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Bandit Theater’s “Mad Science” crew at a past performance. Photo by Bandit Theater.

Nurturing Our Neighborhoods: Bandit Theater bringing improv to communities

There are countless nonprofits working to build community every day, but not many do it like Bandit Theater.  “We realized that the best way to build community through comedy is to bring comedy to community,” said Annie Barry, the founder and artistic director of Bandit Theater. After working in comedy theaters across the country for…

A coho salmon returning to Longfellow Creek to spawn struggles to swim upstream after traveling hundreds of miles to its final destination.

6PPD: How it harms salmon and what DNDA is doing to help

When rain falls, as it did on 120 days in Seattle last year, it usually lands on hard surfaces, like sidewalks, streets, rooftops, and cars. As it makes its way toward storm drains, the water carries pollution from microplastics, fertilizers, trash, tires, and other contaminants. Normally, this rainwater is collected and cleaned by wastewater treatment…

Co-executive directors of DNDA posing with mascot Buoy. Photo by photographer Jamison A. Johnson.

More than 150 Seattle Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena staff volunteered to restore Camp Long

On Wednesday, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) hosted more than 150 employees of the Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, Kraken Community Iceplex, and Oak View Group at a forest restoration event at Camp Long.  The volunteers — which included the Kraken’s mascot, Buoy the sea troll, as well the team’s co-owner and co-chair, Samantha Holloway — collectively…

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

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

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…

Nature School Programs Blog Post Feature Image

Partnering with DNDA’s environmental educators for forest restoration field trips

Call them lessons in “applied ecology.” At the start of 2024, Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) worked at Camp Long with multiple classrooms of fifth graders from Fairmount Park Elementary. The fifth graders planted ferns, native shrubs — including salmonberry and thimbleberry — and various conifers trees. Students joined the regular restoration work parties that…

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

Nurturing Our Neighborhoods: Nepantla’s new community tradition

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…

Watercolor Classes Reflection Blog Post Feature Image

How DNDA’s watercolor classes build community through creativity

Room 102 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center has been buzzing with creativity and laughter every Wednesday during Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association’s (DNDA) watercolor mixed-media art classes. DNDA’s Art team started offering watercolor classes free to the community in fall 2023 in hopes the activity would bring neighbors together. Our team’s hopes were exceeded when the…

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

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

  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…