On this episode we are talking with Ryan Henry Ward. If you live in Seattle and you don’t know Ryan, there is a good chance you do know his artful murals seen all over town!

Ryan’s murals, which are signed simply “henry”, have the power to bring out a smile, even on the grayest days. The scenes of his characters and the quiet story being told, leave you with a good feeling about living here in Seattle. Now, that alone would be reason to sit down with Ryan and share a good conversation, but, there is something more that you are going to want to hear. His views on community, specifically around the issue of homelessness, are beautiful, ones that are grounded in his personal journey of finding himself through his art.

In this episode with David, I wanted to talk with him about the work he has been doing since leaving the prison system. We cover his work at the Freedom Project and the Black Rose Collective.

At the end of our last episode, David, who was just 16 years old, took part in a serious crime. His life was about to change in a profound and now unavoidable way. This pivotal moment was put into motion when he asked someone older, someone he refers to as “the adult”, for a ride to his girlfriend's house. Once in the car, along with others, he learns he’s not going to his girlfriend’s place, but rather, being taken on a crime spree.

In this episode we explore David’s life in prison, how he educated himself, began his journey of healing, and the remarkable turn of events that led to his release.

David knows first-hand the impacts of mass incarceration, after receiving a life sentence at the age 16. In his words, “being thrown away at 16 years old wasn’t the event. It was an exclamation point” on the consistent messaging he’s been receiving his whole life from systems that failed to see his humanity. He was released after serving 24 years, following legislative reform of juvenile sentencing standards due to a new understanding of youth brain science.

He now works to develop community partnerships with individuals, groups and movements who share an alignment with and affinity for dismantling systems of oppression.

This is the 3rd and last part of an episode called The Skipping Rock. When we left Casey in the last episode, in Part Two, she was heavily addicted to street drugs, so much so that she was no longer able to dance at the strip clubs. This not only robbed her income, it took away her sense of being in community. Now that that was gone, she was trapped in an increasingly vicious cycle. Through these events we will continue to explore the idea of choice.

This is Part 2 of a 3 part episode. When we left Casey in the last episode, in Part 1 she was making some big decisions in her life, wanting to not only leave the trauma and dysfunction of her childhood behind, but also coming to grips with having to earn a living. She decided to take a waitressing job at a strip club, which led to dancing, and the fast money of the sex industry. Casey was 18 years old.

In this episode we hear from Casey, a woman who will explore with us the idea of choice. What it means to fit in and find a way in life when choice is limited, or, removed altogether. When all you have in front of you are bad options.

In this episode we talk with Benny The Stone Dancer. He has lived homeless in the Fremont neighborhood, artfully stacking stones on the parking strip, in the same place, for the last 30 years.

We explore why diversity is important in every community.

In this episode we speak with Sparrow Etter Arlson who is a co-founder of Aurora Commons and Seattle Planning Specialist at King County Regional Homelessness Authority.
When responding to complex societal issues, we are all familiar with the shortcomings of treating symptoms rather than causes. How do we shift our focus to successfully addressing root issues rather than symptoms? How do we get past giving in to knee-jerk responses?