Dear friends and neighbors –
I recently toured four sites in the 30th Legislative District that received funding this past session to support their work to strengthen our community: Camp Kilworth, the Pacific Bonsai Museum, Mujer al Volante, and the Pete Andersen FUSION Family Center.
Stop 1: Camp Kilworth
Our first stop was Camp Kilworth! Located in Federal Way, Camp Kilworth reopened after years of community collaboration and restoration. This session, I secured $1 million for phase two of the continued improvement of this special place – historical lodge renovations and restroom upgrades! The camp was once owned by the Boy Scouts of America but closed in 2016. However, members of the Kilworth Environmental Education Preserve (KEEP) didn’t give up on it. In 2022, the YMCA and Forterra partnered to purchase and revitalize the site. Now run by the YMCA, Camp Kilworth gives campers the opportunity to explore their 25 acres of outdoor space, learn new skills like archery, and build community with their peers.
I was thrilled to join Josh Sutton, YMCA general manager of property and facilities, on a tour of the campground. He showed us around and spoke about what campers can expect this summer. WATCH our tour here!
You can learn more about Camp Kilworth at: seattleymca.org/programs/camp-and-outdoor-leadership/camp-kilworth
Stop 2: The Pacific Bonsai Museum
Our second stop was the Pacific Bonsai Museum! This peaceful museum showcases a one-of-a-kind bonsai collection. For those who don’t know, bonsai are miniature trees grown in shallow pots and meticulously shaped through a variety of techniques. The Pacific Bonsai Museum is a hidden treasure right here in the 30th District and draws 54,000 visitors a year! The Weyerhaeuser Company first opened the collection in 1989, and in 2013, gifted the collection to the George Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection — now known as the Pacific Bonsai Museum. This session, we secured $766,000 to renovate and upgrade its infrastructure.
Pat Bako, the museum’s executive director, took us on a tour, showing us some awesome exhibits and her favorite bonsai. WATCH our tour here!
You can learn more about the Pacific Bonsai Museum at: pacificbonsaimuseum.org
Stop 3: Mujer al Volante
This past session, we directed transportation funding to support driving assistance programs like Mujer al Volante, which provides driving lessons to refugee and immigrant women and was named Washington Organization of the Year last year. We visited Mujer al Volante and spoke with its founder and executive director, Jaqueline Garcia Castillo, and her team! WATCH our tour here!
Established in 2013, this award-winning organization not only teaches refugee and immigrant women important driving skills but provides services to help them grow as leaders. Mujer al Volante offers financial, business, technology, and civic education resources.
You can learn about this impactful organization at: mujeralvolante.org
Stop 4: The Pete Andersen FUSION Family Center
Our final stop was at the Pete Andersen FUSION Family Center. This session, I secured $1 million for its expansion and $258,000 to support planning for an emergency shelter facility and programming for youth and young adults operated by FUSION and in partnership with Calvary Lutheran Church. Founded in 1993, FUSION is an important organization that provides critical resources for families experiencing homelessness in our community. The center has 90 beds available and provided emergency shelter to 221 families in 2023. We met with FUSION’s executive director, David Harrison, who gave us a tour of the center and its community spaces, rooms, and more. WATCH our tour here!
You can learn more about the Pete Andersen FUSION Family Center at: fusionhousing.org
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to show our team the amazing work they are doing for our community in the 30th!
Stay tuned for more updates from our office this summer, and please don’t hesitate to reach out by calling 360-786-7658 or emailing claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov.
As always, I am honored to do this work and serve the 30th Legislative District!
Sen. Claire Wilson
