Africatown Community Land Trust

What does it mean to cultivate a legacy? At Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT), this question has guided our mission since our establishment in 2016. It is rooted in the history, struggles, and triumphs of Seattle’s Black community. For us, cultivating a legacy means building more than a foundation—it’s about creating spaces where equity, ownership, and opportunity are not just ideas but everyday realities. Cultivating a legacy means honoring the rich stories and contributions of our community while laying the groundwork filled with the promise of a better, more sustainable future. It’s the reason behind spaces like Africatown Plaza, which centers Black families and and individuals. It’s the driving force of programs at the William Grose Center, fostering education, technology, and entrepreneurship. And it’s the heart of the work we do at Benu Community Home, offering not just shelter but dignity and hope for men rebuilding their lives. As we look ahead to a bold vision, we see a future where Seattle’s Black community is thriving and integral to the city’s success. But to make that future a reality, we need your help. This year’s End-of-Year Campaign - Cultivating Legacy, Together - aims to raise $500,000 to sustain and grow ACLT’s transformative projects and create even more opportunities for our communities Your contribution fuels progress hat sustains and enables growth. It ensures spaces like Africatown Plaza continue to thrive, expands programming at the William Grose Center, and supports culturally responsive services at Benu Community Home. It invests in a more inclusive Seattle where everyone benefits from the strength and vibrancy of a thriving Black community. Join us in cultivating a legacy that transforms lives and builds a brighter future for generations to come. Visit https://lnkd.in/gJvVJ4xq to give today and follow the stories of impact throughout this campaign by following us here on Linked In. For more in-depth stories and journey, be sure to sign up for the ACLT newsletter https://lnkd.in/g7MtJgNA Together, we can create a stronger, more equitable Seattle for all. #africatownclt #cultivatinglegacy #seattle #nonprofit

At Africatown Community Land Trust, we’re not just developing buildings; we’re creating spaces that reflect the history, resilience, and future of Seattle’s Black community. Take Africatown Plaza, for instance. The Plaza is more than a building—it’s a testament to what’s possible when a community takes the lead in shaping its own legacy. This project was built by us, for us. With record-breaking participation from Black contractors and a Black general contractor, Africatown Plaza represents a powerful commitment to economic equity. In total, 32% of the contractors on this project were Black-owned businesses, with even higher levels of minority-owned participation—an unprecedented achievement in our region. This collaboration showcases the strength and expertise of our local talent, while keeping wealth and opportunity within our communities - helping to empower them from generation, to generation. Now, as Africatown Plaza has opened its doors and continues to lease up, we invite you to join us. Opportunities are available to lease at this landmark development, a space created to nurture Black-owned businesses, cultural programs, and community gatherings. Schedule a tour to see how this space embodies the spirit and strength of our community. Walk through Africatown Plaza and experience what happens when we invest in our own future. Visit https://lnkd.in/gJvVJ4xq to learn more, explore leasing opportunities, and schedule your tour today. Together, we’re building a legacy that honors our past and inspires generations to come. #africatownlandtrust #africatownlaza #seattlehousing

As we work toward building a resilient and thriving community, we want to ensure that Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) is meeting the needs and aspirations of those we serve. Your voice is essential in guiding our work, and we invite you to participate in a brief, 5-minute survey to help us make meaningful improvements to our programs and events. By sharing your feedback, you’ll be part of the behind-the-scenes planning that will shape ACLT’s community-centered initiatives. Your insights will directly inform how we design and deliver our programs, ensuring they truly reflect the values and priorities of the community. Please take a moment to complete the survey by November 22. Take the Survey Now: bit.ly/aclt2024feedback Thank you for your support and partnership in building a stronger, more resilient community.

In this week’s newsletter, ACLT President & CEO K. Wyking Garrett's thoughts and words around the current state of affairs in our country (tap then swipe to read) - affirming our continued resolve to ensure that Seattle’s Black communities have place and space to live, grow and thrive. As you will read - this mission has never been more strong and the need for support and commitment to partner has never been greater nor more crucial. Be encouraged by these words - may they spur you on to not only explore ways to ways to make impact WITH us as we forge new pathways to thriving but, even more, may they spark new ideas, strategies and plans for how you can link arms with others to create impact and legacy in your own, unique ways. Don’t miss out on opportunities to stay connected to news and updates about what ACLT is up to and discover ways to partner - whether you’re an individual or an organization. Sign up for the newsletter today: https://eepurl.com/g0H4Nj Support ACLT’s mission to create vibrant and thriving communities at https://lnkd.in/gJvVJ4xq.

You are invited! Explore our newest home in Seattle - Africatown Plaza - at our weekly Open House & Tours happening ever Wednesday from 1-3:30 PM and Saturday from 9 AM - 2 PM. Learn more and sign up for a tour today. Visit www.africatownplaza.org for more information. #AfricatownPlaza #CommunityEngagement #OpenHouse #SeattleCommunity #BuildingLegacy #SocialImpact

Seeing this project cross the finish line is one of the highlights of my time at the Equitable Development Initiative (EDI). The Africatown Community Land Trust team drove this project forward tenaciously, with a commitment to honoring the legacy of the Black community in the Seattle's Central District and reversing the displacement that has occurred in recent decades. Africatown Plaza will provide 126 affordable rental apartments available to families making 30-60% of the area median income. EDI's investment in this mixed-use development focused on the ground floor, which will include retail space for local black-owned businesses and a community gathering space. Any locality to planning for urban growth that won't leave historically marginalized communities behind needs to make these kinds of pragmatic investments.

“There are three things that are central in order to have a civilized person and reality: food, clothing and shelter. We have put one-third of that aspect in place by creating housing.” – Saviour Knowledge, ACLT Board Member, Central District Community Member and Advocate In this month’s newsletter, we share reflections and recaps from October events: the #AfricatownPlaza grand opening as well as our inaugural Future of Black Homeownership in the CD Summit in partnership with Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). The #ACLT #newsletter gives the community and other stakeholders an opportunity to go behind the scenes and take a peek behind the proverbial curtain of our crucial work and highlights our efforts to empower and uplift Seattle’s Black communities, providing insights into our initiatives, progress, and impact. If you haven’t signed up for our newsletter, don’t miss out on this opportunity to tap in, learn more and support. Sign up for the newsletter now and share with your networks. Visit https://lnkd.in/g7MtJgNA to subscribe today. Photo | @the.elitecollective #seattle #nonprofit #community #housing #technology #education #storytelling

Just over a month ago, #Africatown’s #BenuCommunity Home celebrated three years of bringing direct services to our region’s most underserved and overrepresented unhoused population - Black men. While making up only 6% of the population, those who identify as Black make up over 20% of our local unhoused population in #KingCounty. Benu serves as a focused and effective solution to the unique challenges that our #community and region faces. We prioritize culturally relevant services and create a supportive environment where guests' immediate needs are met while empowering them to reclaim their dignity. We invite you to go behind the scenes with us to hear from just a few of the people who support this crucial work, then #tapin to support by visiting https://lnkd.in/gJvVJ4xq. TAP INTO THESE RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE: Watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/g3fND_au Read the Benu Impact Report here: https://lnkd.in/gKgxAXdF A special thank you to #TheEliteCollective and the #ConvergeMediaLLC team for helping to bring this story to life. #homelessness #unhoused #seattle #aclt

We can’t believe over a week has passed since the doors of Africatown Plaza officially opened. Catch this day of celebration and great community significance on #convergmedia #Back2Besa on FOX 13 this coming weekend. Thank you to Converge Media LLC, community stakeholders and so many others who attended The Plaza grand opening as well as the many others who continue to support our mission to build equitable opportunities in housing through land ownership, affordable housing and economic development. Together, we have achieved what many believed to be impossible and, together, we will continue making what seems to be impossible a reality for the many who have and continue to call the Central District home. Gratitude and thanks to the many community stakeholders, partners like Community Roots Housing GGLO Design David Baker Architects Site Workshop Landscape Architecture #madconstruction Absher Construction Company for continued support to get us to the finish line. For more information about #AfricatownPlaza and leasing visit www.africatownplaza.org. Join us in this mission to build a more thriving Black #Seattle today. Learn how at https://lnkd.in/gJvVJ4xq. Images | Outside Thinc via Converge Media

We’re making great strides toward building a more inclusive Seattle. Thanks to Puget Sound Business Journal’s Marc Stiles for covering the opening of our most recent project - #AfricatownPlaza and its significance as part of a strategy oreinted solution to bring affordable housing to our communities. Tap to read the article. Join us in celebrating this accomplishment at our grand opening on October 5 at Africatown Plaza. RSVP today: bit.ly/atpgrand #nowleasing #seattle #centraldistrict #africatownplaza #housing #kingcounty