“Home is where there is love overflowing.”
Byrd Barr Place Impact Coordinator Rosie Grant grew up in the Central District, and loves calling it home. We sat down with Rosie to reflect on her first year on the team, her lifelong connections to Byrd Barr Place, and her visions and hopes for the future of our neighborhood.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?
I am a proud Seattle local who grew up in the Central District. I went to Washington Middle School and spent my childhood, and now my adulthood at, church on 23rd Ave here in the Central District.
I’ve always lived in an intergenerational and very tight knit family. I was raised by my father and his side of my family.They instilled in me the importance of having a strong sense of pride in my Blackness. This inspired me to attend a historically Black college, Lane College, in Jackson, Tennessee, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in business administration. I then attended Full Sail University to get my master’s in entertainment business.
Above everything else, I am a proud mom to an incredible five-year-old named Jaxon. He keeps me on my toes for sure, but he’s always so happy. He keeps me positive even when I don’t want to be. I work every day to ensure he grows up with that same sense of pride.
What drew you to work with Byrd Barr Place?
It’s kind of funny. Larry Gossett, actually used to be the executive director of Byrd Barr Place when it was CAMP, and his mother and family were longtime members of Curry Temple CME church, which I have attended since I was a child. So, in some ways, I was always connected.
Before the position opened, I was thinking about making a career pivot. I had been working in finance, and wanted to continue to pursue my dreams in marketing and communications. I had been working independently, but was interested in exploring doing this work at an organization or firm. So when the job became available, it felt like a miracle. It was a Seattle organization, based in the Central District, with connections to my childhood. On top of that, it’s Black-owned and Black woman run. In so many ways, it was a perfect fit.
What is a typical day in the life of an impact coordinator at Byrd Barr Place?
My role focuses on fund development and marketing and communications. On the fund development side, I gather data and keep records of donations and upcoming grants.
For marketing and communications, our main goal has been to ensure the Black community understands that we are still here, that the CAMP they remember is alive and well as Byrd Barr Place. This year we held several events, including our amazing 60th Diamond Gala, and I led the media management and promotional teams.
On a typical day, I am usually juggling all these things — taking meetings, entering data, and creating content.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I’ve been enjoying my job so much lately that honestly work is what I like to do, which I know sounds crazy!
Outside of that, I love to take my son to the movies. Whenever a new film comes out, it’s our special thing to see it on the first weekend. I also love to shop and style my friends. If they have an event they’ll send me what they have and I’ll dream up an outfit.
I’m in a sorority, “Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated”, so I attend those events as well. Of course, church is also a big one! I do community service there once a month, and I am the resident soloist.
What is your vision for an equitable Black future?
At one point, the Central District was like 85% or 75% Black and I would love to see that happen again. I would love for us to be able to move back, afford it, and be knowledgeable about how to keep our homes.
As I mentioned, I grew up in an intergenerational home, and we still own our family house. I’d love to see other families be able to come back and have that same structure and sense of home.
Do you have a favorite quote, mantra, or song that inspires you regularly?
I have always loved theater, and have a special place in my heart for “The Wiz.”
The song “Home” is one of my favorites. When I was in undergrad, I minored in vocal music, and that song was one of the first songs I learned. At that time I was in Tennessee, far from my home in Washington, and that song really resonated and comforted me.
The first few lyrics are, “When I think of home, I think of a place where there’s love overflowing.” It reminds me of my childhood in the Central Area, walking down the street and seeing my grandma’s friends or my grandfather’s lodge buddies.
I want to see that home vibe return to our neighborhood. I want to see a home like that for the Black community and the Central Area once again. It’s important to me to show people that this is still our home.
