As a member of the Building Changes team that recently completed planning work for the Seattle Housing Authority's Yesler Terrace project, I got an inside look at an exciting new community. For the Seattle Housing Authority, the redevelopment of Yesler Terrace -- the second oldest publicly subsidized community in the U.S. and the oldest in Seattle -- is about more than just replacing aging structures and creating stable housing. It's about creating a "Community of Opportunity" for the people who live there. What does that mean? It means making education and economic opportunities more accessible to residents and supporting them to reach their personal goals. It also means providing residents with community leadership opportunities. And it means residents will have access to the support services for the entire household, not just the parent, or only the children.

So for example, through a stronger partnership with local community colleges, residents who might be intimidated and overwhelmed by the process of registering for classes and choosing a career path can start by attending college classes in their own neighborhood, on campus at Yesler. And immigrant families will have stronger connections with their children's schools and teachers through education outreach services. This "whole family" approach, using demonstrated best practices, is key to the vision of Yesler Terrace's Community of Opportunity.

Why does all of this matter? It matters because it means that more people will have access to opportunities that will help them thrive. And it matters because quality of life and the sense of connectedness to each other and our surroundings are what truly bind community together.

Read Building Changes' report, Reimagining the Social Infrastructure of Yesler Terrace: A Community of Opportunity

Learn more about Yesler Terrace