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).

Welcoming Eppie Williamson to the Board

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PHC Board Member, Eppie Williamson, RN.

Plymouth Healing Communities (PHC) is excited to announce the appointment of Eppie Williamson to our board of directors. Although new to the board, Eppie is well acquainted with PHC’s mission to provide affordable housing, circles of support, and companionship to people living with mental illness and experiencing housing instability.

Throughout her nursing career, Eppie has come across many individuals with mental health issues seeking medical care. This has inspired her to take up a position on the board at the invitation of another PHC board member, Nancy Parker. Eppie sees this as a way to help address Seattle’s mental health and homelessness problems. She is particularly drawn to PHC’s small communities and companionship model, and we are optimistic that she will become a part of our long-term strategic planning committee as we strive to find more opportunities to expand our outreach and serve more people in need.

Eppie, an RN at UW Medicine, Internal Medicine, enjoys reading medical and science articles and journals. However, she has recently started reading fiction to add some levity to her life. When asked about her likes and hobbies, Eppie laughed and mentioned running, although it’s a stretch to say she “likes” to run. During the pandemic, while working on the COVID floor at Johns Hopkins, she was forced to find a way to stay fit and burn off stress after the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order-mandated pool closures. She found walking didn’t do it, so she took up running, although she still prefers swimming. Since last February, she also has a new friend, her cat, Stormy. “She really is quite sweet.”

Despite her colleagues’ teasing about her name, comparing it to medical terms such as “EpiPen” or her “Eppi patients” while she worked on a hospital’s epileptic floor, Eppie takes it all in stride. This is because she knows that she was named after James Child’s Scottish ballad “Eppie Morrie,” which tells the story of a woman taken from her home but who successfully fights off all attempts to be forced into marrying an unwanted suitor. Like her namesake, Eppie Williamson is a strong, determined, resilient woman.

We are thrilled to welcome Eppie to our board and look forward to working with her to further our mission: to provide a home, circles of support, and companionship to Seattle’s most vulnerable.

Eppie, with her fellow PHC’s board members and executive director, yuck it up in this year’s Night of Hope photo booth.

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If you want to learn more about Plymouth Healing Communities (PHC) and our programs, visit our website.

We sincerely appreciate your financial support and partnership in advocating for mental healthcare that prioritizes the fundamental need for companionship and the healing power of community.

The Art of Survival

Laurie Davenport poses in front of Plymouth Church’s “The Art of Survival” exhibition wall.

Last Sunday, following their worship services, Plymouth Church hosted a reception to launch Laurie Davenport’s solo exhibition, “The Art of Survival.”

Joe Williams, the event’s organizer and Plymouth Church’s Director of Music and Arts invited Plymouth Healing Communities’ Executive Director, Padrica Hoffman, to give the opening remarks.

Padrica applauded the powerful art exhibit, describing the artwork as a “testament to the enduring power of artistic expression and the shared humanity that binds us all.” She urged us to engage with Laurie, share in her creativity, and let Laurie’s stories, which compel us to “challenge stereotypes, raise awareness and ultimately foster a more compassionate and inclusive society, touch our hearts.”

Padrica shared that “homelessness is not merely a societal issue, but a deeply human experience that transcends preconceptions, affecting individuals from all walks of life.” She reminded us, “It’s a challenge that could fall on any of us.” She concluded her remarks by asking us to acknowledge this challenge, humanize it, and allow Laurie’s art to break down the barriers that sometimes separate us from our fellow human beings in need. 

Laurie Davenport

“I’m impressed with PHC. Their emphasis on permanent supportive housing and availability of medical respite and companionship/support are exactly what should be happening and growing.”

— Laurie Davenport

“Laurie Davenport paints what is what is ‘out there’ — the people and places of the Pacific Northwest…”

Painting and quote from Laurie’s WordPress website.

Exhibition Information

Plymouth Church is hosting the exhibition through November 19. If you could not attend last week’s event, we strongly urge you to come and experience Laurie’s powerful art exhibit, which aims to “humanize individuals experiencing homelessness.”

The paintings on display are available for purchase, and 50% of the proceeds from the sales will support PHC’s programs and services.

Plymouth Church is located at 1217 Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle. For more information, please call 206-622-4865.

We are humbled and immensely grateful for Laurie’s generosity. We are also thankful to Plymouth Church for hosting this impactful art exhibit, and we would like to give a special shout-out to Joe Williams for their hard work spearheading this exceptional and thought-provoking event.

““The Art of Survival is an exhibition, strategically installed in downtown Seattle, which challenges our individualistic social positions. What is the moral implication of admiring a beautifully painted two-dimensional portrait of someone huddled in a sleeping bag we could have easily just passed by on our way inside? Artist Laurie Davenport’s honest depictions invite empathy and reflection as to why we normalize vulnerable populations existing in survival mode.””

— Joe Williams, Director of Music and Arts - Plymouth Church

To learn about the exhibition, contact Joe Williams at jwilliams@plymouthchurchseattle.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.