Category: General

Voices of Community celebrates Solid Ground’s roots

Posted May 29, 2014 by Mike Buchman

Forty years ago this season, Solid Ground’s forefathers and foremothers came together dedicated to a singular mission: They would lift up the depressed neighborhood of Fremont, building community through art, activism and a wildly positive attitude. The fruits of their labor are visible in the art-saturated Fremont community of the 21st Century; in the thriving culture of recycling started by the early Fremont Public Association (FPA); and in the legacy of good works strewn across King County in fighting poverty and oppressions.

This legacy was built not only by the FPA and Solid Ground, but also via the groups and organizations that have spun off from us: Fremont Arts Council, Seattle Workers Center, Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), Economic Opportunity Institute, our Broadview Shelter & Transitional Housing, our Giving Garden at Marra Farm, our Sand Point Housing campus, and countless others.

On Thursday May 8, founders, friends, current staff, volunteers and program participants came together at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center (located in the neighborhood now known as the “Center of the Universe“!) to rekindle our founding impulse through story, socializing and celebration.

Some of the highlights are captured in these video clips of stories told by Armen Napoleon Stepanian – the honorary but official Mayor of Fremont, self-declared Christopher Columbus of Curbside Recycling, and legendary political rabble-rouser – and Frank Chopp, for many years the irrepressible Executive Director of FPA, now Senior Advisor to Solid Ground, and Speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives. More clips will be posted on this blog soon. Enjoy the power and the passion (and sorry for the compromised audio; we’ve got subtitles to help you along!)

: Armen Napoleon Stepanian: Father of curbside recycling, honorary Mayor of Fremont & face of the dog on Fremont’s “Waiting for the Interurban” statue

: Communications Director Mike Buchman welcomes founding FPA Board member Pat Proulx

: Armen Stepanian & former Board member Al Krabill

: Solid Ground’s President & CEO, Gordon McHenry, Jr. with storyteller and Voices of Community MC, Kathya Alexander

: Former Board Chair Andrea Faste & Robert Nylander

: Long-time Fremont Fair Director Al Parisi, Solstice Parade founder Barbara Luecke, Mayor Armen Stepanian & Mike Peck

: Retired Marra Farm Coordinator Sue McGann catches up with Ariana Cantu, former Solid Ground Administrative Manager

: Former Lettuce Link Program Manager Michelle Bates-Benetua with her two children

: Former Solid Ground staff (l-r) Paul Haas, Resource Development; Kellie Port, Financial Education; Anne Dederer, Family Assistance

: Michelle Bates-Benetua with current Solid Ground staff, Stabilization Department Director Kyra Zylstra and Statewide Poverty Action Network Director Marcy Bowers

: Pat Proulx with her niece Tricia

: Storyteller and event MC Kathya Alexander chats with Armen Stepanian

: Old workplace buddies: Kellie Port & Anne Dederer

: Mike Buchman introduces the storytelling segment

: MC Kathya Alexander

: Kathya Alexander, Al Krabill, Pat Proulx & Armen Stepanian

: Kathya Alexander & Armen Stepanian

: Fremont Chamber of Commerce Director Jessica Vets

: Juanita Maestas, Statewide Poverty Action Network Board member and co-founder of the Human Dignity Project

: Juanita’s grandson Anthony was an active participant!

: Pat Proulx talks about the early days of FPA

: Al Krabill

: Andrea Faste was a long-time Board member and Chair

: Mike Peck told the story of the Fremont Rocket!

: Barbara Luecke recalls how Fremont’s arts community infused the spirit of the FPA

: Roger Wheeler

: Attendees

: Attendees

: Andrea Faste & Robert Nylander

: Jay & former Board Chair Jane Reich

: Lettuce Link program’s Robin DeCook with former Cooking Matters staffer, Emily Gordon

: Retired Solid Ground Transportation Driver John F. Reed

: Former Board member and long-time Associate Director at the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Alice Woldt

: Alice Woldt

: Anne Dederer, former Lead Benefits Attorney with Solid Ground’s Family Assistance program

: Frank Chopp, Fremont Public Association Executive Director, and current Solid Ground Senior Advisor and Speaker of the WA State House of Representatives