Cohort Announces Creative Projects in Year 2!
Cohort Announces Creative Projects in Year 2!
We launched our current branch of Community Roots–The Pride Storytelling Project–in October 2024 as a 2 year project. Year 1 focused on training on the ethics and practice of oral history documentation, primary research, and conducting and transcribing interviews with 20 community narrators. Cohort members were invited to propose a project that activates or amplifies the oral history collection in creative and engaging ways in Year 2. Window Seat will support cohort members with a project budget, stipend, and professional development support. We're excited to announce their plans!
Azadi Amaan: Original Piano Compositions
Given the present-day anti-LGBTQ+ climate, I believe that it is critical now, more than ever, that we embrace the wisdom of our queer elders, hear their stories about the previous anti-LGBTQ+ climate in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s and learn how to maintain hope and forward momentum during these challenging times. Using these stories as inspiration, I plan on composing original solo piano compositions that mirror the elder's life experiences. I will then overlay the solo piano with interviewees' stories to share and honor these individual’s journeys and inspire younger generations. My long-term goal is to convert a trailer that I own into a drop down stage, put an upright piano in the back of it and go on a mini-tour, sharing these queer elder’s stories in a series of pop up concerts.
Azadi Amaan (they/them) is a queer, trans, neurodivergent, bi-racial musician, composer, and storyteller whose work embodies the idea of freedom without fear, honoring their East Indian roots. Their work lives at the intersections of social justice, psychology, and music. Azadi's love for the piano journey began early; their vocal cords were damaged in a surgery and they learned to play the piano before they could speak. This transformative language became their medium to translate life experiences into a universal form of expression – sound. In the face of adversity, music has provided Azadi hope. Currently, Azadi has released two full-length albums and is releasing a third album in March 2025. In addition to making music, Azadi enjoys tending to their small homestead farm (with goats and chickens), baking gluten-free treats, and propagating their jungle of houseplants.
Jonah Barrett: Pride Storytelling Project Podcast
The Pride Storytelling Podcast will feature the best nuggets of the interviews the Pride Cohort undertook during the 2024-2025 season. What lessons can we gleam from the conversations with our queer elders? How does this connect back into this city we call home? And how can we apply these lessons to make the town even gayer?
Jonah Barrett (They/Them) is an arts administrator, author, photographer, and ex-filmmaker from Tenino, Washington. They have been a part of the Olympia arts scene since 2010, getting a start at the Olympia Film Society. Currently they serve as the Collections Coordinator for the Washington State Arts Commission, and began a board member term at Community Print in September 2025. They helped revitalize the Evergreen Art Collection as their temporary art collection manager in 2023, bringing it to the attention of the campus administrators and student body. Before that they worked at Orca Books Cooperative and the Olympia Film Society. This is the first time Jonah has had to brush up on their interviewing skills since writing for Oly Arts from 2016-2020.
Lucas Claussen: K-12 Curriculum
This project will develop a mini unit of study for secondary classrooms, adaptable for PK–12+ educators, using the oral histories collected through the Pride Storytelling Project. The unit will provide plug-and-play lesson plans aligned with history, social studies, and ELA standards, allowing teachers to bring local LGBTQ+ history into their classrooms.
Lessons will center on excerpts from the twenty oral history interviews, supported by guiding questions, contextual background, and activities that encourage critical thinking and connection to themes of belonging, resistance, and creativity in Olympia.
Lucas Claussen (He/Him) a Queer Olympia resident, educator, historian, and social justice activist living on the lands of the Squaxin Island and Nisqually people and is originally from western Iowa and the stolen lands of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ and other Indigenous peoples. A graduate of The Evergreen State College (BA) and Eastern Washington University (MA History) he earned his teaching certification at Seattle Pacific University. Lucas' activism has ranged from work around Palestinian solidarity, union organizing, and political and legislative advocacy work at the local and state levels. His historical work focuses primarily on uncovering and highlighting silenced histories. He also has over 20 years of experience in food service at several local historic spaces. You will likely find him searching out Pacific Northwest hot springs or one of Olympia's bakery spots.
Natalie “WildTiny” Coblentz: Mobile Multimedia Interactive Information Station [M²I² Station]
I plan to design, build, and activate a Mobile Multimedia Interactive Information Station [M²I² Station] — a traveling installation that amplifies and engages with the oral history collection created in Year 1. This portable station will bring the voices, stories, and lived experiences captured during the oral history process directly into public spaces, allowing community members to listen, watch, interact, and respond in meaningful ways.
The M²I² Station will function as both an exhibit and a conversation starter. It will feature visual and auditory components and can be set up indoors or outdoors, at festivals, libraries, schools, community centers, and cultural events. Through touchscreens, headphones and interactive prompts, visitors will explore curated oral histories and be invited to share their reflections — generating an evolving archive of community engagement.
Natalie "WildTiny" Coblentz (They/Them) is a Queer Latinx Native artist, published poet, and local leader based in Olympia. With a BA in Fine Arts from Seattle University, they are a passionate advocate for creativity, community, philanthropy, and environmental causes. Wild’s work embodies their roles as an activist, family member, friend, and dedicated community member. Since joining Capital City Pride in 2019, they have expanded their impact within the organization, beginning as a Stage Manager and eventually stepping into key roles as Event Producer, President, and Festival Director. Known for their dedication to training and supporting the Pride Team, Wild brings vision and heart to every project they undertake. Currently, they channel their artistic vision into immersive lighting design and fabrication. When not working, you’ll likely find them savoring coffee, kale, and the company of kittens.
