S1 EP8: Resilience with Evana Enabulele, Mariama Suwaneh and Ashraf Hasham
In this podcast we are excited to launch our four-part series with The Gates Discovery Center's "In Community We Flourish" events. Each event will highlight young people who are local changemakers in our community!
Today's podcast includes two changemakers, Evana Enabulele of Queer the Land and Mariama Suwaneh of Hopelink. They are joined by City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture's Ashraf Hasham who is the Youth Arts Manager.
Our guests share stories around resiliency, family, activism, arts, and the power of taking care of oneself during these times of pandemic and racial revolution.
All three shared personal and professional projects towards the end.
Evana talked about the great milestone of Queer the Land as they purchased their first home. It's a 12-bedroom house in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. They are looking for folx to come help with their bodies to get the place ready, their minds if they have knowledge about housing regulations, and their bank accounts if they are able to donate financially.
Mariama shouted out her amazing blog for women of color: The Audacious Blog. She is also launching a podcast with a friend that will come out next month. Follow the blog for updates!
Ashraf talked about how the City of Seattle’s efforts at civic recovery are housed at Seattle Together. He spoke specifically on any help to think of innovative ways to employ the creative community. Many have lost their means of support due to the economic impacts in the region.
Responses for any of these endeavors can be sent to us at f.nam@civic-commons.org. We will happily forward along any notes to our guests.
0:27 - Partnership with Gates Discovery Center introduction
0:57 - Evana introduction
1:07 - Ashraf introduction
1:21 - Mariama introduction
2:38 - Mariama talks abouts the Black National Anthem and her background as an Afro-Latina
3:26 - Mariama talks about being well in mind, body, and soul
3:43 - Ashraf talks about joy, love, and optimism and how what you put out there is what you get back.
4:43 - Ashraf also talks about immigration
5:32 - Evana talks about the importance of mental health when dealing with capitalism and patriarchy
6:30 - Evana talks about how many times you don't have a choice other than to be resilient.
7:07 - Evana talks about her mom who is a psychologist and how it helps them
8:50 - Evana talks about being home-schooled by their mom who taught them how to talk through their feelings
10:41 - Evana talks about Queer the Land, a housing collective and that work how it connects to their mom
11:53 - There's a discussion around the power of taking care of self and saying no. They are always pushing the younger activists in Decrim Seattle to take days off.
12:42 - Evana loves dogs, cats, chicken, and plants!
13:41 - Ashraf's optimism also makes it hard to say no to things
14:50 - Ashraf talks about his immigrant roots from Pakistan and his family's small business in Ballard and how they modeled community kindness and aid. Shout out to the Tobacco Plus!
18:31 - Ashraf talks about his work around arts access and youth empowerment
20:00 - Frank talks about his immigrant parents and their sacrifices
23:23 - Mariama talks about how her mom housed kids from the neighborhood who had challenges as young people
26:30 - Mariama talks about experience in Israel and Palestine and the love of being a resource for folx
27:30 - Frank talks about how resilience has to be a two-way street - give and take and how important it is to water each other with our stories
29:17 - Evana talks about the house that Queer the Land bought in Beacon Hill and how people can help
35:28 - Mariama talks about her blog, The Audacious blog and how it helps women of color!
37:00 - Mariama is about to launch a new podcast. Can't say it yet but stay tuned for their September launch and follow by going to The Audacious Blog!
41:10 - Ashraf talks about how the city is looking to hire local artists who are under-employed to create art education videos
43:50 - Ashraf talks about the City's efforts towards civic recovery, particularly in the creative sector
Special thanks to Big Phony for providing music for the We Belong Here podcast.