families should have access to all of the resources, relationships and opportunities they need to thrive.   This conversation was so rich and packed with good stuff that we decided to break it into two parts.     *Recorded at YES! office in Burien Post production: Zack Hamilton      

Lisa Nguyễn and Christian Tautua sit down with community leader, mentor, colleague and friend, Aaron Garcia for this episode of IWC to share childhood stories and hear his reflections about growing up in White Center, leaving the community to go to college and then coming back to build a life in the neighborhood he loves.  Aaron's community work is stellar and he really is just getting started!  He is young, smart and passionate, driven by a vision and belief that our community's children, teenagers and youth, young people and their families should have access to all of the resources, relationships and opportunities they need to thrive. **Editor's Note: Since recording, the proposal to the Highline School Board for the construction and rebuild of 3 Highline schools, one of which is Evergreen High School, was presented and passed and has moved forward for vote in the November ballot. This conversation was so rich and packed with good stuff that we decided to break it into two parts.  Enjoy Part 1 today and look for Part 2 to drop soon!   *Recorded at YES! office in Burien Post production: Zack Hamilton

Henok and Rasheed tell us about their experience with community advocacy and support as youth in the White Center area frequenting the Boys and Girls Club and Log Cabin, to adults leading programs through Southwest Youth and Family Services. Tune in to hear more about their event next week, GO Time, supported by White Center's Highly Hated clothing brand.

The Inside White Center crew got the chance to speak with Patrick Robinson, who has been a journalist in the White Center/West Seattle for the past 50 years. In this episode, Lisa and Frank ask Patrick about the history of local journalism, issues that affect our local community, and his photography as art.     Learn more about Patrick Robinson below: www.westsideseattle.com https://open.spotify.com/show/6HT1ji6YQBrh1eR9YIpwHR www.patrickrobinson.net   Recorded at Roots

When government determines how to allocate budgets for a city or neighborhood, marginalized communities can become the least represented in these processes.  We sat down with Gloria Briggs Manager at King County overseeing what is called a Participatory Budget (PB) to understand how this unique budgeting model can put power back in the hands of the people.  Gloria shares her early story of White Center, how the Community Investment Budget Committee members (CIBC, designers of the PB process) were selected and her hopes on how this can impact WC.   CIBC members Marissa Jauregui, Emijah Smith, Carmen Smith, Sahle Habte, Kimnang Seng   Recorded at Roots   

Frank and Lisa sat down with Jennifer Fichamba, who they've known since her time at Evergreen HS as College & Career Specialist and Mentor.  In this sit down with her former students, Jennifer shares about her life as a mom, an educator, a cheerleader for Evergreen, Highline and Foster HS students and alumni, her passion for her community and decision to run for Highline School Board Director.   Recorded at Roots 

In this episode, IWC host Lisa Nguyen sat down with music artists and producers, Glendal Tautua and Cham Ba, to talk family, friendship, Bonnie in Greenwood and music videos! Glendal and Cham are both sons of White Center. Their partnership was forged while growing up together and discovering a common passion for the art of story telling and making music.     Recorded at Roots

Young's Restaurant, a hood known White Center staple, has been a cornerstone of the White Center Community since 1982. Our neighbor Janice Young joins the Inside White Center Team to talk about cooking thru the pandemic, winning the Westsider of the year award, and how the restaurant was founded.    Recorded at Roots Church

Hugo Garcia, Burien City Council Candidate visited Frank and Lisa of the Inside White Center podcast team to share about his decision to run! He's a fantastic story teller and he regaled us with story after story about his family's move to Burien from Guadalajara, his upbringing, doing announcements for the Seattle Sounders, and his work in economic development.  This podcast is a fun one, join us!   Recorded at Roots Church

We sat down for a conversation with a true White Center treasure! Darlene Sellers has been Program manager at Steve Cox Park for 20+ years and has seen a lot over her years of building and nurturing relationships in our community! We aren't exaggerating when we say that every kid in the White Center community has come into contact or will eventually come into contact with Darlene and the team at the Log Cabin! Her tireless devotion to White Center youth and their families is an asset to this community that is beyond measure.  We are grateful for her work in the community, her presence in the lives of White Center young people and her friendship with all those who come come into contact with her. Happy that you'll get to hear from her today!   Recorded at Roots Church

For over 40 years White Center has been home to many Cambodian refugees.  Over the last few decades we've seen Khmer families and businesses flourish and build roots here.  Within the last 15 years due to redevelopment in our community, we've seen the Khmer population diminishing yearly.  We talk to Thyda Ros and Stephanie Ung to learn more about their mission to re-establish the Khmer community here and their dream of creating Poom(Village) Khmer here in WC.  Happy Cambodian New Year All!   Visit their website https://www.kcskc.org   Recorded at Roots Church

“We're very excited to bring Justin Cox to Inside White Center!  Justin works for King County Superior Court, helping kids who are on probation get back into school and get a job! This conversation with Justin was as much fun as it was inspiring!  It's impossible not to be moved by his passion for basketball, commitment to youth and love for community!   He is thoughtful, real and he can tell a good story!  You need to press play right now! You Will Love. This. Guy! We sure do!”    Recorded at Roots Church

We get to hear from Christian Tautua today!  Christian's family moved to White Center when he was a youngster.  He attended Cascade Middle School where he teaches 7th grade English today! In addition, he is head coach for the Evergreen HS Wrestling team and serves as Middle School Rep With the Highline Education Association.   Recorded at Roots Church

The Dropkick fifth episode! Interviewing Pulemau Savusa.

The Dropkick's third episode! Interviewing Tony Vo

The Dropkick second episode! Interviewing Keilah Fanene.

The Dropkick's first episode! Interviewing the one and only Kimnang Seng!