blog

jubilee's former intern

Wednesday, 24 March 2010 17:24

Jubilee's former Community Relations Intern, Whitney Lewis, was recognized in a recent Bicycle Alliance newsletter for one of the many amazing things she did at Jubilee! Working with the Bicycle Alliance's Metro/King County Lost Bicycle Program and Seattle DOT, Whitney secured a generous donation of 10 bicycles and a bike rack, helping to give Jubilee residents an inexpensive mode of transportation that promotes good health and exercise. Since Whitney's initial connection with the Bicycle Alliance, they have donated even more bicycles to our residents!

Jubilee is still in need of: bicycle u-locks, head and tail lights, and brand new helmets. Call (206) 324-1244 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info. Donations accepted M-F 9:30am to 6pm at 620 18th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112.

the diversity panel

Tuesday, 08 December 2009 13:36

A departure from one of our regular house meetings was the event of a wonderful evening celebrating our diversity. A panel of four very powerful women came to meet with us, not only to describe the joys of their culture but also to talk about the many difficulties of being seen as ‘different’ in our society.  A Latina, Philippina, an African American, and a paraplegic woman; all let us in to hear some very personal experiences they have encountered in their lives, and were inspiring in their descriptions of how they cope, what they’ve learned and how they see themselves as unique and happy with who they are.

A very lively discussion came out of their willingness to talk about things people usually don’t talk about.  It gave our residents the opportunity to disclose their own experiences and to open a dialogue with one another that might not otherwise have occurred. 

Several residents came up to me at the end of the evening to say that they hope we have more of these gatherings.  One of the women connected with a panelist who works at Seattle Art Museum, and she gave her a lead on a job at the museum.

Another talked privately with a panelist and learned more of her story, which was very similar to her own life. Many others talked about loving the laughter and candid conversation we all enjoyed.  A great evening!

Kathy Lewis
Care Manager

“Thank you for being.”

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 16:17

This expression is one that has gained prominence in recent years, and it is an expression that I find relevant to working with the residents of Jubilee Women’s Center. 

We live in a culture that places significant emphasis and value upon personal accomplishment.  But when a woman finds herself homeless, when she finds herself unable to earn adequate income or sustain sufficient employment, unable to maintain family and support networks, unable to sustain the life that she has always dreamed of, she can enter a place of intense self-condemnation. Statements of self-negation are plentiful in these moments as women can perceive homelessness and residing in transitional housing as a badge of failure and worthlessness.

I believe that there is nothing more punishing to the human spirit than self-negation, and there is nothing more heartbreaking than to watch someone that you care for and believe in pummel herself with punishing self-criticism that does not allow her the capacity to see her amazing resilience, her inner fire and beauty, her exceptional skills, savvy, and strength, her brilliant courage, her innate power, and most importantly, her gift of self.  It is my deep wish that in this holiday season, each woman who comes through the doors of Jubilee Women’s Center--be it a new program applicant, a current resident, a volunteer, donor, staff or community member--recognizes the gift that she is just by being who she is.

Dannette Allen
Care Manager

breakfast, bikes, and more . . .

Tuesday, 24 November 2009 10:04

A lot of exciting things have happened in the past few weeks…

We had an immensely successful Benefit Breakfast on October 6th, bringing in over $250,000!! Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to make the event run so smoothly; we couldn’t have done it without you!

On October 17th, a group of Seattle Works volunteers came to Jubilee for a fall house cleaning. They left the place sparkling, providing our residents with a clean and comfortable place to live. Thank you Seattle Works volunteers!!

10 lucky residents are receiving free bikes! The Bicycle Alliance donated 10 used bikes to our residents and The City of Seattle put in a bike rack in front of JWC for free. Along with these generous gifts, other local agencies and stores have donated their time and products: Free Range Cycles has been donating repair work on all the bikes to ensure they are safe and rideable for the women, Cascade Bicycle Club donated helmets and city bike maps, and Recycled Cycles donated heavy duty U-locks. We’re still working on getting lights for all 10 bikes, especially since it’s getting dark so early. Thank you to all of those who have made it possible for 10 residents to have this wonderful source of transportation – what a gift!

Bryn Cowgill
Volunteer & Resource Coordinator