In this
vibrant part of the city, Somali women wearing colorful veils
wait at bus stops, and a polyglot babble of languages is heard in
the shops and restaurants. The library offers brochures in at least
a dozen different languages. Nearby are enclaves of Boeing engineers
and immigrant peoples from every continent; large Jewish and Muslim
communities; as well as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for
Native Americans.
The library
is a friendly, welcoming place, although drive-by shootings and fights
happen with some regularity right across the street. For the hardworking
community members, who often work two and three jobs to make ends
meet, the library represents a safe haven for their children,
and library staff serve as vital role models.
Miracles happen
there every day. Here are a few of my stories...