About Rainier Beach Story Guild

The Rainier Beach Story Guild is engaging a team of local youth to explore the art of story-telling through various media and modes of expression as a channel for both personal and community growth during a pivotal moment in the journey of the Rainier Beach neighborhood.

The youth are gaining skills, confidence, and public recognition as they discover and share their own stories and the stories of community members and groups not always recognized for their contributions to the culture and development of the neighborhood to both complement and reinforce the impact of major initiatives now unfolding in Rainier Beach.

Their individual and collective work during the project will be gathered and published in online portfolios on the SE Seattle FreedomNet Web site, which will also contribute to the documentation of the community’s transformation over the coming months as major grassroot initiatives take root, including the Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands Project, Rainier Beach Moving Forward, opening of the Rainier Beach Community Center, and the implementation of the Byrne Justice grant.

Story telling is a key leadership competency for the 21st century. Knowing how to deliver a story effectively combined with knowing the right story to tell is a powerful influencing and communication skill. We intend to use it to connect youth to neighborhood initiatives by providing understanding, belief and ultimately motivation in the personal contribution that they can make.

The Rainier Beach Story Guild is funded by a grant from the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative and the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.