Civic Commons Partners with Priya Frank to Introduce New Series, #CivicCrush
By Frank Nam, We Belong Here Project Director
This week represents love in all its forms, and lucky for us, love is one of the three values of the Greater Seattle Compact for Belonging and something near and dear to our hearts. To encourage this value, we feel it’s time to regularly celebrate the people in our region who work to inspire belonging, promote justice, and, of course, encourage the heart.
Therefore, Civic Commons has partnered with Priya Frank (Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Seattle Art Museum and lover of all things hearts, unicorns and rainbows) to introduce a project called #CivicCrush. This is a series designed to honor amazing folx in the community whose care, leadership, and values have inspired a better place for all of us to live, play, work, and create.
To kick it off, Priya and I wanted to share two of OUR civic crushes; people who have inspired our own practices of community building and belonging.
Frank Nam:
My #CivicCrush is Colleen Echohawk (CEO, Eighth Generation). Colleen cares for our region in its entirety. People, institutions, sports teams, small businesses, and the environment have all benefited from her compassion. She truly makes me feel like we all belong here. Prior to her current role at Eighth Generation, Colleen was the Executive Director of Chief Seattle Club and Interim CEO of YouthCare Seattle. She ran for Mayor in Seattle in the last election cycle and is a Board Trustee at Seattle Foundation and Seattle Colleges! We're not even finished. She also co-produced a podcast called Growing Old where they posed the question: What would it look like, within the next 50 years, for Seattle to become a place where both trees and humans grow old? As you can see, Colleen is someone I both admire and am inspired by!
Colleen Echohawk (CEO, Eighth Generation)
Priya Frank:
My #CivicCrush is the fabulous Tera Beach!!!! We met in 2012 when she was working for Rep. Jim McDermott’s office and I was at the UW Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity. Tera’s reputation as a leader and social justice advocate preceded her, and we became fast friends through our partnership work together. After Rep. McDermott retired from office, she took on the role of Executive Director of Spectrum Dance Theater, leading them through the pandemic while building thoughtful partnerships and authentic engagement. I got to see her incredible leadership through challenges, while continuing to lead with care, authenticity, and thoughtfulness.
As a native of Seattle, she genuinely cares about this community and the people in it (i.e. through formal participation as a board member for the Wing Luke Museum, umpteen committees, including for SAM, but also in so many informal capacities and mentorship of those in high level positions around the city). She flies so under the radar but she is a powerhouse and helps build equitable practices and platforms for the BIPOC creative community in so many ways. She is a Kevin Bacon of sorts!!! If you are her friend, she has your BACK. She is the most thoughtful gift giver. She thinks of you and reaches out and showers you with love when you need it the most, and also when you don’t realize you need it but you do. She also shows up for the birthdays. She spoils you. She loves you and never lets go. She is brave, vulnerable, beautiful and wise. She is proudly my #CivicCrush.
Tera Beach, Executive Director of Spectrum Dance Theater
So, we want to know… WHO IS YOUR #CivicCrush? What do they bring to this region and to your life? Let’s celebrate them!
Fill out our form to nominate your #CivicCrush! Who knows? Maybe one of your Civic Crushes will be featured on our social media or blog posts in the near future!
Reminders:
Civic Crushes exist in each sector
Civic Crushes help those around them feel like they belong
Civic Crushes care for everyone in our community
Civic Crushes don’t have to be leaders of organizations or famous
The most important detail is that your Civic Crush inspires you!