South King County Cultural Coalition

South King County cities, arts, heritage and cultural organizations have formed a coalition to increase visibility and participation in their performing, visual, public art and cultural programs.  The South King County Cultural Coalition was launched last spring when Julia Patterson, Councilmember of the King County Council, hosted a luncheon in Kent.

“Arts and heritage define communities and they spur economic growth,” said King County Councilmember Julia Patterson.  “Burien, SeaTac, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, Enumclaw each have their own unique, wonderful offerings so South King County residents need not drive into Seattle.”

The luncheon’s program reviewed the artistic and cultural vitality of South King County.  More than 150 elected officials, community activists and representatives of arts and heritage organizations turned out to talk about how to propel culture in the cities that are located south of Seattle.

“I’m interested in helping South County cities and cultural organizations better organize themselves in order to successfully compete for the public and private funds that fuel arts and cultural programs,” Patterson explained.  “I invited the cultural organizations to mobilize and to strategize to ensure that citizens in our communities have access to the quality community-building activities.”

The high interest that launched the coalition reflects that South King County is home to more than a third of King County’s population and that the number of symphonies, theater troupes, museums and dance companies operating in this area has exploded in the last ten years.

To date, more than two-dozen cultural organizations make up the coalition.  Member organizations include the Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Federal Way’s Centerstage Theatre, the Highline Historical Society, Burien Arts Gallery, Evergreen City Ballet, Kent Historical Society, Northwest Renaissance Poets, Rainier Symphony, White River Valley Museum, Neely Mansion Association and Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection.

The coalition’s initial projects have included a website, collaborative marketing, fundraising and advocacy initiatives as well as bi-monthly meetings, where members can network and hear guest speakers.

“The website (www.sococulture.org funded by 4Culture, formally the Cultural Development Authority of King County and The Boeing Company) provides a calendar featuring cultural activities in South King County, so citizens can look there when making plans close to home,” states coalition chair Linda Petersen, who serves on the board of the Kent Civic and Performing Arts Center.

The coalition is open to all arts and heritage organizations that present, produce, preserve and propel culture in South King County.  Its members include organizations involved in theater, music, dance, literary and heritage organizations as well as government and education agencies, including the Kent School District, which plans to list its major performing arts events on the website.

“For a nominal $25 annual membership fee, the coalition provides an opportunity to build a strong presence for culture in our region,” said Petersen.

For more information about the coalition, visit the website, www.sococulture.org, or contact Petersen at petersenlinda@comcast.net.

 

Fund for Ailing Crew Chief

NASCAR Driver, Jerrod Sessler, has set up a fund for his crew chief, John King.  King is undergoing treatment for Stage 4 breast cancer and is without a paycheck and health insurance. Sessler has agreed to match gifts to the fund up to $1,000.

Breast cancer in men is rare.  According to the American Cancer Society in 2003, approximately only 1,300 men were diagnosed in the United States while 212,000 women received the same diagnosis that year.

NASCAR driver, Jerrod Sessler, understands the struggles his crew chief is facing.  "It has been just over five years since I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and told I was going to die.  Fortunately, I made some radical changes in my life, learned a lot, avoided conventional medical advice and trusted God."

King and Sessler saw immediate success on the track this year as King turned a rough set-up into a car that "just smoothed out once it was up to speed,".   With that, they had no troubles qualifying and competing within the top five.  "John is amazing with regard to knowing what to do to the racecar.  Communication is sometimes intense as we try to understand each other.  John uses old-school experience while I prefer a more technical approach."  Sessler, a degreed engineer, views chassis set up from a different perspective but the results of the combination of experience and education work.

"John is a fierce competitor.  He climbed all over me after a race for spinning out and I, of course, was upset.  When we talked, he just said, with his big John King smile, 'I want to win just as bad as you do man.'  I really respect his drive and passion for what he does.  He doesn't do this because he makes lots of money.  He is like most of us in racing, he just loves it."

Sessler is now seeking sponsorship for competition at the national level.  He hopes this platform will enable him to further share the lessons he has learned about diet and lifestyle and the impact these day-to-day choices had on saving his life from Stage 4 cancer.

Those interested in making a donation can do so through Key Bank’s “John King Survivor Fund” or http://www.jerrodsessler.com/kingfund.htm.