Yes, And...

“Even the most selfish person should find compassion very, very attractive,” expresses Sonam Nyatsatsang, the festival producer of Tibet Fest, with a smile. He is joined by Sontri Jorkhang, a volunteer for the festival and our youngest guest this season. They describe the Tibetan culture of compassion and what it looks like in their everyday lives. Sonam speaks to the history of Tibetan immigration to Seattle and the responsibility to be a voice for the 99% of Tibetans still living in Tibet, who do not have the freedom of expression he has, living in the United States. While, Sontri shares his passion for his culture and respect for his elders, which fuels a sense of responsibility to keep the festival thriving for future generations of Tibetans.  Learn more about Tibet Fest: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/tibetfest Compassion 2020 Program: https://www.wagenerals.org/compassion2020 09/17/19 Update: Sontri was selected to participate in the 2020 delegation!

Title: Indigenous People Festival: Gathering Together Description: “I don’t have trouble knowing who I am. I am Tlingit,” states LaVerne Wise who describes herself as the “Director of Happiness” at Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB). LaVerne works with our second guest, Brad Angerman, the Director of Communications at SIHB. They both represent the Tlingit tribe in Southeast Alaska. LaVerne and Brad discuss personal stories about identity, contemporary representation within the Indigenous People Festival, and the importance of educating oneself on the federal census — especially how the census impacts policy, funding and the livelihood of indigenous communities around the entire nation.  Learn more about Indigenous People Festival: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/indigenous-people-festival

“We are everywhere; we’re just under the radar,” expresses John Morovich, board member of CroatiaFest. His mother and our second guest, Cathryn Morovich, is the festival co-producer. Together, they offer personal stories and the history of Croats in Seattle, highlighting many hidden innovations located across the city. Representing two generations and a deep family connection to the festival, John and Cathryn carry pride, passion and knowledge of Croatian culture with a mission to embody it throughout CroatiaFest. Learn more about CroatiaFest: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/croatiafest

“What does it mean to be Chinese? What does it mean to be American? Where is the balance?” asks Vivian Huang, Marketing Chair for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month Celebration. Along with her, Peter Tsai, the festival producer, speaks to the history of API communities in Seattle and how the festival emerged alongside the official designation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) in May. Both guests were born and raised in Seattle. Despite the difference of time periods, Vivian and Peter share a common theme of feeling cultural support and belonging. They also acknowledge the challenge of honoring tradition inside and outside the festival, while striving to incorporate a contemporary experience.  Learn more about Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/api-heritage-month-celebration

“Come ready to participate!” proclaims dancer, Lena Silverman, who grew up in Seattle and within BrasilFest. She is joined by Eduardo Mendonça, festival co-producer of BrasilFest. They represent two distinct generations and the contrasting experiences of immigrating from Brazil to the U.S. as an adult and growing up as a first-generation mixed race Brazilian youth in Seattle. Lena and Eduardo speak to the history and impact of the festival and their personal challenges with identity and social justice. They share how BrasilFest challenges stereotypes through arts, food, programming, and discussions that represents the diversity of Brazil and also what it means to be American.  Learn more about BrasilFest: http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/festal/brasilfest 2018 BrasilFest Youth Panel: A Journey Inside the Minds of Brazilian Youth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tlzy4E6DJYY

This youth-focused episode highlights the advocacy efforts and leadership experience of Mariam Bayo, Zion Thomas, Karishma Vahora and Khatami Chau. They share their opinions on how adults can successfully invite youth to collaborate, offering advice on mentorship with integrity through self-reflection, patience, and listening.

Activists Angelica Chazaro, Matt Remle, Rashad Barber and Kelsen Caldwell share their different methods and fields of activism, ranging from community-based organizing to working within non-profits. They challenge the notion of scarcity and the battle for resources, acknowledging money is not the only valuable form of resource, but community collaboration can take an effort farther than imagined. The guests speak about their visions for change and describe hope as a discipline and encourage the belief that every person can contribute value to activist efforts. Life provides the skills to create positive transformations within one’s communities.

Jess Ramirez, LC and Kalisto Zenda Nanen discuss gentrification as a lived experience that cannot be wrapped up into a single definition. The effects are intersectional and felt through generations of limited opportunities, erasing one’s sense of place, ownership and belonging. Presenting the question, “Who is making the sacrifice for your convenience?” they encourage people to think of the larger community and how individual decisions can deeply affect their neighbors. These guests also offer their perspectives on policy and individual actions with new mindsets aiming toward a greater level of self-awareness and compassion.

ChrisTiana ObeySumner, Michelle Jenkins and Katie Wilson have an honest and powerful conversation about their experience, and offer insight on barriers that drive someone into homelessness and keeps them there. With the intention to build a holistic, compassionate and humanistic point of view, their conversation challenges the stereotypes often associated to being homeless. They advocate for an individual and political approach that focuses on prevention versus intervention. They offer their wisdom on how people can change their cultural mindset. So when faced with homelessness, do not ask, “How did this person fail?” but rather, “How has society failed this person?”

Monserrat Padilla, Rocio Carranza and Jake Prendez embody different shapes of activism within the Seattle Latinx community and outlining towns. From opening cultural centers that support and bring together community to political efforts in defense of Dreamers and being a resource for those terrorized by ICE, these three individuals support and defend their Latinx community in ways typically not highlighted in the news. Together, they describe their experiences of growing up as minorities, defining what it means to be Latinx and discovering their place within Seattle.

Creatives Randy Ford, Neve Kamilah Mazique-Bianco and Scott McCall speak to their experience as POC fine artists, dancers and performers in a city where barriers to success are multi-layered. Whether that means being priced out of neighborhoods or having their art form being categorized as lesser, resiliency is required to face the inequities they have encountered as creative Seattle professionals. They speak to racism, ableism, queer phobia, and classism as it intersects with the art and dance world. They also share their incredible accomplishments and advice for moving toward a greater culture of self-awareness within the arts, not only with the intention of diversity, but taking thoughtful action toward planning a truly welcoming and inclusive space.

Welcome to the introduction episode where Steve Sneed, Managing Artistic Director of Cultural Programs at Seattle Center, and Gabriela Ayala-Cañizares, producer and podcast host, share how this project began. They also explain why each episode is not only focused around expanding the understanding of any given topic, but also braving into more solution-based conversations on the social issues that impact Seattle. There is also a preview of the topics explored in this season and the weekly release schedule.