Members of the 1968 Black Student Union celebrate after being presented the Charles E. Odegaard Award at the 38th annual Friends of Educational Opportunity Celebration on May 7 at the HUB Ballroom at the University of Washington. The 1968 Black Student Union was instrumental in helping create the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity at the University.

On May 20, 1968, a protest with far-reaching consequences occurred. Members of the Black Student Union staged a sit-in in the offices of University of Washington President Charles Odegaard. The sit-in did not result in arrests. Instead, the students left the office four hours and 15 minutes later with a series of agreements from the administration, including aggressive recruitment of minority and disadvantaged White students, the hiring of more staff and faculty of color, creation of a center on campus for the academic and cultural development of students of color, and the creation of a Black Studies department.
UW will commemorate 40 years of diversity efforts on the anniversary of the sit-in with an alumni and community celebration from noon to 5 p.m. in Red Square. The celebration is expected to draw representatives of 50 academic departments, as well as student organizations, which will talk about their own history of diversity. Ethnic food will be available and there will be music....

Good news for average families. Homes are becoming more affordable as sales slip.
Home sales in early 2008 continued to ease compared to both late 2007 and a year ago, according to statistics prepared by the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at Washington State University ...

For the second year in row, police will again take to the streets at night to pull over and ticket drivers who aren't wearing their seatbelts. The campaign will be waged between May 19 and June 1.
A recent analysis by the WTSC said that the Click It or Ticket campaign may be helping to reduce fatalities on Washington roads. During 2007, both daytime and nighttime vehicle occupant fatalities were lower compared to the previous 10 years ...

What's happening for me in my City this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your week. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

For the last year, Danielle Tucker spent nearly 18 hours a week studying for one class. But she wasn't alone. Thirty-five other students also joined the Constitution Team for what some could consider an extreme academic endurance competition.
And for the second year in a row, Grant High School – with one of the most diverse teams in its history — placed third in the nation at the "We the People" competition in Washington, D.C. on May 5.
At Grant High School, the Constitution Team is a highly competitive class. According to instructor, Geoffrey Henderson, 96 kids tried out for the 36 slots. The students are selected after submitting an essay and undergoing an oral interview. Then comes the training for the competition — students are broken up into six units of study – ranging from the foundations of the constitution to the bill of rights to case law and spend the rest of the year studying....

Portland Community College President Preston Pulliams (right) helps Art Beat featured artist Harry Widman unveil his featured art work at the festival's Art Beat kick-off ceremony at the college's Southeast Center, 2305 SE 82nd and Division. The painting, "Mother and Daughter," will be permanently installed at the center in honor of Widman, a resident of Cedar Hills. Every year, organizers select a featured artist who creates a work of art in their field that permanently resides at one of PCC's campuses.

Sen. Barack Obama visits the Vernier Software & Technology in Beaverton on Friday to talk to workers about the country's economic future. Former presidential candidate John Edwards, D-S.C., endorsed Obama this week.

Described as a powerful, positive and larger-than-life personality, inspirational speaker Iyanla VanZant comes to Benaroya Hall in Seattle Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m.
She appears as part of the "Five Evenings with Extraordinary People" lecture series.
Her work, VanZant says, "Teaches people how to move beyond whatever has happened in their lives in order to do and be what we came to life to do and be."
In 1998, VanZant founded InnerVisions, a network of holistic and spiritual practitioners of multicultural backgrounds and all religious faiths who present inspirational, life-affirming workshops and events.
VanZant says that one cannot evolve politically, socially or economically until one evolves spiritually.
Her speaking style is renowned for passion, humor, strength and humility.
For ticket information call the Seattle Symphony Box Office at 206-215-4747.

A cross-cultural convergence of music, both traditional and groundbreaking, is the heart and soul of the Northwest Folklife Festival. With more than 800 performances, workshops, dances and family activities scheduled, the four-day festival will also feature Urban Indian culture, local Hip Hop, Folk Punk and a Northwest Independent showcase, along with much more.
The 37th annual Northwest Folklife Festival, Friday, May 23, through Monday, May 26, is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. While admission is free, visitors' donations make the Festival possible.
The entire program is available at www.nwfolklife.org. A new "Performers Search" function makes the weekend's schedule searchable by performer or by genre. Highlights include ...