I, Diva Kaz, am excited to announce my new Community Partnership agreement with Humanities Washington.

“Humanities Washington is the state’s flagship non-profit for promoting and providing programs based in the humanities. Since 1973, Humanities Washington has provided a rich array of programs, exhibits, and experiences to hundreds of thousands of people across the state.

Humanities Washington mission is to spark conversation and critical thinking using story as a catalyst, nurturing thoughtful and engaged communities across our state.  It does this be partnering with a wide network of communities, organizations, and individuals to offer a variety of programs and events. Its core work includes:

• Speakers Bureau: Feeding inquiring minds through engaging discussions.
• Traveling Exhibits: Touring exhibits to Washington communities.
• Family Reading: Building literacy and cultural understanding using the power of stories.
• Grants: Fostering the humanities with grants to projects and organizations.
• Bedtime Stories: Celebrating great Northwest writers and the art of the short story.
• Washington State Poet Laureate: Promoting poetry across the state.
• Think & Drink: Hosted conversations on provocative topics and new ideas to pubs and tasting rooms around the state.

I was introduced to Humanities Washington when a friend invited me to their 2011 Bedtime Stories literary gala and fundraiser. During the event, five local authors revealed new work based on the theme, “12:01 a.m.” Authors such as Jamie Ford (Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) and Stephanie Kallos (Sing Them Home) read short stories written specifically for the Bedtime Stories event. Always a fan of a good book, I fell in love with the organization and wanted to support their mission.

Through this community partnership, every time a Humanities Washington member or friend/family/donor referral buys or sells a home with me, Coldwell Banker Bain will donate an amount equal to 10% of Coldwell Banker Bain’s commission to Humanities Washington. That means if a Humanities Washington member or referral bought a home for $350k, Humanities Washington would receive a donation in the amount of $1,050.00. Team Diva strongly believes in giving back to our local community and we Divas adore Humanities Washington’s work to foster community, culture, arts, and literacy.

Join Us: Join me, Diva Kaz, at 7pm on Wednesday, May 9th for the next Seattle Think & Drink event: Harlots & Heroines: Images of Women in Media and Pop Culture, at Naked City Brewery & Taphouse.

Welcome to the Diva Community, Humanities Washington!

What better organization to end our holiday campaign with than Three Dollar Bill Cinema?  The Divas have long supported this organization, even dedicating our Divas Take the Hill event in June to benefiting this awesome group.  Three Dollar Bill Cinema does so much for our community by providing space and access to relevant LGBTQ film and media.

This savvy organization sponsors so many ridiculously awesome programs in order to provide a forum for queer film to be shared with diverse communities across Seattle.  Pretty much every season is host to at least one of their wonderful programs.  In the spring, there is the Spring Film Series, which offers audiences with rare and hard-to-find vintage movies revolving around queer culture.  The summer is host to the Outdoor Cinema, where audiences get to enjoy the best of technology and the best of nature, enjoying classic films in Cal Anderson Park.  Fall brings what is arguably Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s largest undertaking: the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.  As if these huge programs were not enough, Three Dollar Cinema is always striving to provide more and more programs and events that go on throughout the year.

Overall, Three Dollar Bill Cinema works to embrace and connect diverse communities through dialogue, interconnection, and exposure inspired by queer film and media.  To help spread the love, you can volunteer your time, donate some $$$, or even simply become a member! Jump on it!

The first of our “Divotee’s Choice” spotlights Dress for Success, and as a women-owned business, Team Diva fully supported this nomination.  Dress for Success is an organization that strives to empower marginalized women by providing them with professional clothing and career development tools.  By providing women with these resources, it embraces their potential to thrive in the workplace, increasing their economic and personal independence.

Dress for Success offers several programs for women at all stages of career development.  Their premier program is the “Suiting Program,” in which women are able to come in and obtain a work-appropriate outfit that is tailored specifically to their personality and their career field.  In addition to this, they also offer variations on this program that include mock interviews if on an active job search and two or more outfits once they have gained employment.  Their other program is the Professional Women’s Group, which is an international networking and career development group for Dress for Success Clients.

Dress for Success is constantly supplying women in need with career development tools and appropriate clothing for their jobs.  However, keeping this work going is sometimes a challenge, because they are in constant need of donations of time, finances, and clothing.  If you find Dress for Success particularly wonderful, as we do, take action by either Volunteering or making a Donation.

The Divas love, luv, and <3 animals of pretty much any shape and size. So what would be more fitting than to support an organization whose whole purpose of existence is to help animals in need?  Nothing, that’s what.  Just as PAWS is full of people who delight in the company of our animal counterparts, the Divas too love spending time with their animals.  Even as we speak (or write, for that matter), the two Diva pups Rosie and Lucy are sitting at our feet, delighting in the life of “office dogs.”

PAWS’ motto is “people helping animals,” and that is just what they have been carrying out for over 40 years.  They understand that animals cannot speak for themselves in this world dominated by humans, so they try to act as that voice on behalf of all animals, whether they be furry, feathery, or scale-y.

There are so many ways to support PAWS in their mission to provide quality care and a valid voice to animals across the area.  If you want to get involved, check out some of these ways:

1. Donate to the cause
2. Volunteer for PAWS
3. Foster an animal in need
4. Adopt a Pet

As one of the bare necessities, food is always a hot commodity.  However, as the winter brings chillier weather and the holiday season comes closer, food banks often scramble to keep their shelves stocked.  That is why the Divas are supporting Rainier Valley Food Bank, because this organization keeps its doors open all year long to make sure all who need it have access to food.  Given that this small bank is the only one on the Rainier Valley and it serves almost 11,000 people per month with only three full-time staff, this is no small task.

At this time of the year and especially during these not-so-cheery economic times, food banks are in need of donations, of all kinds! So we urge you to also help out Rainier Valley Food Bank in one of the following ways:

1. Donate your time and volunteer
2. Donate your $$$
3. Donate some of your food
4. Host a food drive at your work, school, or wherever else you may so please.

Considering that ACT stands for “A Contemporary Theater,” it requires no explanation to show that this organization focuses on providing the community with quality contemporary artistic productions.  Since 1965, ACT Theater has been dedicated to providing inquisitive (and sometimes brave) Seattle audiences with promising productions.

The Divas have long been supporters of ACT Theater.  We admire the organization’s commitment to constructive conversation through the exposure of contemporary concepts and contentions.  By providing this experience in the heart of downtown Seattle, all are invited to take part in deeper thought into the struggles of everyday existence in today’s increasingly complex world.  However, not only do the Divas appreciate this commitment to conversation, but the pure artistic savvy of these peeps really shines through in all of their works.

So if you enjoy the arts and the issues, just like the Divas do, you should most definitely support ACT Theater.  Go to a show. Grab a subscription. Or just donate some funds.  Let’s keep these contemporary artists confronting contemporary issues.

Have you ever wanted to find a way to give back to the community through an organized network of local nonprofits that need helpful, awesome volunteers?  Well you are in luck because Seattle Works has been providing this service to aspiring givers for over 20 years!  As it says on their website, Seattle Works “connects volunteers, develops emerging leaders, and inspires dialogue” within the Seattle community, building longtime partnerships for future success, both for volunteers and organizations.

Seattle Works provides wonderful, active citizens, such as yourselves, with service opportunities of all types.  Whether it be a one time volunteer experience or an extended commitment to service and leadership development, this organization can help anyone out.  Primarily targeted at a “younger” audience, the organization is rooted in the idea that people are most likely to step up and give back to the community during the earlier stages of their life, and once they have started, are more likely to continue doing so.  However, although this may be the target, we Divas know that they welcome participants of all ages and backgrounds.

So whether you want to volunteer once at a pre-planned event or establish a longterm commitment with an organization that you think you would love, get to know Seattle Works.  You can find out more on their website or, if you you have no time but you have the moolah, you can donate to the cause.

The Divas have been long-time supporters of On the Boards.  As unrelenting art enthusiasts, they will do anything to ensure high-class, unique works to be developed and presented in the Seattle area.  On the Boards does just this.  For over 30 years, On the Boards has been introducing audiences in Seattle to both international works of art as well as unique locally developed art by Northwest performance artists.

On the Boards sponsors a host of well-worth-it performances and events throughout the year, come the winter rain or the summery shine.  For example, On the Boards’ two programs, the Inter/National and Northwest Series, bring artists from around the world and around the area, respectively, in order to showcase beautifully produced performances.  Each month, the organization sponsors the program “12 Minutes Max,” in which local artists can present short works as well of works-in-progress to the community.  Finally, OntheBoards.tv allows online viewers to experience high-quality art in the comfort of their own home.

Overall, On the Boards has and continues to offer wonderful exposure for Seattle audiences by Seattle artists.  If you want to donate like a Diva and are also interested in supporting On the Boards, keep up with what shows are happening and/or feel free to donate here!

We here in the Diva office sure do love the beautiful nature of the Pacific Northwest.  Even during these colder, damper months, the changing leaves, the brisk temperatures, and the misty air all hold a special place in our hearts; not to mention it gives us an excuse to stay in and curl up with a nice mug of hot chocolate, with or without some Baileys.  These stunning scenes of the Pacific Northwest is exactly why we have a special infatuation with the People for Puget Sound.

People for Puget Sound started as a group of normal citizens committed to protecting and restoring the natural beauty that has won over Pacific Northwesterner’s heart.  They focus creating sustainable solutions to issues such as  contamination and the destruction of natural habitats, promoting the long-term health of the region.  Not only do they work with volunteers on physical restoration projects, but they also act as advocates and educators to spread the word about the important of caring for our own habitat.

If you too care about the majestic scenery of the Puget Sound, the Divas most definitely suggest that you get involved with these people.  In a time when the protection of our environment is paramount, we need as many people working toward a solution from all directions.  Get involved by either:

1. Joining or Donating
2. Volunteering
3. Taking Political Action

The Divas were introduced to 826 Seattle through Diva Dwellers Alex and Jon.  Alex worked at the place, providing them to the wonderful world of afterschool tutoring programs for kids.  Right away, the team saw the promise of the programs that this organization was offering and immediately wanted to tie them into the Community Partnerships Program through Coldwell Banker Bain Associates.  It truly was love at first sight, as cliché as that sounds, especially when concerning a creative writing program.

826 Seattle began in 2005 when they began to offer drop-in tutoring for students in the area.  They grew rapidly, adding writing workshops in the evenings and during the weekend.  Committed to improving the writing skills of students in the Seattle area, these amazing individuals provide one-on-one attention to their students and work with teachers to encourage passion for writing.  Just this past November, 826 Seattle was chosen as a recipient of the “2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award,” awarded at the White House by First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Let’s continue to support the work of 826 Seattle as they strive to promote the success of students throughout Seattle.  As we all know, writing skills are essential in the promise of future success and 826 Seattle is providing this service for free.  If you wish to help out 826 Seattle, you can give back by either Donating or Volunteering.  Check it out!