September 23, 2020

The Nehemiah Initiative

The Nehemiah Initiative Seattle seeks to assist community members facing the effects of rising costs and gentrification to combat displacement in Seattle’s rapidly changing Central District. The project began in 2018 in response to rising concern in the Black community of the Central District about loss of historic character and community culture. As Seattle experiences a citywide economic boom and new residents move to the city and the neighborhood, the Central District is undergoing a seismic shift in community makeup and redevelopment of the built environment. The Nehemiah Initiative’s efforts aim to assist the historically Black churches of the Central District retain and maximize use of church property to keep their presence in the neighborhood.