“The Central District, Seattle’s historically Black neighborhood, has gone from ~80% Black residents to less than 10% due to gentrification. Wa Na Wari was started in 2019 to create and hold space for Black art and belonging; they have events, community kitchen nights with free meals, gallery exhibitions, and a community garden. The building is a literal house—Black-owned for five generations—and they take drop-in visits from Friday to Sunday for people to experience their work."

Wa Na Wari, or “our home,” opened its doors in 2019 as a hub for Black art and culture in the Central District. It's a place to enjoy art exhibits, concerts, film screenings for local community and families. The home it’s housed in has been owned by the same family for five generations, and turning it into an artists’ space has allowed the property to remain Black-owned amid Seattle’s rising housing costs.