Northwest African Art Museum (NAAM) 28

She says revenue from “Black Santa” doubled from 2018 to 2019, and 2020’s Martin Luther King Day celebration was the best yet, with 206 volunteers and 3,500 visitors.

“Our rentals have been ridiculous,” Bell said. “We rent out for weddings, birthdays, company trainings. It’s a beautiful space, and people love to be surrounded by black art.

“Our executive director has built up a great team, and we have seen a huge growth in our programs, always making sure we are inclusive,” Bell added.

In 2019, the museum racked up three honors: joining the Standards and Excellence Program of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History, being named a finalist for the National Medal for Museum Service Award, the highest award for museum community service, and the Exhibition of the Year Award by the Association of King County Historical Organizations.

NAAM’s next goal? Accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums.

“Only about 3 percent of museums in the U.S. are accredited,” Bell said. “So that will help us stand apart, holding to certain standards.”

For all ages, of all backgrounds, NAAM offers visitors an enriching experience, Bell said.

Photo courtesy NAAM The idea for the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle developed in 1981 but did not become reality until 2012. It is at the site of the former Colman School building.

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Seattle offers places to worship for all

By Anna Power

No matter a person’s faith, Seattle has a place for them to practice and find community. There are many different places of worship throughout the city. Below are six places of worship for a glimpse of the variety of religious practices Seattle has to offer.

Idris Mosque

Idris Mosque is located at 1420 N.E. Northgate Way in North Seattle.

The Muslim house of worship holds five daily prayer services throughout each day, Sister Azizeh Farajallah said.

They often open up their space to other members of Seattle’s faith community for events, such as “cup of tea,” which takes place four times a year.

“Cup of Tea is an event where people from different faiths come to talk about Islam and fight Islamophobia, simply by serving tea and having meaningful conversation with our neighbors who come to our mosque during these times,” event organizer Elyaa Hammad said.

Other ways the mosque connects with the community is through its homeless outreach, an annual barbeque, a weekend school for children and a weekly women’s circle.

“We have a women’s circle every Friday night where women gather in a room together and discuss a topic from Islam or just vent and talk about issues that we’re facing,” Farajallah said.

Through these practices, Idris Mosque provides a strong sense of connection and support for all who wish to be a part of their community.

Farajallah said the mosque welcomes newcomers.

“We are always open for anybody who would like to join our community,” she said.

For more information, go to https://www.idrismosque. com/.

Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji

Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji is a Buddhist temple located at 1733 S. Horton St. in North Beacon Hill, according to its website site, choboji.org/.

The temple holds daily meditation services, Reverend Sendo Anne Howells said.

“After Saturday morning meditation, we have a council meeting where people speak about what comes up during meditation,” Howells said.

Services take place in the temple’s Japanesestyle seated meditation room with wooden floors, cushions, calligraphy scrolls on walls and flowers on the altar to generate a peaceful, calm and powerful atmosphere, Howells said. There is a garden right outside for people to visit and walk through.

“We have an intro to Zen class on Thursdays to introduce people to ritual. Everyone is welcome,” Howells said.

The community practices a Zen form of Buddhism, where people can come once a week or every day to be a part of the small and intimate community, Howells said.

“We also host a BIPOC sitting group on Sunday morning, 9 to 10 a.m. in an effort to be more inclusive and extend outreach,” Howells said.

Mount Zion Baptist Church

In a city that is only 6.8 percent Black or African American, according to Seattle.gov, finding community is important, yet difficult. One church is built on providing a religious community for African Americans in Seattle.

Mount Zion Baptist Church is located at 1634 19th Ave. in the Central District, according to its website, mountzion.net.

“In 1890, one year after Washington became a state and thirty-eight years after Seattle was established as a city, a small group of African Americans held prayer services in their homes. These prayer services became the Mount Zion Baptist Church,” according to the site.

The church is now known as home to the largest African American congregation in Washington state, according to the site.

Regular service times include Sunday Worship at 7:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., Evening Pray at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, along with Sunday School classes and Children’s Church, according to the site.

Mount Zion also has mentorship programs and community service outreach.

Saint James Cathedral

Saint James Cathedral is a Catholic church located at 804 Ninth Ave. in the First Hill neighborhood, according to the website, www.stjames-cathedral.org.

The church offers daily Mass, along with six masses throughout the weekend, Father Michael Ryan said.

These frequent services, along with outreach programs, help bring the community together, he said.

“We run a kitchen where

we feed typically 115 to 200 people six days a week,” Ryan said. “We run an overnight homeless shelter eight months of the year. We also have an immigrant assistance program, where we help people who arrive in the country to learn the language and to help them with citizenship issues.”

Saint James Cathedral is a 120-year-old Renaissancestyle building filled with stained glass, Ryan said.

“We have a reputation of being so warm and welcoming, and a strong community with a solid presence in the larger community,” he said. “It’s just a great place to worship and a great place to serve.”

Temple De Hirsch Sinai

Temple De Hirsch Sinai is a Reform Jewish congregation with two locations: one at 1511 E. Pike St. near the Central District and another at 3850 156th Ave. S.E. in Bellevue, according to its website, https://templedehirschsinai. org/.

“The most important thing about our congregation, particularly what distinguishes it from other communities, is our size of the depth and breadth of the we offer. We are a part of the Reform Jewish movement, which is the most modernist, egalitarian inclusive movement,” Senior Rabbi Daniel Weiner said.

The temple holds worship services Friday nights and Saturday mornings for Sabbath. It also offers religious school, Hebrew training, and social action opportunities, Weiner said.

“We extend ourselves to be welcoming and supportive of interfaith families, non-nuclear families and diversity in our current society,” Weiner said.

Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church

Many people come to Seattle for its strong Queer - community, including in their religious spaces.

Emerald City Metropolitan Community Church based in Queer inclusive theology was developed for LGBTQ+ community members to practice their faith openly in a safe space.

ECMCC is located at 1415 N.E. 43rd St. in University District, according to the website, www.mccseattle. org/.

“The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches was founded in 1968 by Reverend Troy Perry, specifically to minister to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community at a time when other Christian denominations were not open and affirming,” according to the website. “The LGBTQ+ community has an ongoing need to approach God without shame or second-class status.”

Regular worship takes

Top Left Photo Courtesy Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji The Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji Meditation room is where the Buddhist temple holds daily meditation services.

Top Right Photo courtesy Saint James Cathedral The photo, from the west end of Saint James Cathedral, shows the inside of the Catholic church.

From page 6

“The Ship Canal Trail all the way from Third West to South Lake Union.”

— Ellen Monrad, Queen Anne

What neighborhood would you visit more if you had the chance, and why?

“Alki: Taking a water taxi to stroll along a beachfront with Salty's, burger joints, cafes and a brewery!”

— David Moehring, Magnolia

“I am a homebody; Queen Anne has everything I need except museums.”

— Ellen Monrad, Queen Anne

What are good places to meet people in Seattle?

“Coffee shops, parks, waterfront and street markets.”

— David Moehring, Magnolia

What are some places you like to visit on a rainy day and why?

“I love browsing in used bookstores on rainy days, always have, and I am a used-book hoarder, particularly for history. I would really like to explore how we can incorporate into the work of the Economic Development Committee, where I serve as vice chair, a plan to protect and expand our ever-dwindling independent used bookstores. Mercer Street Books in Uptown is my main go to, but as I range out of District 7, the neighborhood used bookstore is always one of my stops.”

— Seattle City Councilmember Andrew Lewis, Uptown

“The many fabulous museums in our city. I just love MOHAI [Museum of History & Industry]. As a fourth-generation Washingtonian, with roots long and deep in Seattle, it is my happy place to explore our city’s and region’s wonderful, vibrant and not-so-wonderful past. As a former school teacher, it is heaven for families, with many great exhibits specifically designed for children (and the child in all of us — I am in my early 60s, and I just love their interactive exhibits). MOHAI is located easily from downtown and takes you into the South Lake Union area, an evolving neighborhood that, prior to COVID, was a hot and happening place — another great example of how our fair city is constantly evolving and changing — fun!”