Neighborhood Blog

Claudia Villalobos setting up an Art Outside booth with festivities behind her for the Lowrider Block Party by The Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in White Center. Photo by LouBaba Boury.

Nurturing Our Neighborhoods: Seattle Paint Party making art accessible for all

By Communications Manager | March 6, 2024

Young kids and teenagers flooded into Seattle Paint Party’s art booth at a block party in White Center — hosted by Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery —  last summer. They stood in awe at the many art stations to choose from, including watercolors, jewelry making, painting, and button designing. When parents asked how much it all…

Willard Brown posing with Hero of the Deep award check

Seattle Kraken honor former DNDA board president and staff member

By Communications Manager | March 1, 2024

At the Seattle Kraken vs. Vancouver Canucks game on February 22, the Kraken and their partners honored longtime Delridge community leader Willard Brown as a “Hero of the Deep,” which included a $32,000 donation to a nonprofit of his choice. Willard dedicated the Kraken Unity Fund grant to Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) to support…

Aerial photo taken by drone of the Nepantla Lowrider Block Party. Photo by Alika Virtudes.

Nurturing Our Neighborhoods: Nepantla’s new community tradition

By Communications Manager | February 21, 2024

Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery in Delridge, Seattle, saw record-breaking attendance at its third annual Lowrider Block Party for local Latinx, Chicano/Chicana, and Hispanic communities, hosted last summer using funding from Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA).  Co-owners and co-directors — and co-life partners — Jake Prendez and Judy Avitia-Gonzalez opened the doors to Nepantla Cultural Arts…

DNDA’s co-executive directors, Mesha Florentino (left) and Imani Sims (right).

Our Vision for a Vibrant Delridge: DNDA’s 2024 goals

By Communications Manager | January 3, 2024

  A message bringing us into the new year from DNDA’s co-executive directors — Mesha Florentino, director of housing and finance, and Imani Sims, director of people and programs.   Delridge — a neighborhood with a rich tapestry of history and diverse communities — is on the cusp of transformation. Our vision for the future of…

Photo of David Bestock and DNDA's co-executive directors

A farewell from David Bestock, DNDA’s longtime executive director

By Communications Manager | December 20, 2023

A farewell message from David Bestock, DNDA’s longtime executive director.  It is bittersweet to reflect on my time at Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) after I chose to step away after 11 years of service. I have absolutely loved this work, this organization, and all the incredible people I have had the pleasure of working…

Proyecto Saber’s mural in front of Denny International Middle School in West Seattle. Photo by Proyecto Saber.

Nurturing Our Neighborhoods: Proyecto Saber’s mural of resilience

By Communications Manager | December 7, 2023

When Albert Albanes heard Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) launched applications for arts and culture grants to fund local initiatives, he was thrilled to apply. Albert and his team in the Proyecto Saber program at Denny International Middle School were looking for grants to develop a cultural arts project for Latinx students. “We wanted to…