Pioneer Square, Seattle’s “first neighborhood,” is the backdrop for participants in this learning expedition to explore the root causes of homelessness and experience first-hand the challenges facing homeless individuals and those who provide them assistance.  As a group, festival participants will then apply their collective knowledge to design human-centered approaches that fill gaps and contribute to a seamless method of providing service.  The goal is to identify actionable steps that a group of “Unlikely Allies” can take, either in Seattle or upon return their own cities, to prevent homelessness and addiction and help those crisis recover their lives.  A variety of distinguished panelists, guides, and facilitators will provide depth of knowledge and insight on why, in one of the world’s most prosperous cities, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray recently proclaimed a state of emergency on homelessness and what is being done in response. 

By signing up for “Finding a Way Out”, participants are committing to a learning expedition that extends from Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday in various locations across Pioneer Square. Food will be provided.  Space is limited and you will be contacted to confirm your spot. 

The learning expediton is a joint production of Impact Hub Seattle, the Alliance for Pioneer Square, and the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Innovation.  The lead facilitators are:

• Leslie Smith, Executive Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square
• Joel Fariss, Mayor’s Office of Policy and Innovation, City of Seattle

Tuesday, July 5th 2:45 – 6:00 PM

2:45 – 3:45 - The Scale and Complexity of the Problem

A panel of experts will provide a broader context for the underlying causes and complicating factors that make prevention, treatment, and recovery from homelessness and addiction so challenging.

• Leslie Smith, Executive Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square
• Jeff Lilley, President, Union Gospel Mission 
• Colleen Echohawk, Executive Director, Chief Seattle Club 
• Jackie St. Louis, Outreach Team, Metropolitan Improvement District (MID)

3:45 – 4:00 - Setting the Stage

Participants will organize into smaller groups to prepare for a tour of Pioneer Square meeting individuals who suffer from homeless and those who serve them.  As part of the preparation, each group will receive tips on empathy mapping from Joel Farris, a trained ethnographer and staff in the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Innovation.

4:00 – 6:00 - Neighborhood Tour

In smaller groups participants will tour Pioneer Square and learn about the physical and psychological impacts of homelessness and addiction on both the individual and the neighborhood.  As part of the tour they will visit the Union Gospel Mission, Chief Seattle Club, and the Lazarus Day Center. 

Tour guides and content experts:

• Ryan Likes, Union Gospel Mission
• Jackie St. Louis, Metropolitan Improvement District
• Leslie Smith, Alliance for Pioneer Square

Sign up for Day 2 of the Homelessness Expedition HERE
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