So cool to see Powell Barnett Park is back in the news and still doing great, 10 years after their big Makeover. I had the honor of producing a film for Starbucks at the time. This was a great example of Corporate Philanthropy in action, as the project was organized by local community activists, funded by a Starbucks grant, and much of the work was done by Starbucks partner volunteers. A beautiful example of diverse communities coming together to accomplish something special.
“Powell S. Barnett was the son of a slave who came west to work in the coal mines in Roslyn, Washington, before settling in Seattle’s Central District in 1906. In Seattle, the community leader’s many achievements included breaking the color barrier for the musicians’ union and semipro baseball, and advocating for Americans of Japanese ancestry interned during World War II. Powell Barnett died in 1971, two years after the park was named in his honor by children who attended nearby Leschi Elementary School.”
The video we produced at the time was so exciting. Time-lapse sequences of the park makeover, combined with aerial photography (pre-drone), earned media captures. This piece has it all. Enjoy! ~ Chris
