Seattle News Briefs

Benefit for Activities Fund

Hundreds of people will don their walking shoes and gather at Federal Way Memorial Field this Saturday, to raise money for students who can't afford the fees for athletics, music, art and debate. The walk take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 at Federal Way Memorial Field, 300 S. 308th St.

Donations will benefit the Sweets for Success Activity Fund, which is named for an annual dessert benefit that helps refill the fund's coffers.

Each person who walks in the event will represent a specific student who has previously been awarded activity fees. Walkers will wear messages of thanks from some of the more than 700 students who have received awards through the activity fund so far.


Health Care Rally Formed

With Obama's call to action for Health Care for All in 2009, organizations from more than 40 states have been taking public actions since early April.  Each of those events has pulled together 100-200 advocates for health care.  Many have been town halls or gatherings.

In Washington we answered the call by planning a Health Care for All 2009 – Mother's Leading the Way March/Rally for healthcare that will be held this Saturday May 30 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Event organizers estimate that more than 5,000 health care advocates will march from Pratt Park, 20th Ave. S. and E. Yesler Way, to Westlake Center.

This event shows the urgency of health care reform in the nation and that people from our state are truly leaders in making this happen. We have 10 buses full of advocates coming to the rally from across the state in addition to all those who already live in the Seattle area and/or are driving themselves.

Senator Patty Murray is scheduled to address the crowd at Edwin Pratt at the beginning of the rally, and U.S. Rep. McDermott will be addressing the crowd at Westlake Center where the march will finish. Additional speakers include:
Deana Knutsen, Board Chair, Washington Community Action Network
Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising.org
Dr. Ben Danielson, Medical Director, Odessa Brown Clinic
Angela Ying, Senior Pastor, Bethany United Church of Christ
Lynne Dodson, President, AFT Seattle Community Colleges, Local 1789
Emcees will be King County Council Member Larry Gossett, Rocio Luquero of Univision Seattle, and Teresita Batayola, Executive Director, International Community Health Services.  The rally will have live entertainment at the beginning and end featuring Total Experience Gospel Choir and Big World Breaks.

For updated information on the plans for the march, to sign up your organization as an endorser, or to see how you can get involved to help, visit: http://may30march.org/


Play Reading: 'The Crowd You're In With"

Sponsored in part by 4Culture, Mirror Stage Company continues its 2009 Feed Your Mind "Season of Reflections" with "The Crowd You're In With" by Rebecca Gilman. The second of the final pair of scripts illuminating different perspectives on similar themes, "The Crowd You're In With" will perform at Buster's at ACT, on Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m.

The play is about a Fourth of July barbecue in Chicago, a perfect place to tackle life's big questions: Is the chicken done? Does the band need a new tune? Is this the right time to have a baby?

The play features: Anne Allgood, Peggy Gannon, Shawn Law (Saturday), David A. Lewis (Sunday), John Murray, Galen Joseph Osier, Kate Parker and Nik Perleros.

Following the performance, a discussion with the audience and artists further explores the relevance of issues raised to our world, nation, community, and ultimately our selves, in more depth. Feed Your Mind is Theatre That Gets People Talking.

Buster's at ACT is located at 700 Union Street in downtown Seattle.

Saturday evening admission is $10. Sunday matinee admission is $8.

Half-price tickets available at the door for Senior Citizens, students, and anyone under 25, with ID. For more information, check Mirror Stage Company's web site at www.mirrorstage.org.