Shift is re-running its recent interview with We Heart Seattle Founder and Executive Director Andrea Suarez as we help promote the 5.7-mile march volunteers are making on Saturday (October 21st) morning through the council districts of the three incumbent Seattle councilmembers who are running for re-election this year. Each of the three council members are facing the voters for the first time since they passed their irresponsible anti-police measure which has resulted in record-breaking homicide rates.
The march will begin at 10:00 AM. Starting at Hing Hay Park (423 Maynard Avenue South) in the International District (in CD #2 – Councilmember Morales), marchers will journey through Downtown Seattle and Queen Anne (in CD #7 — Councilmember Lewis) before finishing at Bickersons Brewhouse (1514 Leary Way NW) in Ballard (in CD #6 – Councilmember Strauss). If you are unable to join the trek but you want to participate, then you can meet up with everyone from noon to 2:00 PM at Bickersons Brewhouse.
More information on We Heart Seattle’s Vote page.
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Shift’s Newsmaker Interview is with Andrea Suarez, Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit volunteer organization We Heart Seattle. In a very short time the group has made a significant impact in cleaning up encampments and helping people get off the streets. Created during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020 when homeless encampments were filling Seattle’s parks, sidewalks, and other public places, We Heart Seattle challenged the status quo regarding how best to help those struggling with drugs and homelessness. Along the way, they have encountered protest by a small group of extremists as volunteers have cleaned up encampments and attempted to help those who were suffering
In her interview, Suarez described the creation and mission of We Heart Seattle and explained why the group has ruffled the feathers of many in Seattle’s establishment. She stated her appreciation for some of Seattle’s public officials who are finally acknowledging the impact of the group’s efforts, and Suarez encouraged everyone to use their “superpower” of voting. She explained why the devotion to “housing first” philosophy and using the wrong data points are hampering the city’s ability to help those suffering on the streets. Finally, Suarez outlined how Shift readers can help We Heart Seattle in their efforts.
First, please tell our readers about We Heart Seattle and why it was formed.
We Heart Seattle (WHS) was born in September 2020 when I was picking up trash in my Belltown neighborhood and realized that neighbors throughout the city might be similarly motivated to make Seattle safe and beautiful for all. I also quickly realized that it was not “just” about the trash – our boots-on-the-ground presence allowed us to develop relationships with individuals living unhoused and in need of resources. Now just three short years later, We Heart Seattle (backed by hundreds of volunteers) has cleared close to one million pounds of trash from the city’s public spaces and parks, logged 9000+ volunteer hours and hosted more than 300 litter picks. We’ve also helped nearly 200 people off the streets and connected countless others to resources.
In short, our mission is to make Seattle safe and beautiful for all, and we do that through trash clean-ups, civic engagement and individualized outreach.
Despite the great work the group does, there are those in Seattle who negatively target your efforts. Why do you believe this occurs?
Despite our success in the field, WHS has been subject to a baseless online defamation campaign, along with violence (our offices and work vehicles have been vandalized, and our field team, including people who are experiencing homelessness and poverty, have been threatened). We appreciate that the WHS empowerment versus enabling approach and likely my own not so subtle communication style is not everyone’s favorite, but this is not a popularity contest and indeed, there is no single “best” solution to the endemic challenges our city is facing.
We Heart Seattle welcomes collaboration with anyone and everyone, including our detractors (who largely choose to remain anonymous keyboard warriors). We may not all agree on the approach, but we can agree on a goal – a safer and more beautiful Seattle for all.
We Heart Seattle was recently praised by Seattle At-large Councilmember Sara Nelson at a recent Rotary lunch. Thus far she appears to want the council to move in a more moderate direction on crime, drug, and homelessness issues. Do you think a majority of Seattle voters are upset enough to also support this change?
I can only comment based on what I am seeing in my boots-on-the-ground experience: our community is ready and willing to work for a cleaner and safer Seattle.
We Heart Seattle is working to jump start civic engagement both in our parks and public spaces but also through the ballot box. We think voting is everyone’s SUPERPOWER! More information on our voter activation project can be found on our website.
If you could change one or two laws in Seattle, what would they be? What would changing these laws accomplish?
As a 501(c)(3) non-partisan organization, We Heart Seattle does not formally endorse specific legislative changes. What we do endorse is action-oriented, results based policies and approaches.
For example – and again, speaking from my own boots-on-the-ground experience – a dogmatic adherence to the “housing first” policy shuts out other solutions such as temporary shelters, housing with preconditions and treatment options. Current policies also often measure outcomes in terms of clients served, housing units built or overdoses reversed. We Heart Seattle would encourage policy makers to measure outcomes in terms that make sense: reductions in street homelessness, drug use initiation, and overdose deaths. On an individual level, treatment success can be measured in terms of family and community reaffiliation, economic self-sufficiency, and long-term remission.
We Heart Seattle is a founding member of North America Recovers. Please tell us about the group and what you hope to accomplish.
North America Recovers (NAR) is a national coalition of organizations and individuals seeking to restore peace by ending drug deaths, open drug scenes, untreated severe mental illness and homelessness. NAR is nonpartisan and is working with communities across the continent to adopt a compassionate and practical approach to drug addiction and homelessness – one that places an emphasis on dignity, treatment, and recovery.
How can people learn more about We Heart Seattle? What type of assistance can ShiftWA readers provide to the group?
Visit our website www.weheartseattle.com, follow us Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/weheartseattle or reach out to us directly at [email protected].
Other ways to get involved:
Share Your Time and Connections
- Volunteer at a trash pick
- Become a high-impact volunteer
- Connect WHS to your business and/or friend circles
- Invite WHS to speak at your next club or corporate event
- Ask your employer to organize a litter pick with WHS as a Team- building activity
Share Your Superpowers
- Provide pro-bono services
- Participate in advocacy
- Become a Board member (finance, IT, marketing / PR and fundraising skills are particularly welcome)
- Offer nonprofit wisdom
Make a Contribution
- Join the movement in creating a safe and beautiful Seattle for all by making a financial or in-kind contribution
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