SEATTLE - It is a Seattle intersection which has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Now, one woman is trying to change the storyline.
Jenny Asarnow says the corner of 23rd and Union has a story to tell, and she's going to let the people do it in an unusual way.
"The Corner," which has been the scene of murders, police shootings, and an assault on then-Mayor Paul Schell also has a rich, and diverse history.
Asarnow wants to make sure you see it.
She, and other local artists, have put up large pictures of well known neighborhood residents on a vacant lot at 23rd and Union to grab attention.
"People are stopping and wondering, how can I be part of this?" she says.
That's exactly what she's hoping. The display is designed to direct people to a Web site which is allowing the neighborhood to tell its own story.
Viewers are asked to call a specific phone number, and record their personal memories about "The Corner". It will then be put online for all to hear.
"This used to be a bustling corner, and was the center of Seattle's black community," says Asarnow, "This is a chance for people to talk about the good and the bad."
The recordings will also be used in a Public Broadcasting Documentary, and based on the positive reaction, could be used elsewhere.
Already, she's posted several stories, including those of neighborhood "guardian" Savior Knowledge. The New York native, featured in the visual display, says he's made an effort to cleanup 23rd and Union. He was so disturbed by a recent shooting there, he started a chess night at corner restaurant because "Chess is a game where you have to think before you make the move, otherwise you don't end up winning. That was a way to make (people) think before they act."
If you'd like to check out the site, go to
The Recorded Line for stories and memories: 877-723-8646
