News

We’re making a book!!!

We are so devastated to learn that Lottie Cross has passed. We were very fortunate to interview her, in 2017. Here are some of the stories she shared.

We are excited and honored to announce Shelf Life’s new collaboration with Wa Na Wari, a project that is reclaiming space for Black art, stories, and connection in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood.

On December 19th, Shelf Life and friends went outside with a projector and shared stories, images, and poetry from the Central District with neighbors.

In 2016, Shelf Life interviewed J.J. Jackson about his experience growing up in the Central District. As far as we can tell, J.J. has been bringing people joy and feeding the community as long as he has been on this earth. Now, he needs his community to give back. He has been diagnosed with Prostate, Bone, and Lung Cancer, and some of his expenses won't be covered. Please listen to his stories, and then help if you can.
https://www.gofundme.com/a-little-extra-help-for-jj-jackson

We are saddened to learn that R & L Home of Good Bar-B-Que will close its doors after 66 years in business. We’d like to share a few stories about R & L that Shelf Life interviewees have shared with us.

Shelf Life has known for a long time that we need to ask Central District residents (and those with roots in the CD) how community stories can serve the neighborhood. How can Shelf Life return these stories to the community in ways that are meaningful?

We have some very exciting news for radio listeners who love the Shelf Life podcast. We are on your radio. Your actual radio. 

Listen to stories from Central District residents about how they are impacted by the displacement taking place in their neighborhood, followed by suggested resources (books and films).

This week is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Seattle Black Panther Party Chapter. Here are some stories we've recorded with people who participated in, or benefited from, the Seattle Black Panther Party.

We want to mark the passing of community leader and entrepreneur, DeCharlene Williams. On the same day that Dr Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated, DeCharlene Williams opened her beauty salon in Seattle's Central District neighborhood. In the first story, DeCharlene talks about how hard it was to start a business as a young, black woman. In the second story, Marie Kidhe talks about the importance of her regular childhood visits to DeCharlene's salon. 

At the end of 2017, the Red Apple grocery, at 23rd and Jackson, closed forever. Listen to community members talk about what the Red Apple meant to them.