Recent Stories with tag rainier beach

Locally, Franklin, Rainier Beach, and West Seattle high schools are participating in the Get MotivatED Challenge, in collaboration with Def Jam Rapstar. The grand prize is a trip to New York City to meet with Def Jam executives like Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles, and the chance to perform a rap live on BET’s 106 & Park. 

The idea is that entrants will come up with a short rap or spoken word video about how education influences their life: "You can rhyme about your goals, going to college, school pride, hard work, dedication--it’s up to you!" You have to get your video entry up by March 18, and the earlier, the better. West Seattle's got one up already:

I do not know a lot about rap, but some of these suggested topics don't sound very gangsta to me. School pride sounds especially soul-killing. Look what "Be True to Your School" did to the Beach Boys, and they really had no rep to lose to begin with. I don't know if this contest is "Blue Scholars Approved," like the Hip Hop Word Count project, but I think it could use a Blue Scholars take. You want something on the influence of education? Listen to this:... (more)

The Rainier Valley Post alerted me to the existence of another Seattle online magazine, and it feels less lonely out here already.

Southend Seattle magazine has 15 contributors listed and translates into 23 languages (that sounds excessive, but as the site points out, "over 60 languages are spoken within the 98118 digits that are the cradle of the Southend."

What we are doing here is looking to ourselves. The contributors to this grassroots movement have come together to build bridges within the community by sharing the valuable resources of their experiences, knowledge and passions.

One story is about family dining options in the Southend, another is about growing roses. Sounds very bucolic down there. ("On the average, we're as safe as people living in Ballard.") The new Rainier Beach Community Center gets some attention, too.

Great design, beautiful photography, the only quibble I have is with their disregard for the Oxford comma. Hey, no one's perfect.