Move to Tacoma Podcast: Recent Episodes

Marguerite Martin

Tacoma Neighborhoods, Real Tacomans Tell Their Stories

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Lindquist Dental Clinic for Children has been a Tacoma institution since 1936. Even so- Move to Tacoma Podast host Marguerite Martin admits on-mic she didn’t fully understand what they do until she sat down with Executive Director Carolyn McDougal-Weyrick at dinner this winter. Turns out a lot of Tacoma doesn’t know either. Lindquist sees kids from birth to their 21st birthday, takes essentially every insurance including Apple Health, Medicaid, Molina, Coordinated Care, Delta Dental, and TRICARE, and doesn’t turn anyone away for inability to pay. They see over 24,000 patient visits a year out of their Parkland location at 131st and Pacific, and they still have room to grow.

Dr. Stephens walks through what makes the clinic different: six dentists, specialty services like oral surgery and endodontics on site, and a general anesthesia program she personally runs for kids ages 3 to 8 who need significant work done. Instead of six appointments, parents taking off work six times, and a kid who learns to dread the dentist, it’s one 90-minute visit. The kids wake up with their princess crowns intact and still want to come back. For income-qualifying military families on TRICARE Dental, Lindquist is the only place in the area that can waive the out-of-pocket and deductible costs entirely, which matters a lot when a family has four or five kids and a $1,300 annual cap per child.

The conversation gets into something that many Tacoma area nonprofits are struggling with. Federal cuts to the programs that serve the most vulnerable people in our community. Medicaid cuts went into effect July 1, 2025, and Lindquist is facing roughly a $280,000 shortfall from what they expected. But Lindquist has a plan. They’re not cutting services, they’re growing their private-insurance patient base. Because when a family with insurance comes through the door, it directly supports the half-million dollars a year in uncompensated care the clinic provides. They just finished a $1M renovation funded entirely by designated facility grants and donor dollars, so the space is freshly renovated. 15 new chairs, digital nomad x-rays, a surgical suite. Come as you are, bring the kid you’ve been putting off bringing, and if you’ve got private insurance, know that showing up helps your neighbors and is part of how this model stays alive.

The post Lindquist Dental: Where No Child is Turned Away Due to Inability to Pay appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Director of Brand & Marketing at Tacoma-based SiteCrafting Jen Rittenhouse joins Move to Tacoma Podcast Host and Tacoma real estate agent Marguerite Martin to talk about the work happening behind the scenes at SiteCrafting, a Tacoma tech company that’s been building and supporting websites since 1998. While they started with web development, Jen explains how SiteCrafting now offers a much broader set of services: branding, digital strategy, SEO, social strategy, accessibility audits, communications consulting, and even a UX research lab (the only one in South Puget Sound). Their clients range from local nonprofits to major community pillars like the Washington State Fair Event Center, MultiCare, Tacoma Public Utilities, and the Puyallup Tribe.

What do Tacoma Businesses and Organizations need for Marketing in 2026?Marguerite and Jen get real about what websites actually require: not just design and code, but clarity about purpose, audience, and content- plus ongoing maintenance as technology changes. They talk through SEO basics (how people find you via search) and how the rise of AI summaries is changing behavior online: sometimes Google answers the question without sending people to your site, and sometimes AI pulls questionable info from unvetted sources. Jen’s takeaway is simple but powerful: it’s never been more important to be accurate, to be the “source of truth,” and to build direct relationships with your audience.

What’s the most important thing Tacoma businesses need to focus on to attract customers?The conversation also moves into practical marketing advice for small businesses and nonprofits in Tacoma. Jen argues that email newsletters are still effective, and that the best move is to pick one channel and do it well rather than trying to do everything. She talks about social media realities and how making good content takes the same effort as making bad content. She shares why it’s okay to post less often, and why LinkedIn is “having a moment” in 2026. They wrap with some Puyallup-specific joy (fair parking hacks, walkability, the farmers market) and a clear call to pay attention locally because the stakes of politics aren’t abstract when they show up in your own city’s decisions. Whether you’re in Downtown Tacoma or Downtown Puyallup!

The post Websites, PR, and Marketing Your Business in Tacoma with Sitecrafting’s Jen Rittenhouse appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite Martin talks with Nicholas Carr, a Housing Policy Strategic Advisor for Washington State. They talk about why housing in Washington State is so expensive, why homelessness keeps rising in Tacoma and beyond, and why small fixes do not seem to be having the impact everyone wants.

Nick explains that housing isn’t just about buildings. It’s an entire ecosystem made up of five connected parts: land and zoning, money and financing, permits and construction, jobs and wages, and how the system responds when things break. When one part fails, the whole system suffers.

He argues that Washington’s housing crisis is ultimately an economic problem. The state has one of the most unfair tax systems in the country, where lower-income people pay a larger share of their income in taxes than the wealthy. As costs rise, this imbalance puts renters at risk and strains affordable housing providers.

Nick shares ideas for long-term solutions, including creating a true state housing department, using public land to build homes, simplifying rules to lower building costs, investing in construction jobs, and providing direct rental assistance to prevent evictions before they happen.

Throughout the conversation, Marguerite pushes back on narratives that blame renters. She emphasizes that tenants are often the most vulnerable people in the system and are doing what they can to survive. This is a wide ranging conversation that explores why communities end up fighting each other instead of addressing the larger economic forces driving the housing crisis.

The post How to Fix Housing in Washington State with Nicholas Carr appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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What Is Palmer Scholars?
In this episode of Move to Tacoma, Marguerite talks with Malachi Cabrera from Palmer Scholars, a nonprofit started in Tacoma in 1983. The organization helps young people in Pierce County who are underrepresented or face barriers to education and careers. Palmer Scholars works with students while they are still in high school and continues supporting them into adulthood.

Preparing Students for College and Reducing Debt
Malachi explains the Palmer Legacy program, which helps high school students prepare for college. Students learn how to apply to college, fill out FAFSA forms, and apply for scholarships. They also receive financial support for tuition and everyday needs like books, groceries, and transportation. Because of this support, many Palmer Scholars finish college with very little student loan debt.

Career Pathways in Trades and Environmental Work
The episode also covers two other programs. Palmer Pathways is a pre-apprenticeship program that introduces young adults to skilled trades like construction and electrical work. Students try different trades, meet people in the field, and even help build a tiny home. The Green Stormwater Infrastructure program focuses on environmental jobs and teaches students about stormwater systems and sustainability work.

Why Community Support Matters
Throughout the conversation, Malachi shares that what students value most is not just the money, but the sense of community and support. Palmer Scholars connects students with mentors and helps remove barriers like transportation. Listeners are encouraged to learn more, become mentors, or support the organization through donations and community events.

The post Palmer Scholars with Malachi Cabera appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Francis Faye Oak and Devin Rydel Kelly came on the podcast to talk about tenant rights, tenant organizing, and the growing tenant union movement in Tacoma. The conversation centers on the origins and goals of Tacoma for All, a housing justice organization that emerged in response to rising rents, displacement, and deteriorating living conditions, and on the recent fight to defend Tacoma’s voter-approved Landlord Fairness Code from proposed rollbacks at City Council.

Francis and Devin explain the difference between traditional “activism” and grassroots organizing, emphasizing the power of building relationships among neighbors around shared material conditions. They discuss how Tacoma for All successfully organized a citizen-led initiative to pass some of the strongest tenant protections in Washington State, and why they now see tenant unions as a crucial next step in building lasting power where people live. Especially as landlords and local political leaders attempt to weaken those protections.

The episode also dives into what a tenant union actually is, using the New York Apartments Tenant Union in Stadium District as a real-world example. Sparked by unresolved maintenance issues and landlord neglect, tenants began talking with one another, realized their problems were shared, and organized collectively to demand safe, healthy, and stable housing.

Finally, the conversation broadens to the larger housing crisis, touching on nonprofit housing providers, political accountability, and the limits of relying on market-based solutions for a basic human need. Francis and Devin argue that housing instability is a systemic problem, not a moral failing of tenants, and that real change requires organized tenants, community solidarity, and sustained pressure on local power structures. The episode closes with a call for more Tacoman residents (renters and allies alike) to get involved, build relationships with their neighbors, and recognize their collective power in shaping the city’s future.

Tacoma for All is a democratic membership organization that unites tenants, workers, and community members to transform Tacoma into a city governed by and for working people. Together, their goals are to are build a movement to abolish poverty, guarantee housing for all, dismantle racial inequities, and secure a sustainable future.

The post NYA Tenants Union and Tacoma 4 All appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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In this episode the Move to Tacoma Podcast- host Marguerite Martin sits down with Mayor-Elect Anders Ibsen for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about how Tacoma is governed. They discuss what meaningful accountability can actually look like in a city with a city-manager system.

Ibsen reflects on growing up in Tacoma, his early years on City Council, and the door-to-door conversations that shaped his mayoral campaign. He describes what he calls the “reverse internet”: face-to-face conversations that reveal most residents are not extreme or angry, but deeply concerned about housing stability, homelessness, affordability, and public safety. The discussion explores the gap between how safe people in Tacoma feel and their lived experience in their own neighborhoods,. Anders shares why he thinks perception, visibility, and trust matter as much as response times and crime statistics.

Throughout the interview Marguerite presses Ibsen on the questions many residents struggle to understand: What power does the mayor actually have? Who is accountable when systems don’t work? How can Tacoma make progress without new money or federal help? Isn’t the City of Tacoma about to go through a budget shortfall? Ibsen outlines his view of the mayor’s role as a coalition-builder and agenda-setter. Tacoma doesn’t have a “strong mayor,” the mayor of Tacoma is more a Speaker of the House. He sees his role as focused on articulating clear goals, aligning council and staff, and insisting on follow-through.

The conversation dives into specific examples, including scaling Tacoma’s underused therapeutic court system as an alternative to incarceration, regional partnerships to address homelessness, and the upcoming city manager search. Ibsen argues that many solutions already exist but lack coordination, accountability, and political will. Anders thinks that leadership means making priorities explicit, measurable, and visible to the public.

This episode offers a rare, inside look at how local government actually works in Tacoma, the limits of mayoral power, and what residents can realistically expect from their next administration. Most importantly? How Tacomans can hold it accountable.

The post Mayor of Tacoma Anders Ibsen appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Hailey Hernandez knows what it takes to survive and thrive in Tacoma’s restaurant scene. Born and raised in Washington, she worked for years in the restaurant industry before burning out on low wages, toxic environments, and exploitation. In 2022, with only $300 and a $2,400 payday loan, she and her husband Dante launched Sidepiece Kitchen out of a shared commissary space in South Tacoma. What started as a small hustle to pay the bills quickly became one of Tacoma’s most beloved local businesses.

In this candid interview, Hailey shares the highs and lows of opening a restaurant in Tacoma without a business plan, big investors, or corporate backing. She talks about leveraging Instagram to connect directly with Tacoma locals, running successful grassroots fundraisers, and building out their South Tacoma brick-and-mortar location with their own hands. More than just biscuits, Sidepiece Kitchen lives their values: fair pay, health benefits, and community over profit. If you follow them online you know they’re not shy about standing up for what they believe in.

Whether you’re dreaming about how to open a restaurant in Tacoma, Washington, or you just love a good underdog story, Hailey’s journey is a must-listen.

The post The Side Piece Kitchen Story with Hailey Hernandez | Move To Tacoma Podcast appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Tamiko Nimura’s book, “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake” centers on her father’s unpublished memoir about his family’s incarceration during WWII. The book contains a history she revisited during a difficult period in her life. Growing up in California, Nimura moved to Tacoma in 2004 and later learned about the city’s lost Japanese American community, which was forcibly removed in 1942. She emphasizes how racism and policies like Executive Order 9066 led to the displacement of over 700 Tacoma residents, most of whom lost their homes and businesses permanently.

Resistance and Relevance Today
Tamiko Nimura discusses Japanese American resistance to incarceration, including legal challenges, protests, and acts of cultural resilience, such as kite-flying contests in the camps. She draws parallels to current immigration detention policies, particularly the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, and stresses the need for collective action. Organizations like Tsuru for Solidarity and La Resistencia work to oppose these systems, and she encourages listeners to support them through education, donations, and political advocacy.

Tamiko Nimura urges listeners to bear witness to suffering and engage in resistance, whether through protests, supporting marginalized communities, or preserving accurate histories. She highlights the importance of intergenerational storytelling and grassroots organizing, framing her book as both a personal tribute and a warning against repeating past injustices.

New chatThe post Tacoma History & Intergenerational Resilience with Tacoma Author Tamiko Nimura appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Silong Chhun moved to Tacoma as a two-year-old Cambodian refugee. In this interview on the Move to Tacoma Podcast Silong recounts his upbringing on the Eastside. Tacoma’s Eastside is a place of deep community and cultural richness. He shares memories of growing up in low-income housing, where families relied on each other for support, and highlights the role of places like Tacoma Community House in helping refugees adapt. Despite challenges, Silong emphasizes the strong sense of belonging and the vibrant mix of immigrant-owned businesses, food spots, and community gatherings that define the area.

He discusses how the Eastside has evolved, noting improvements like Swan Creek Park’s development while acknowledging ongoing struggles with disinvestment. Silong reflects on the neighborhood’s resilience, where residents historically relied on each other rather than institutions, and how this fostered a unique, self-sufficient culture. He also addresses gentrification concerns, stressing the need for economic opportunities without displacing long-time residents, and celebrates the area’s diversity, from its multilingual grocery stores to its weekend swap meets.

Silong invites listeners to engage with his community and explore Tacoma’s Eastside. Whether for its hiking trails, thrift stores, or some of Tacoma’s best Mexican food. He underscores the importance of knowing your neighbors and supporting local businesses, sharing his vision for a thriving but authentic Eastside.

New chatThe post Growing Up in Tacoma’s Eastside Neighborhood with Silong Chhun appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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How to Open a Coffee Shop in Tacoma, Washington

Kevin Lee, the founder of Third Space Coffee in Downtown Tacoma, joins the Tacoma real estate agent Marguerite Martin on the Move to Tacoma Podcast to share the story of how his new café came to be — and what it really takes to open a small business on Pacific Avenue.

Kevin moved to the Tacoma area with his immigrant parents from New York City in the mid-2000s. He grew up learning the ropes of running coffee stands and cafes with his family, went to culinary school, and later managed Beecher’s at SeaTac Airport during the pandemic. After years of working behind the scenes in food service, he’s now building something of his own in the heart of Downtown.

Kevin’s Instagram went a little viral recently thanks to his honest, behind-the-scenes reels explaining what goes into the price of a cup of coffee and how much it really costs to start a café. His transparency, work ethic, and humor make this a must-listen.

If you’ve ever thought about opening a coffee shop, restaurant, or any kind of small business in Tacoma, you’ll love this conversation.

The post How to Open a Coffee Shop in Tacoma with Kevin Lee from Third Space appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast, host Marguerite Martin speaks with Catherine Feeney, a local artist and founder of South Sound Plein Air. Catherine shares her journey from growing up in Tacoma to rediscovering her passion for painting later in life. She explains what plein air painting is. En Plein Air is painting outdoors to capture natural light and atmosphere, and how the practice connects artists with both nature and community.

The conversation covers how plein air painting became popular, what supplies beginners need, and how anyone, regardless of skill level, can join the South Sound Plein Air group. Catherine and Marguerite discuss the value of creative expression, overcoming self-doubt, and the joy of painting outside with others.

Catherine also shares details about upcoming plein air meetups in Tacoma, including plans for seasonal and themed events, and how people can get involved.

En Plein Air Painting Tacoma

The post En Plein Air Painting in Tacoma with Catherina Feeney appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Marguerite hosts Sean Lacey from Tacoma Dads, a supportive group aimed at fostering connections among fathers in Tacoma. Sean talks about how the group evolved from its beginnings as a small, private Facebook group in 2016 to its current form with hundreds of members. The group organizes regular events like adventure days, game nights, and cold water plunges, providing dads with opportunities to connect with their peers, share their experiences, and receive support.

Tacoma Dad’s GroupSean explains the importance of providing a space where dads can meet regularly and discuss their challenges. This includes parenting challenges and beyond. Tacoma Dad’s Group encourages dads to embrace their roles and find joy in their journeys while also understanding that fatherhood can be challenging and isolating. Their events range from adventure days at local parks to monthly dad’s nights out. Tacoma Dad’s offers different activities to suit a variety of interests.

The community strives to be inclusive, supporting all types of families and advocating for acceptance and diversity. Sean also shares personal insights into how building this community has been therapeutic for him.

Sean emphasizes that while the group initially leaned heavily on social media for organization, it has now found success on Discord, where members can chat and coordinate events. Despite the challenges of balancing parenting and socializing, he encourages fathers to push past their reservations and engage with the group, stressing how important it is to make new friends and find support networks.

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When it comes to private schools in Tacoma, what are your options? On the Move to Tacoma podcast Marguerite Martin interviewed Cheryl Schenk, an expert on Tacoma’s private schools. This interview digs into what makes these the different private schools in Tacoma unique and how parents can find the best fit for their children.

Cheryl talks about the types of private schools available in Tacoma. They discuss why parents might choose private schools as an option for their Tacoma student and some history on the schools in the area.

Marguerite annd Cheryl discuss practical steps parent should take as they select a school for their student, such as:

  • How to assess the quality of a school for your student
  • How to navigate the enrollment process and how that process will vary school to school
  • Guidance on reflecting on WHY you’re choosing a particular school with a reminder to keep the student’s needs front and center

The diverse array of private schools in Tacoma represents not just different educational philosophies but communities ready to embrace and nurture students in a variety of unique ways. As families moving to Tacoma navigate these choices, this episode with Cheryl offers a valuable roadmap for considering what each Tacoma school can offer beyond academics.

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The latest episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast features an interview with Anzhane Slaughter of YBH (Young Black Homeowners). Anzhane shares about moving to Tacoma from Seattle to buy her first house in South Tacoma and what owning a home has meant to her.

Since 1990 Black Homeownership has been declining in Tacoma. In partnership with the City of Tacoma Anzhane and YBH will be bringing culturally relevant and trauma-informed homeownership classes to Tacomans to help turn that stat around. Classes will run throughout the summer and into fall and cover credit, budgeting, and government assistance programs from both the city of Tacoma and the state of Washington using a 2M fund to offer down payment assistance to Black families.

In this podcast Marguerite and Anzhane talk about Tacoma’s racist history when it comes to housing. That racism has excluded Black Tacomans from homeownership. To learn more about Tacoma’s history of steering, redlining, and excluding Black Tacomans from homeownership check out Kate Martin’s article, “How Racism Kept Black Tacomans from Buying Houses for Decades.”

Anzhane shares about what solutions people inside government, non profit, and the real estate community have come up with to help Black Tacomans own their homes.

Thanks to TAPCO Credit Union for sponsoring our first ever video podcast on such an important topic. And special thanks to Pacific Nomad Media, Producer Doug, and Yu and the whole crew at Indo Asian Street Eatery for giving us a place to record on short notice!

You can stream the full episode on iTunes, Spotify, and MovetoTacoma.com. You can watch the video on YouTube.

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Does Tacoma have good schools?This podcast interview from “Move to Tacoma,” hosted by Tacoma Real Estate Agent Marguerite Martin, features Tanisha Jumper, the Chief Communications Officer for Tacoma Public Schools. The conversation delves into the nuances of public school funding, the vibrancy and diversity of Tacoma Public Schools, and a focus on the transformative work being undertaken within Tacoma Public Schools.

Tanisha’s BackgroundMarguerite and Tanisha start off talking about how Tanisha grew up in Steilacoom, attending Steilacoom Schools. After living and working in Ohio she returned to live in the house she grew up in with her kids, who are attending the same schools she did- even with some of the same teachers. She shares what she loves about living in Steilacoom and the Pacific Northwest.

Current Status of Tacoma Public SchoolsAre Tacoma Public Schools Good Schools? Tanisha says emphatically YES. She explains the importance of bond measures to fund school infrastructure projects, given that state funding primarily covers educational activities, not facilities maintenance or improvements. Tacoma just passed their bond, which means there’s funding for new schools and to improve schools across the district. The passing of the bond shows the community support for Tacoma Schools. This funding is essential for maintaining and improving school environments for kids.

The conversation covers a lot of ground about Tacoma schools including:

  • The passing of a substantial bond measure to replace eight schools, enhancing learning environments with modern facilities and equipment.
  • The district’s emphasis on diversity, innovative programs, and the high graduation rate at TPS that surpasses state averages.
  • The introduction of specialized High Schools and programs that cater to students’ varied interests and talents. They are:
    • SAMI (Science and Math Institute) in North Tacoma in Point Defiance Park
    • IDEA (Industrial Design Engineering and Art) on the Eastside of Tacoma
    • SOTA (School of the Arts) in Downtown Tacoma
    • FOSS ( International Baccalaureate® (IB) in Central Tacoma
  • Efforts to ensure equity in education, including initiatives to provide every student with a laptop and access to a broad curriculum regardless of their school.
  • A detailed look at the challenges and opportunities within the district, including addressing the needs of students facing housing insecurity and mental health challenges.
  • Tanisha underscores the district’s commitment to meeting students’ needs, promoting inclusivity, and preparing them for future success through various partnerships and programs.

With all the national controversy around what schools teach about American history and LGBTQ issues, what is TPS’s approach to curriculum?Tacoma Public Schools’ (TPS) approach to LGBTQ+ students and teaching America’s full history highlights the district’s commitment to inclusivity and comprehensive education. Here’s a summary of the key points:

  • Whole Child Approach: TPS emphasizes the Whole Child Initiative. WCI has received national and international recognition for supporting students’ mental health. It creates welcoming, supportive school environments. This approach ensures that all students, including LGBTQ+ students, are accepted and supported for who they are.
  • Clubs and Supportive Environment: The district hosts a variety of clubs for students. This includes the Black Student Unions, API (Asian Pacific Islander) clubs, trans clubs, and ally clubs across its high schools. These clubs reflect TPS’s commitment to creating spaces where students’ identities, cultural backgrounds, and historical backgrounds are acknowledged and celebrated.
  • Curriculum Standards and Transparency: The curriculum in Tacoma Public Schools aligns with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) standards for Washington State. This ensures that there is no restriction on teaching about America’s history of racism or LGBTQ+ rights. Tanisha emphasizes that the district is transparent about its curriculum. The curriculum taught in Tacoma Schools is designed to reflect historical accuracy and inclusivity.
  • Educational Innovation and Relevance: TPS teachers employ innovative methods to make learning relevant and engaging. Including addressing how historical and current biases have impacted communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community. This includes exploring the ethical dimensions of science and history, ensuring that students understand the complexities of these subjects in relation to diversity and equity.
  • Support for LGBTQ+ Students: TPS is committed to supporting LGBTQ+ students by allowing them to express their identities safely. They do this by incorporating discussions about gender and sexuality in a respectful and educational manner. The district fosters an environment where students can explore their identities without fear of discrimination or exclusion.
  • Open Dialogue and Community Engagement: The district encourages open dialogue about its curriculum and initiatives. TPS is willing to discuss its approach to inclusivity and comprehensive education with the community. This openness is part of TPS’s broader strategy to engage with and respond to the needs of its diverse student population.

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Tacoma is a union town. Stephen Rue and Carrie Morton from Tacoma Art Museum Workers United share about forming a union at the Tacoma Art Museum. They share about the conditions at the museum that led them to decide to form a union, their long journey to being recognized, and what’s involved as they go to the bargaining table to negotiate their first contract.

Tacoma Art Museum Workers UnitedIn this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, part of Channel 253, the focus shifts to the unique dynamics and challenges faced by workers at cultural institutions, specifically the Tacoma Art Museum, and their journey toward forming a union. We hear from Stephen Ru and Carrie Morton, two museum workers at the forefront of the unionization effort.

The episode focusses on the unionization process at the Tacoma Art Museum. Both Steven and Carrie share their backgrounds, including their initial motivations to move to Tacoma and their respective roles at the museum. Steven serves as the Lead Preparator, involved in the hands-on aspects of art installation and exhibition design, while Carrie, initially part of the visitor services team, is now the store manager, curating art from local artists for the museum shop.

The conversation delves into the broader issue of worker rights and conditions in the arts sector, highlighting the often overlooked fact that passionate involvement in cultural work—such as in museums—doesn’t always equate to fair compensation or working conditions. This segment of the discussion sheds light on the misconception that the prestige of working in cultural institutions can substitute for adequate pay, leading to the realization among the museum staff that forming a union was a necessary step toward advocating for their rights and improving their workplace.

Tacoma is a Union TownStephen and Carrie talk about how Tacoma is a Union Town with a history of strong unions. They share what they’ve learned about forming a union in Tacoma. Especially the importance of solidarity, the power of collective action, and the impact of community support in their unionization journey. The union’s efforts were not only about addressing immediate concerns like wages and working conditions but also about broader aspirations for equity and justice within the museum and the cultural sector at large.

The podcast captures the emotional and logistical complexities of the unionization process, including the engagement with the museum’s administration and board, the role of external union organizations in providing support and guidance, and the pivotal moments that galvanized the museum workers to persist in their efforts despite obstacles.

The successful formation of the union at TAM stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the possibility of positive change in the workplace in Tacoma and in museums across the country.

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Pretty Gritty Tours is not JUST the most popular tour company in Tacoma, Washington. Pretty Gritty Tours (and its creator Chris Staudinger) are one of the most entertaining accounts about Tacoma on social media. From Tiktok, to YouTube, to Instagram and Facebook- Chris finds stories from Tacoma’s past and shares them with us in a way that is entertaining and enlightening.

What is Pretty Gritty Tours?Pretty Gritty Tours offers the best education, experiences, and tours in Tacoma, Washington. Pretty Gritty Tours was founded in 2016 by Chris Staudinger and Tawny Clark. They lead Ghost Tours of Downtown Tacoma every weekend, and have tons of other tours they offer to individuals and groups that are curious to learn more about Tacoma and it’s lost stories.

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Chris shares with host Marguerite Martin how the pandemic catapulted Pretty Gritty Tours from a small local tour company into a full on social media sensation. He also talks about Moving to Tacoma to attend PLU, traveling the world with his wife as a travel journalist, and returning to Tacoma to live in the College Park Neighborhood of the North End (AKA UPS Neighborhood).

Tacoma’s History and StoriesChris shares about how he finds the stories and historic information that he features in his tours and on his social media channels. He shares one of his favorite Tacoma stories, about the Andelana, a merchant vessel that sank in Commencement Bay in the late 1800’s and all the spooky stories surrounding it.

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Chris Miller from The Red Hot joins us to share about 17 years of running one of Tacoma’s most popular bars. He talks about starting bar in Tacoma, all the lessons he’s learned along the way, and advice he has for other people with a dream of opening a bar in Tacoma. He shares about working all over the Puget Sound as a Union Carpenter before deciding to get in the bar business.

How The Red Hot in Tacoma StartedAfter an injury forced Chris Miller to reconsider his career path, he decided to take a big risk and start a hot dog bar in Tacoma. His brother owned a bar in another town, so he took the leap and decided to open a bar in Tacoma. He talked about driving around Tacoma and just calling signs in windows until he found his 6th Avenue location for the bar. “I started looking around at spaces and it was 997 square feet, that includes the bathroom.” he says, “In those days… smaller bars did not exist in this town. It didn’t seem small to me. But everyone who came in was like, ‘What are you doing!?'”

He shares about how starting out it was just him and his parents working in the bar. He didn’t have a business loan or cash, so he took a risk and put everything on his credit card to open. “I thought I don’t have any money, but I can build it,” Chris said. “I had some friends from the industry who would come help. My folks were there right next to me.”

“People always ask me how I decided on beer and hot dogs,” says Chris. “I just like beer and hot dogs!”

The success of The Red Hot surprised him. “I thought we’d sell like a couple dozen a week.” He worked a double 5 days a week and did admin stuff on his days off. He emphasises that he was working at the bar constantly and brought home very little in the beginning. “My wife carried our family,” he says. “I think for the first year it was like that. Putting in the work and some miserable times.”

It started working out after a year, and they hired their first staff member. He didn’t realize how busy it would be once it took off, so staffing up was the next challenge. Over time The Red Hot went from being a small family owned business to a very successful bar- winning Best Hot Dog in Washington State. From hiring baristas instead of servers to having a tiny bar, Chris talked about how the things that made them different set them apart.

How to Open a Bar in TacomaChris talks about how much more expensive leases are in Tacoma. It makes things much more challenging for regular people wanting to open their own bar. He had help from other bar owners in Tacoma, especially the folks from The Parkway and Doyles. “There was a lot of luck involved,” he says. “If I’d known how hard it was going to be I wouldn’t have done it.”

From signing commercial leases and learning what triple nets are to dealing with the permit department at The City of Tacoma, Chris shares about all the lessons he has learned in the past 17 years. He worries that it’s only become harder for someone like him to open a bar in Tacoma, and that is not good for the fabric of Tacoma. “Spaceworks should be a way bigger thing than it is,” he says. “We need to make it accessible for goofballs like me!”

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What is Tacoma Pro Bono?Tacoma Pro Bono Community Lawyers is a legal aid organization in Tacoma, Washington. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Laurie Davenport and Ash Meer. We cover the formation and the growth of Tacoma Pro Bono. How it expanded from a small team to 42 staff members, including 22 attorneys. The focus of Tacoma Pro Bono is on providing free legal services to Tacomans in need, primarily in civil matters. In addition to free legal representation they offer clinics in areas such as family law, bankruptcy, guardianship, and domestic violence.

How does free legal aid work in Tacoma and Pierce County?Marguerite asks Laurie and Ash about the process of seeking assistance from Tacoma Pro Bono. They explain how it works, emphasizing the accessibility of services through walk-in hours and online applications. The conversation covers everything from intake to legal representation in court hearings. The organization’s proactive approach to addressing legal issues is highlighted, aiming to prevent crises and empower individuals with legal knowledge and support.

Further discussion revolves around the challenges faced by homeowners, with resources available primarily focusing on tenants due to recent legal changes. However, resources and referrals for homeowners are still provided through Tacoma Pro Bono’s housing justice project and external platforms like Washington Law Help.

Lastly, the conversation touches on Tacoma’s progressive tenant protections. The passage of Tacoma’s progressive Initiative 1 Tenant Protections laws might have the impact of influencing statewide reforms. Overall, the podcast covers the vital role of Tacoma Pro Bono in providing accessible legal aid, empowering individuals in Tacoma facing legal challenges, and advocating for systemic change in the legal landscape.

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Moving to Tacoma and finding Lawn BowlingTacoma Lawn Bowling Club members Laura Moscatello and Mike Catsi moved to Tacoma from Alaska and now they’re the president and treasurer of the Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast we dig into what lawn bowling is, why it’s so fun, and how to get involved. If you’ve ever walked past the lawn bowling green in Wright Park and wondered what that was about, you’ll love this interview!

Laura (Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club President) and Mike (Treasurer) moved to Central Tacoma from Alaska a few years ago. They were walking past the lawn bowling green in Wright Park and couldn’t believe what they saw. Mike is originally from Australia and familiar with Lawn Bowling as a sport. Laura did some research and found out it WAS a lawn bowling green and they decided to join up. They think it’s a great way to make friends in Tacoma!

History to TodayThe Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club has been in Tacoma on the green in Wright Park since 1929. The club was first started in 1929 by Scottish immigrant Alexander ‘Sandy’ Drummond. TLBC is now run by a new generation of bowlers. Players from Tacoma compete in regional competitions in the Northwest and in the US Nationals.

The 2024 Lawn Bowling Season starts in April! Looking to join? Check out the “Learn to Bowl” Lawn Bowling Class at Metro Parks Tacoma. It costs $60 and once you complete the class you can join the club. It’s $120 for the April to October season. They have days with open plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm and days where you can join a league and compete more seriously. You don’t need equipment to get involved, they have equipment to share. Just show up in comfortable flat soled shoes.

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Originally located in Downtown Tacoma on Commerce, Mad Hat Tea is now at its new location in Tacoma’s Dome District (where Downtown Tacoma meets the Eastside). His shop serves tea in a laid back setting for locals, even crafting custom teas for people at their request. In addition, Mad Hat runs a thriving online business where customers order tea from across the country.

Tobin shares the story about how a voice in his head told him to start Mad Hat Tea, and what he did to start the shop and it a success without borrowing money. From a serendipitous encounter at a Pampered Chef party that led him to his first international tea importer to losing everything and working at El Gaucho to make a go of it. “I worked at Tacoma El Gaucho for almost two years,” Tobin recalls. “I would open the shop at 11. And then I’d close at 3:30pm. Then I’d put on my El Gaucho suit and work till midnight. Get up and do it all over again.”

If you’ve ever thought about starting a business in Tacoma, you’ll get a lot of useful (and unconventional) ideas from Tobin! From finding landlords to simple marketing that works better than instagram.

Mad Hat Tea is located at 301 A Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, WA 98421 and they’re open Wednesday – Sunday.

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Turn of the Centuries Kirsten SparenborgKirsten Sparenborg is a Tacoma artist who creates Architectural Map Drawings. When Kirsten’s husband PCSed to JBLM they found themselves in Tacoma’s Stadium District. After a brief move to New York Kirsten has returned to live and make art here in Tacoma. We talk about how she became a full time artist, creating and selling your art online, and being an artist in Tacoma, Washington.

Becoming a full time artist in TacomaKirsten is an architect by training and worked as an urban designer for seven years before becoming a full time artist. She was attracted to Tacoma because of the urban environment and being able to walk around the city and explore. When she was researching neighborhoods in Tacoma before moving here she was drawn to the historic homes and apartments in Tacoma’s Stadium District. She could walk along Yakima Avenue, walk to Wright Park, the Farmer’s Market, and more. When she moved away and came back she searched for homes for over a year and eventually settled down in Tacoma’s West End.

Before moving to Tacoma Kirsten lived in Savannah and worked for an architect. She went to grad school in Virginia and studied Architectural History. Before she began creating architectural maps she had been creating streetscapes, “Art that you want to put on your wall!”. She honed her style making original hand painted maps where she creates a line drawing then paints them with watercolors. She now creates maps using different methods like stitching, graphite, ink, different kinds of paper, etc.

Selling online and running a business in Tacoma“I really love the process of selling and connecting with people. It’s a really beautiful human connection…” Kirsten says. Over the past 16 years she’s gone from selling things on Etsy to selling things on her website and even selling wholesale to shops. You can see Kirsten’s art on her website here. You can also see her Etsy shop here. Over her career Kirsten has hand drawn over 700 maps!

Kirsten shares about selling her art in person at markets. While she’s an introvert she finds connecting with people about the city and neighborhoods energizing. “It’s definitely my most favorite way of selling.” She Urban Craft Uprising Market, An Anniversary Celebration at Parable, and The Tacoma Night Market.

In addition to 82 maps of Tacoma’s neighborhoods and other locations in Washington, Kirsten has created hundreds of maps for cities across the country. Her favorite is a hand drawn color pencil map of Tacoma’s neighborhoods. You can see it here at Tacoma Tones Topographic Map.

Tacoma’s Art SceneWhat Kirsten loves about creating art in the Pacific Northwest is how much people love living here. People who buy from her love their communities and the nature in the area and are inclined to purchase art and to commission art to celebrate that. “People are quite excited about their place. They’re also just jazzed about people using their hands to make art.”

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Marguerite interviews Paul Kunitsa from the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston. The Kunitsa Family immigrated to the US and to Tacoma when he was a child, first settling on the Eastside then to University Place. Paul now lives on Tacoma’s West Slope. Paul shares his story of running a construction company and through “a series of events” ended up owning the 35,000 square foot building that houses the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston. He shares their goals of expanding and growing the market. From vendors they have to the ideal vendors they’d like to attract. “It’s more than the products that are sold at the market. You get to meet people face to face, in this economy, in this place that we’re in. For me the coolest thing is the networking part, connecting with people on a deeper level. All this stuff is pretty unique to each individual vendor.”

What It’s Like at the Waterfront Market at RustonPaul shares that their goal is to be like Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Vendors lease space in the market full time, seven days per week, and year round while others do “pop ups” and short term stays on the weekend and throughout the year. “Some of our core vendors include Taco Street, Owen’s Meats… vendors who create art and jewelry and sell clothes. All kinds of categories in one building.”

What Kind of Vendors Would Love This Market?“Food is a big draw for people,” says Paul. “That’s the biggest area we’re growing right now. Then expanding into produce and grocery and the daily needs of people who live down and around here.” The market is a great place for new and small businesses to grow without expensive overhead. With the events that go on attracting Tacomans from around the city, a new business can grow their audience and customers.

When is the Waterfront Market at Ruston Open?The Market in Ruston is open Monday-Sunday every day 10am-6pm with food vendors staying open until 8pm. There’s a 4 story parking garage right underneath the market which makes parking easy and free for customers (at the top of the parking garage).

Events Coming up include Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th – October 15th, Doggie Halloween, Indoor Trick or Treating, Yoga, and more. The Event Calendar is in the show notes.

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In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast we interviewed Matthew Wilson and Quincy Tyson. Matthew is the Executive Director of the Oasis Youth Center. Oasis is Pierce County’s only LGBTQ+ youth center. Founded in 1985, Oasis is a drop-in, resource, and support center. Oasis is a safe space for Queer youth to learn,...

The post Tacoma Pride 2023 & Tacoma’s Queer Community appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Check out this interview where Nerd Farmer Host Nate Bowling interviews Zev Cook and David Galazin from Tacoma4All. They’re working to improve tenant protections for tenants in Tacoma by introducing a Tenants Bill of Rights. Tacoma is one of the most challenging places in the country to rent a home, and it’s getting tougher. Their...

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Looking for things to do in Tacoma, Washington? We interviewed local Author Peggy Cleveland on the MovetoTacoma.com podcast! Peggy’s new book “100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die” is here to get you started finding interesting things to do in and around Tacoma. This book is great for tourists visiting Tacoma, people who’ve just moved here, and even folks who have lived here forever.

What’s in 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die?After living all over the country in the military Peggy and her husband chose JBLM as his final duty station and retired in Washington State. Peggy had been living in Steilacoom for eight years and writing about the area for different publications. Recently she was approached by Travel Tacoma to write a book about things to do in the greater Tacoma area. We interview Peggy about how the book came to be, cool things to get up to in and around Tacoma, how she became a writer, and tips she has for others looking to start writing!

Peggy’s book has five categories. 20 Things to in the Tacoma area for each one! The categories include Food & Drink, Music and Entertainment, Sports and Recreation, Culture and History, and Shopping and Fashion. Peggy shares her process for writing the book and researching all of the places that ended up being featured. She tells us a few of her favorite spots to eat, and unexpected discoveries she made researching to write the book.

About the Move to Tacoma PodcastThe Move to Tacoma Podcast has been out since 2015. Now a part of Channel253! The Move to Tacoma Podcast interviews all different kinds of people about what it’s like living in Tacoma, Washington.

MovetoTacoma.com creator Marguerite Martin is a different kind of Tacoma real estate agent. Reach out to find out answers to questions you have about neighborhoods in Tacoma and Pierce County. Marguerite can connect you with a local real estate agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you love most. Click here to contact Marguerite.

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An Interview with the Reporters Behind “The Walk Home” Podcast on KNKX 88.5 FM This week on the MoveToTacoma Podcast we interview reporters Mayowa Aina & Kari Plog from KNKX 88.5 FM NPR. They talk their podcast “The Walk Home” which investigates the killing of Manny Ellis by Tacoma Police. Both reporters grew up in...

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Where are the best places to get your news in Tacoma if you want to be fully informed? We sat down with former Metro Parks Commissioner, Author, Channel 253 Founder, and KNKX Public Radio Director of Audience Engagement Erik Hanberg to talk about what our options are for news in Tacoma. Here were his recommendations....

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Buying a house in Tacoma has never been more challenging for buyers, especially buyers buying under $650,000. Marguerite invited Sharon Chambers Gordon onto the podcast to talk about what buyers can do to increase their chances of finding and winning a good house. Sharon moved to Tacoma over 16 years ago. She’s lived in Gig...

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Rob Huff is almost finished running every street in Tacoma. Yes, even the really steep ones. What has he learned about the City of Destiny on his runs? Rob shares what he’s learned about streets, sidewalks, and folks living on the street. Rob is the Director of Advocacy and Communications for the Metropolitan Development Council....

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In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite Martin interviews Local History Librarian Anna Trammell. Anne is a librarian at the Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest Room. The Northwest Room features archives of Tacoma’s local history, genealogy, and special collections, and this treasure trove of information is constantly evolving.    Marguerite and Anne dive...

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In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite and Jasmyn share a vulnerable conversation about their ever-evolving friendship, and how race and real estate have played a role in that.  Jasmyn and Marguerite touch on topics like:  – Having uncomfortable conversations in their friendship (it’s because of this that their friendship has strengthened...

The post Talking Race, Real Estate, and Friendship with Jasmyn Jefferson appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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“It’s hard to overstate how much coworking was affected due to the pandemic, especially early on in March—I mean, it pretty much decimated our industry,” shares Chris of Pioneer Collective.  In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite interviews Chris and Sheila of Pioneer Collective, a co-working space with locations in Seattle and...

The post Running a Coworking Space in Downtown Tacoma During the Pandemic with Chris and Sheila  appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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What is it like to open a small business in Tacoma during a pandemic? Natalie Bowman from Oh Happy Day Party Shop and her husband moved to Tacoma a few years back. Just before the pandemic hit they went into the party shop business.  How Oh Happy Day Party Shop Came to Tacoma Oh Happy...

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CROSSOVER EPISODE on Tacoma’s Housing Crisis. Description From Nate Bowling of Nerd Farmer Podcast: Although I have been talking about housing issues, literally for years, I am really just now getting my head around the extent to which existing homeowners and their advocacy are the cause and cure of what ails us. In a rising housing...

The post Nate Bowling Crossover Episode: How Homeowners in Rising Housing Markets Can Fight Displacement appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Depression and anxiety were already high among senior citizens in our community before the Covid-19 Pandemic reached Tacoma. Today we spoke with Elliot Stockstad and David Duea from Lutheran Community Services Northwest- an organization that has been serving seniors for years- about how we can support seniors in our community. David recommends reaching out to...

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MovetoTacoma.com creator Marguerite asked her financial coach, Chris to convert their monthly call to a podcast to get his advice. Chris has been helping Marguerite track her spending and get out of debt for over five years. Marguerite is worried since she is self employed, but ready to face the uncertainty and create an emergency...

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Small nonprofits in Tacoma are facing huge challenges in the coming weeks as Tacomans grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. What can each of us as individuals do to support our local nonprofits and the important work they do in our community? David Strong from AHAT Home Care and Melissa Mallott from Citizens for a Healthy...

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What can Tacomans do to support small businesses, artists, and very small businesses in Tacoma during the Covid-19 pandemic? Spaceworks Director Michael Liang joins us to talk about the specific challenges facing small business owners right now and how everyday Tacomans can support their business owning neighbors. Michael moved to Tacoma in 2018 to take...

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The MoveToTacoma.com podcast has been on hiatus while MoveToTacoma.com founder Marguerite takes a sabbatical out of state. Channel253 Founder Erik Hanberg hops on the podcast to interview Marguerite and catch up on what’s new with MoveToTacoma, what’s new in the City of Tacoma, and what the future holds for both. We talk about the future...

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Dune Peninsula opens today at Point Defiance, a new 12-acre park right on the water. Today Metro Parks also opened Wilson Way, a new pedestrian and bike promenade that finally connects Ruston Way with Point Defiance. Guest host Jasmyn Jefferson is joined by Metro Parks Commissioner, and regular here on MovetoTacoma, to talk about what...

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Tacoma Against Nazis is a group for people in Tacoma who are against nazis. “We tried to give it a straightforward title,” says Halley. “No bones about it. You’re either for or against Nazis. And we’re against.” This came about in June 2018 after a handful of Tacoma residents became fed up with how nationally...

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On the podcast Melannie shares about her life in Tacoma, her work promoting racial reconciliation, her daily encounters with racism, and her ideas about how white people in Tacoma can do to educate themselves about racism and work to dismantle white supremacy. Melannie will be heading to Norway for the Nobel Peace Prize with her Peace...

The post Melannie Denise Cunningham: Tacoma Peace Queen appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Saul Farber is one of the founders of PeopleGIS, a local tech company. He is also a lifelong member of Tacoma’s Jewish Community. When Marguerite asked how Tacomans of different faiths could show support for our Jewish neighbors, Saul shared these ideas: Invite Jewish leaders in to speak to your organizations and involve them in...

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Maureen Sorensen, Pierce County Director at Amara Foster Care, comes on the podcast to talk about the link between the affordable housing issues and the opiod crisis and how it has caused a foster care crisis in Tacoma and Pierce County. Kids come into foster care in Pierce County at twice the rate that they...

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Michael Haeflinger, Executive Director of Write 253, and Forest Beutel, a one man-band and member of many local bands, join the show to talk about the upcoming music series Tacoma AF: four music shows in awesome Tacoma venues from June to September. Tacoma’s music scene ranges from punk, gospel, folk, rock, hip-hop and a lot...

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Nate Bowling hosts a panel on the rise of Neo-Nazism and white supremacists in the Pacific Northwest and Tacoma. Guests include Craig Sailor from the News Tribune and Miri Cypers from the Anti-Defamation League. This event occurred on April 16, 2018.

The post ACHH: Who are the Nazis in your neighborhood? appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Richardson speaks candidly throughout the interview. She now resides in Hilltop where she plays witness to what she calls “street theater”, which in her words is both a blessing and a curse, and a combination of peace and battle that provide her a plethora of parently tools and advice. Marguerite inquires, how does one become...

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Nate Bowling hosts a panel of two City of Tacoma employees, a developer, and a Metro Parks commissioner to dive deep into rising housing costs in Tacoma. We look at the causes of the rent and property value increases as well as the consequences. You can also check out the live stream on Facebook! This...

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The Space: Alma Mater Tacoma at 1322 South Fawcett, is a live music venue, artist co-working space, café and lounge all wrapped into one. The grand opening of Alma Mater takes place the weekend of April 19, with festivities occurring each day through Saturday the 21. Festivities include an all ages dance party with DJ...

The post Podcast: Talking Alma Mater Tacoma with Rachel Ervin and Aaron Spiro appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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While history hounds are in the know, many may wonder what’s the difference between the Tacoma Historical Society and the Washington State Historical Society. Mary Mikel Stump clarifies that the WSHS is a parent agency and was founded in the late 1800’s. She reveals that the epic looking brick building in the Stadium District that plays...

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Dean Burke comes on the podcast to talk about how all Tacoma’s can have a closer connection to the sea. Dean is the Executive Director of the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission. He left the Texas Gulf Coast for Tacoma’s North End 23 years ago.  Marguerite spent some time on the water with Burke for...

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Punk Rock, Punches & Puget Sound: Before moving to Tacoma 10 years ago, Forest was a drummer for various punk rock bands and was deep into the rock n roll scene in Rhode Island. Somewhere in there he spent some time as a competitive boxer, which as he put it, “was the first step in...

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Adult Civics Happy Hour lures community members into an approachable way to be civically engaged and informed. The event provides a jargon free zone using happy hour language to discuss issues that impact our community and neighbors. This Adult Civics Happy Hour tackled the topic “The Rent is Too Damn High,” and opened a dialogue...

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What is Tacoma’s dating scene really like, these days? Marguerite is new to the dating scene and is looking for some pro-tips which led to her inviting a panel of singles to talk about hooking up in the City of Destiny. Disclaimer: Please remove children from the room- there might be swear words and...

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The Move to Tacoma podcast has had a big year, loads of cool guests and insightful topics of discussion made their way into the studio in 2017. Special Guest Host, Erik Hanberg sat down and talked with Marguerite Martin about 2017 and what’s coming our way in 2018. Marguerite changed her last name in 2017!...

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This week, Marguerite Martin and Erik Hanberg revisit their annual tradition with a Move to Tacoma Year in Review. Take a tour through the year, the ups and the downs, the growth, the arguments, and the politics that was Tacoma’s 2017.

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Najah moved from the country in Florida to the City of Tacoma in high school in the mid-nineties. She’s lived in the North End (and went to Wilson High School!) and Downtown. Del moved to Tacoma from San Diego in 2003 and they’re now roommates on the Hilltop. “I figured if I moved to a...

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Jenny Jacobs, host of the Citizen Tacoma podcast, joins Marguerite to talk about her experience with the podcast this year. Starting as a regular citizen of Tacoma, what was it like to meet and interview 14+ candidates for office. Did she come away more inspired or more cynical by the political process? Check it out,...

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Photo by GritCityPhoto Marc’s Move to Tacoma Story Marc grew up in the Quad Cities, but after a vacation brought him to the area he knew he wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest. A Zookeeper, he found a job as the Zoological Curator with Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in East Pierce County. Moving to...

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Jackie’s Move To Tacoma Story: Jackie grew up in Fife and moved to South Tacoma after high school. She now lives in Proctor with her husband Chris and their kids. Creative Colloquy: Formed as a way for writers to connect with each other and read their stories for an audience, Creative Colloquy is open to...

The post Jackie Casella of Creative Colloquy on Supporting Tacoma’s Writers appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Rochelle Bergstrom comes onto the show to talk about her urban and sophisticated wedding chapel called Elope 253. She shares the story of how Spaceworks helped make her dream of owning a business possible.

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Nate Bowling, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, hosts several panelists to share their experience around the issue of immigration locally. The panelists are Dreamers, immigrants, lawyers, or journalists, but together they tell a heartfelt and sobering story of the immigrant experience in Tacoma and the South Sound.

The post What is the immigrant experience like in Tacoma and the South Sound? #ACHH253 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Michael Haeflinger, Executive Director of Write 253, talks about writing, poetry (both slam and otherwise), play writing, and helping youth learn to write.

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Dennis Hanberg (AKA Mr. Hanberg) joins us to talk about what’s happening in planning and public works at Pierce County and how the county relates to Tacoma’s growth.

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In our fourth Adult Civics Happy Hour, we look at the role of policing in Tacoma. Nate Bowling, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, will moderate the discussion with representatives from the ACLU, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, and an HR attorney for a school district. We’ll discuss use of community relations with law...

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Cristiano Valli, a radio host at Radio Popolare, is Italian-borne but has chosen to live in Tacoma instead of Seattle or San Francisco or anywhere else in the United States that he could live. His job is to report on the real story of the United States.

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Kristina Walker, from Downtown on the Go, talks about some of the efforts state legislators used to try to change or curtail funding for Sound Transit 3 in the last session. So far those efforts didn’t take, but Kristina talks to us about how to advocate for transit and transportation at the state, county, and...

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This is the recording from our third Adult Civics Happy Hour event so far. Adult Civics Happy Hour (#ACHH253) is an opportunity for real talk about what’s happening in local government. We want to help regular people get involved and make their voice heard! During this event, moderator Nate Bowling (2016 Washington State Teacher of...

The post How do we fund education after McCleary? #ACHH253 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Josh Kilen, from Kilen IT, and Lynda Lopez, community manager at Surge Tacoma, talk about coworking in Tacoma and the newest Tacoma coworking space: Union Club!

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s history. Today’s episode covers (roughly) Tacoma’s history from the 1970s to 1990s.

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s history. Today’s episode covers (roughly) Tacoma’s history from the 1970s to 1990s.

The post Tacoma’s History with Michael Sullivan – Part 5 (1970s to 1990s) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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This is the recording from our second Adult Civics Happy Hour event. (We have no podcast version of the first event, but you can watch the Facebook livestream here.) Adult Civics Happy Hour (#ACHH253) is an opportunity for real talk about what’s happening in local government. We want to help regular people get involved and make...

The post What does the city council DO anyway? #ACHH253 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Four guests (yes it was a full room) join Marguerite to discuss the recent candidate filings. This is an honest conversion with a progressive view of politics in Tacoma. The guests are all active in local politics which means that some of them have endorsed candidates or are working for candidates. They all disclose that...

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Four guests (yes it was a full room) join Marguerite to discuss the recent candidate filings. This is an honest conversion with a progressive view of politics in Tacoma. The guests are all active in local politics which means that some of them have endorsed candidates or are working for candidates. They all disclose that...

The post Part 1: Who is running for office in Tacoma and Pierce County? appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Hunter George, who works for Metro Parks Tacoma and is a City Councilmember in Fircrest. He comes to the podcast to talk about the park system in Tacoma, being South Sound Proud, and the other partnerships that are coming together to make Tacoma and Pierce County a better place to live.

The post On Parks and Living Like the Mountain Is Out – With Hunter George appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Director of Content Matt Martinez and Director of Development Mary Dunaway talk about how KPLU became KNKX and what it means for news and radio in the Tacoma and Puget Sound area.

The post The new KNKX with Matt Martinez & Mary Dunaway appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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If you like the Move To Tacoma Podcast, you’re going to love Nate Bowling’s new podcast, Nerd Farmer! Lincoln High School teacher Nate Bowling has been one of our most popular guests. Recently he did a takeover of the Move to Tacoma Podcast and now he’s launching a podcast of his own! Billed as “A...

The post Announcing Nate Bowling’s New Podcast: Nerd Farmer appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Ricardo says there are three main goals for an Economic Development Director: business retention, attraction, and expansion. “You’re looking to grow the industry you have and grow jobs, and at the same time attract new industry and grow the economy… The goal is also to attract investment.” Developing Tacoma “When I first came here that’s...

The post Economic Development in Tacoma with Ricardo Noguera from The City of Tacoma appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Nate Bowling, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, is taking over the Move to Tacoma Podcast for a few episodes. His second guest is Kenny Coble, America’s bookseller. He works at Kings Books and wants you to read Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

The post Nate Bowling Podcast Takeover – with special guest Kenny Coble appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Nate Bowling, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, is taking over the Move to Tacoma Podcast for a few episodes. His second guest is Dorian Waller, who sounds off on what’s happening in local Tacoma politics. If you are wondering what’s happening in the local races this year, or want unvarnished commentary about the...

The post Nate Bowling Podcast Takeover – with special guest Dorian Waller appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Nate Bowling, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, is taking over the Move to Tacoma Podcast for a couple episodes. His first guest is News Tribune reporter Melissa Santos, who primarily covers Washington state politics. She talks about what’s happening in the state legislature this year as they try to come up with a...

The post Nate Bowling Podcast Takeover – with special guest Melissa Santos appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s history. Today’s episode covers (roughly) Tacoma’s history from the 1950s to the late 1970s.

The post Tacoma’s History with Michael Sullivan – Part 4 (1950s to 1970s) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s history. Today’s episode covers (roughly) Tacoma’s history from 1941 with the internment of the Japanese and Tacoma’s wartime history to the end of the 1950s.

The post Tacoma’s History with Michael Sullivan – Part 3 (1940s to 1950s) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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In this week’s episode, we turn the microphone around and interview Marguerite Giguere about her own “move to Tacoma” story. When did Marguerite move to Tacoma? Where has she lived? And where is MoveToTacoma.com headed in 2017? Thanks to guest host Erik Hanberg for asking the questions this episode!

The post With Special Guest Marguerite Giguere (No Really!) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Erik Hanberg (author, Metro Parks commissioner, and small business owner) returns to the Move to Tacoma podcast to recap the year the year that was 2016. We talk about development, politics, ways for the public to get engaged, and a whole lot more. Enjoy.

The post 2016 Tacoma Year in Review: A Mixed Bag? appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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YWCA has been part of Tacoma since 1906. How it fulfills its mission over the years has changed (in 1910 they opened a swimming pool for women and children; in 1976 they opened the first domestic violence shelter in the state). Laine and Jessica talk about the YWCA, its mission, and its unique events (including a tampon drive...

The post YWCA With Laine Hoggan and Jessica Gavre appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Carrie Akre is a musician best known for her work with Seattle bands Hammerbox and Goodness. She moved to Seattle in 1985 and moved around to several different neighborhoods, as well as a stint in Minneapolis. In 2015, Carrie and her family decided to move to Tacoma. Carrie’s first impressions of Tacoma and her process of...

The post Carrie Akre on Creativity and Making Art in Tacoma appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Ricky and Matthew from Oasis Youth Center share the story of Oasis, the only organization in Tacoma dedicated to queer and questioning youths to learn connect and grow. For the past thirty-two years, they have worked to help youths be seen as leaders in the community.

The post Oasis Youth Center appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s history in the twentieth century. What decisions did we get right? (Like women getting the vote early). But what went wrong? This episode covers some of the hard times Tacoma went through...

The post Tacoma’s History with Michael Sullivan – Part 2 (Early 1900s to WWII) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Michael Sullivan knows the history of all things Tacoma. He blogs regularly at tacomahistory.live. On today’s podcast he shares fascinating stories and nuggets from Tacoma’s early history through the Great Depression. What is the “harbor of phantoms?” How has Mount Rainier Tahoma affected our history? Discover the early characters of Tacoma’s history, our competition with...

The post Tacoma’s History with Michael Sullivan – Part 1 (Early Days to Early 1900s) appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Evan Smith (with Mass Transit Now!) and Kristina Walker (with Downtown on the Go!) are transit boosters, helping to spread the word about Sound Transit 3 (ST3) and its benefits. They stopped by the Move to Tacoma podcast to tell us about ST3, how it’s paid for, and what it will do for our community. What can ST3...

The post Mass Transit Now! With Evan Smith and Kristina Walker appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Chris Karnes is passionate about transit, and has a blog that covers transit issues in depth at TacomaTransit.com. Chris grew up using public transportation in Tacoma and began at age 14. His parents moved to Tacoma’s Lincoln District when he was 5. While his parents worked full time Chris used public transit to get around...

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Nathan Bowling is a teacher at Lincoln High School on Tacoma’s East Side and was born and raised in Tacoma. He has lived in different neighborhoods all over Tacoma. This year, he was honored as Washington’s Teacher of the Year and as a finalist for National Teacher of The Year had the opportunity to meet...

The post Nate Bowling: WA State Teacher of the Year Talks Teaching, Policing, & Educating the Next Generation of Tacomans appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Carla Santorno is the beloved Superintendent of Tacoma Public Schools. Seven years ago she moved from Denver to Seattle to take a position as the Chief Academic Officer for Seattle Public Schools. After three years in Seattle, she came to Tacoma to lead Tacoma Public Schools as Superintendent. Carla and her husband have had four...

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T’wina Franklin is a Director and Board Legislative Representative for the University Place School District. Nowadays T’wina has four children, but she originally moved to University Place 15 years ago with her daughter and husband when he was stationed at Fort Lewis. Through her time working with different schools in the University Place and Tacoma...

The post University Place Schools, Tacoma Public Schools, and the Ladies First program with T’wina Franklin appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Can vegetarians and vegans live and eat happily in the City of Destiny? Today’s guest Keryn Giguere is here with tips and tricks for vegetarians and vegans in Tacoma. Whether you’re interested in dining out somewhere fancy or everyday eating, One of the most challenging parts of eating vegetarian or vegan anywhere is other people’s...

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We had Steph Farber in for an interview last month to talk about his family’s Jewelry Store LeRoy Jewelers that has been in Downtown Tacoma since the 1930s. Now he’s back to tell us more stories about Tacoma’s past. Our delightful and meandering conversation explores topics such as “Why is it called the Murray Morgan Bridge?”...

The post How Every Tacoman is like Sisyphus- More Stories w/ Steph Farber of LeRoy Jewelers appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Top of Tacoma bar owner JaimeKay Jones is a Tacoma legend. From opening one of Tacoma’s best bars in a business district that was hardly a destination at the time to opening one of Tacoma’s most popular restaurants, Marrow. JaimeKay Jones moved to Tacoma after an extended period of travel in 2001 and ended up...

The post Open a Great Bar with Top of Tacoma’s JaimeKay Jones appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Join us as we continue part 2 of our interview with Matt Martinez, Director of Content for KPLU 88.5FM. After moving to Tacoma’s Proctor District and taking his job at KPLU this summer Pacific Lutheran University’s leadership decided to sell off KPLU to a Seattle station on November 12th.  The sale was stopped after an outcry from the community –...

The post Why Saving KPLU Matters for Tacoma with Matt Martinez Part 2 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Matt Martinez worked is way up the chain at NPR’s All Things Considered until he was the Senior Producer (the person who runs the show from day to day). He was happy and living the NPR dream in Washington D.C. until he came to Tacoma to visit a friend and fell in love with it....

The post Save KPLU 88.5FM with Matt Martinez Part 1 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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How is Tacoma dealing with environmental issues as a city? Today we spoke with Tacoma City Council Member Ryan Mello (position 8). Ryan is also the executive director of the Pierce County Conservation District. PCD works with the community to improve water quality, promote sustainable agriculture, create thriving habitat, and build a just and healthy food...

The post Air Quality, Potholes, and the Methanol Plant with Ryan Mello, Tacoma City Council Pos 8 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Spaceworks is contributing to activating empty spaces in Downtown Tacoma. Heather Joy is the Executive Director of Spaceworks. Spaceworks is an organization that matches artists and creative entrepreneurs with vacant spaces to activate Tacoma. “We work with property owners of vacant spaces that are interested in filling them and taking a chance,” says Heather. “Rather than...

The post Starting a Business in Tacoma’s Empty Spaces with Heather Joy from Spaceworks appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Thanks for tuning into our first podcast episode of 2016! When LeRoy Jewelers moved to Downtown Tacoma in the late 1930’s there were a dozen jewelry stores downtown. Now there is one. What happened? If you’ve never met Steph Farber from LeRoy Jewelers in Downtown Tacoma, you’re in for a treat. Steph’s parents founded LeRoy...

The post Steph Farber: The Best of Times and the Worst of Times on Broadway appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Young people stepping up and flexing muscles! Historic Buildings Saved! The eyes of the world on Chambers Bay! So many things to talk about with Author, Business Owner, and MetroParks Commission Erik Hanberg about what has happened this year in Tacoma. Wins! 2015 US Open held at Chambers Bay  Proposition 3 and Proposition A pass...

The post 2015 Year in Review: Tacoma’s Biggest Wins and Losses appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Bike lanes, bike boulevards, buses, and light rail! Today we’re talking with Kristina Walker, Executive Director at Downtown on the Go! Downtown on the Go! is a local nonprofit that’s purpose is to be the transportation advocate for anyone whose daily life is downtown. Kristina and her family live in Central Tacoma near 6th Ave and have one car. Today...

The post Getting Around Tacoma Without a Car with Kristina Walker 005 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Officially the longest Move to Tacoma Podcast episode to date, this meandering  interview with Tacoma enigma RR Anderson covers he and his wife Ms. Darcy’s journey from Alaska to Tacoma- and tells the story of their lives as artists, parents, activists, and entrepreneurs in the City of Destiny. It can be hard to know whether...

The post Art and Entrepreneurship with Political Cartoonist RR Anderson Episode 016 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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For today’s podcast Marguerite sat down with Rob Mcnairhuff of MDC to have a conversation about homelessness in Tacoma. MDC is a local nonprofit that has helped Tacoma and Pierce County with housing, health care, education, and employment since 1964. Awareness of people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma is on the rise, and conversations about the...

The post Homeless in Tacoma with Rob McNairhuff Episode 015 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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A few months ago my real estate agent friends Brent Tornquist and Tom Hume were talking about their client that was opening a float center. Jonathan and his wife Sarah opened the Uncharted Waters Float Center on South Proctor & South 12th in Central Tacoma this Spring. Jonathan is from Portland. He moved to Tacoma...

The post Floating your way to inner peace with Jonathan Murray Episode 014 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Jeff Bessmer is the Tacoma Food Co-op’s new general manager. Jeff moved to Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood from Santa Barbara, where he was managing a housing co-op. Jeff is passionate about the co-op business model (and it’s infectious!) and shared his vision for making Tacoma’s food co-op even better (and hopefully inspiring others to start co-ops). How can...

The post Inside the Tacoma Food Co-op with Jeff Bessmer 013 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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We’re glad to share this interview with local business owner Brock Leach. Brock first moved to Tacoma’s East Side 15 years ago. In addition to being a college professor, Brock and his friends opened The Mix in Tacoma’s St Helens Neighborhood 7 years ago. We talked about how the East Side and St Helens neighborhoods have changed...

The post Creating a great community bar with Brock Leach of The Mix 012 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Ok, ok, ok. Obviously ALL the cool kids aren’t moving to Fircrest. I mean, I’M STILL in Tacoma– and so is most everyone else! But since SOME very cool peeps in my friendship circle have moved over to Fircrest where my dear friend and colleague Realtor Anne Jones resides- I thought it was best that we sit down...

The post Why are the Cool Kids Moving to Fircrest? with Realtor Anne Jones 011 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Local Realtor Michael Robinson bought his first house (in Tacoma’s West End) in the late 70’s when he was 18 years old after selling his dirtbike to get the downpayment.”I had a roomate,” says Michael. “And the amount of rent I charged my roomate covered my payment.” Today he owns many investment properties (most in...

The post Investing in Tacoma Real Estate with Michael Robinson 010 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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My friend Jenny sent me a picture of an ad at the airport the other day. It was a picture of a man on a hiking adventure that said, “A place for FEARLESS exploration.” She thought it was a good topic for conversation- what’s up with that slogan? Do they mean Tacoma is scary?  The...

The post Tourism, Adventure, and Fearless Exploration with Bennish Brown 009 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Originally from Sunnyside in Queens New York- Vania Kent Harber first moved to Tacoma with her partner Nathan in 2009. They started with a house in Tacoma’s 6th Avenue neighborhood and now (2 children later) reside in Tacoma’s Stadium District. “The thing that Tacoma has that New York does not have is easy access to beauty…”...

The post From NYC to 253 – Moving from New York City to Tacoma with Vania Kent Harber 008 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Tacoma’s East Side is a bit of a mystery to many Tacomans. Tacoma City Councilman Marty Campbell (who represents the East Side and South End neighborhoods of Tacoma) is here to talk about his district, dispel myths about the East Side, and share some of the east side’s hidden gems. In addition we talk about the great...

The post Tacoma’s East Side Neighborhood and South End with Marty Campbell Podcast 007 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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We’ve had lots of requests to talk about things to do with kids in Tacoma- we were lucky enough to be able to get Tacoma blogger and Business Examiner “Rising Star” Award at the annual Women of Influence Rosie Martinson of TacomaWorkingMom.com to sit down and speak with us about her favorite kid friendly activities in Tacoma. Rosie always...

The post Things to do in Tacoma with kids with Rosie Martinson Episode 006 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Today we sat down with Chef Gordon Naccarato, a native Tacoma son who found fame in LA and Aspen and then returned to Tacoma to open several successful Tacoma restaurants with partners including Pacific Grill, Smoke + Cedar, and Shake Shake Shake. Gordon is food famous outside of Tacoma- in addition to being noted as...

The post Opening a Successful Restaurant in Tacoma with Chef Gordon Naccarato appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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The post Mayor Marilyn Strickland on Tacoma’s Next 10 Years Episode 003 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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Tacoma is the kind of place where people are constantly asking, “What kind of city are we becoming?” Today with local Tacoma author, Metro Parks Commissioner, and business owner Erik Hanberg we’re talking about who we are as a city and what our unique strengths are as a city. “You can really make a splash...

The post Tacoma is Not Portland North with Erik Hanberg – Episode 002 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.

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A lot of people considering moving to Tacoma from Seattle have questions about the commute. Since (at least initially) folks tend to keep their Seattle (or Bellevue, or Redmond) jobs while living in Tacoma- the topic of how to commute like a boss is always a topic of interest. Justin works in the tech industry...

The post Commute Hacks with Justin Camarata – Episode 001.mp3 appeared first on Move to Tacoma.