Argonaut Residents Visit the NAAM

Plymouth Healing Communities (PHC) is committed to creating a strong sense of community among its residents. We strongly believe that healing can be achieved through meaningful connections with others in a supportive environment. PHC's Companionship Program and structured group activities aim to help our residents in their healing process by reducing social isolation and loneliness, which are often associated with homelessness and mental illness. Our residents benefit greatly from these programs, which enable them to take walks, embark on new adventures, or simply go out for coffee with their companions or fellow residents and staff in their neighborhoods and beyond.

PHC Argonaut Apartments, located in Seattle's historic Central District, offers our residents exposure to a community with a rich history of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and steeped in African-American arts and culture.

NAAM, housed in the reimagined Coleman School Building.

A small group of Argonaut residents, accompanied by Dakota, PHC’s volunteer and resident coordinator, took advantage of a beautiful Friday in October to explore their neighborhood and take a ten-minute walk to visit the Northwest African-American Museum (NAAM), housed in the reimagined Coleman School building.

Two Argonaut residents starting their tour of the museum.

During their visit, the group explored three exhibits, one of which was "Positive Frequencies" - a collection of mixed media pieces that highlighted the unifying and healing power of music as a universal language. The exhibit showcased influential African-American pop, R&B, and jazz musicians. The residents were impressed by the colorful and expressive exhibit, which featured artwork by          C. Bennet, Eric Salisbury, Myron Curry, and Samuel Blackwell.

"Oregon Black Pioneers" tells the stories of a small group of Black men and women who challenged Oregon's discriminatory laws, settling in Oregon between 1840 and 1870 and laying the foundation for Oregon's future Black communities.

Artist Jeremy Gregory’s mural installation in the Freedom of Expression Series II exhibit.

The third exhibit, "Freedom of Expression Series II," showcases the strength and range of visual artistic expression created by artists of African descent living in the Pacific Northwest. 

Before returning home, the residents and Dakota stopped at the park adjacent to the Museum to enjoy a picnic lunch.

This allowed them to reflect and discuss each exhibit's breadth and historical significance, what they had learned about Seattle's African-American history, the different Northwest African-American artists and their work, and the various offerings in the residents’ culturally rich neighborhood.

To learn more about PHC and the services and programs we offer to end social isolation and housing instability for people living with mental illness, visit PHC (plyhc.org).

Seattle Deputy Mayor Visits the Argonaut House

Seattle Deputy Mayor Greg Wong is known for engaging with community groups, non-profit organizations, and local businesses to foster collaborative relationships. So, it wasn’t a great surprise when he agreed to visit the Argonaut House after being introduced to Plymouth Healing Communities by Reverend Dr. Kelle Brown, Senior Pastor of Plymouth Church, UCC. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Wong sat down with PHC's Executive Director, Padrica Hoffman, to better understand the solutions PHC is working on to help solve Seattle’s homeless crisis for those struggling with mental illness.

Seattle Deputy Mayor Greg Wong and Padrica Hoffman, Executive Director of Plymouth Healing Communities at the Argonaut.

Welcoming Mr. Wong, Padrica (whom the Deputy Mayor characterized as a “person who exudes passion with an intense level of calm”) shared PHC’s mission to end the devastating cycle of hospitalization and homelessness for those living with mental illness and explained what we are doing about it.

Mr. Wong openly discussed why he has always been motivated to make a difference throughout his career. He shared that his childhood experiences of growing up poor in a multicultural family and seeing several friends and acquaintances fall victim to crime or end up in the criminal justice system inspired him to take action. He understands the impact of economic circumstances on people's life paths and continues to dedicate himself to addressing the issue.

He and Padrica also discussed the power of companionship and what it means to walk alongside someone.

“Of course, we need to systemize things, pencil out costs, and design and set policies, but fundamentally, it’s about connections and building relationships. What strikes me the most about PHC is its unique and impactful approach to providing connection and building relationships with its residents. It is transformative.”

— Deputy Mayor Greg Wong

During his visit, the Deputy Mayor also took the time to speak with a resident. As the resident approached, Mr. Wong stood to greet her, demonstrating his commitment to respecting all, regardless of social standing. This simple act of kindness and respect undoubtedly helped the resident feel comfortable sharing her story. She talked about what it meant for her to feel safe and how she is now learning how to trust, something she had not been able to do before coming to PHC. She also expressed her gratitude for the companionship and social events that Plymouth Healing Communities provides its residents.

Mr. Wong's visit certainly transformed our afternoon at the Argonaut into an unforgettable experience.

““I was so inspired after our meeting. Mr. Wong’s inviting smile, openness to PHC and our work, and his kind words of hope and compassion left a lasting impression on all who met him at Argonaut House.””

— Padrica Hoffman, PHC Executive Director

We invite you to join Deputy Mayor Greg Wong at Washington Hall at PHC’s Night of Hope on Thursday, September 21. To ensure your attendance, please reserve your seat.