Catalysis

As we celebrate Black History Month, we at Catalysis reflect on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. While we know notable figures often spotlighted during Black History Month, we’ve made it a goal to dig deeper and recognize those who have helped shape our world’s technology, creative, and how we live our day-to-day lives.

Each Friday this month, we’ll be highlighting a few historical figures that you may not know, but absolutely should. This week’s theme is PNW LEADERS:

Dr. Dolores Silas moved to Tacoma in 1953, settling in the Hilltop neighborhood that she would call home for the rest of her life. She was one of the first Black teachers in the Tacoma Schools, the district's first Black principal, and the first Black woman to be elected to the Tacoma City Council. In a life dedicated to education and the pursuit of social justice for all Tacomans, she also served as president of the Tacoma NAACP and worked with the Hilltop Multi-Service Center, the Tacoma Urban League, the Black Collective, and the Tacoma Human Rights Commission. On February 11, 2021, the Tacoma School Board of Directors voted unanimously to rename the 61-year-old Woodrow Wilson High School in Dr. Silas’ honor.

William Grose was an African-American pioneer of Seattle. He was that city's second black resident, and the wealthiest nineteenth-century member of Seattle's black community. His ranch on the former outskirts of town, along East Madison Street, eventually became the center of Seattle's black middle class. Grose, an early pioneer, entrepreneur, founder, and hotelier helped build the foundation to make Seattle one of the wealthiest cities. The Africatown Community Land Trust (ACLT) transformed the decommissioned Fire Station 6 into a technology center dedicated to helping mold Seattle’s next generation of tech developers, creative professionals, and future entrepreneurs—The William Grose Center for Cultural Innovation & Enterprise.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we at Catalysis reflect on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. While we know notable figures often spotlighted during Black History Month, we’ve made it a goal to dig deeper and recognize those who have helped shape our world’s technology, creative, and how we live our day-to-day lives.

Each Friday this month, we’ll be highlighting a few historical figures that you may not know, but absolutely should. This week’s theme is CREATIVES:

Caroline R Jones was one of the first black women to break into the advertising industry. Beginning her career as a secretary, she rose to become the first African American copywriter at a major ad firm in 1963 at J. Walter Thompson, and went on to rise to Creative Director. Working in an executive creative position at several agencies, she eventually founded and became president of Caroline Jones Advertising. Through her work with clients like American Express, KFC, and Campbell’s soup, she worked to make advertising more inclusive of Blacks and other minorities – who were rarely shown in marketing.

Thomas Miller was a prolific graphic designer and visual artist known both for significant contributions to culture and the craft of design. In his decades-long career at one of the leading design studios in Chicago, he created work for notable clients like Pepsi and Motorola–his logo created for the latter remaining in use today. Working as an independent artist, he contributed the collection of mosaics of the founders of DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, Illinois. In his 70+ year career, Miller produced over 1000 works of art, including internationally recognized corporate branding, illustrations for books, lithographs, drawings, sculptures, and more.

We had an amazing time attending the most recent CreativeMornings Seattle event! Speaker Stacy Nguyen, was insightful, inspirational, and got the crowd laughing on a rainy Friday morning.

CreativeMornings imagines a united PNW, in creativity. Sparking connections through a gathering of the city’s creative voices by hosting a free breakfast speaker series one Friday a month.

Join us on November 18th in South Lake Union for the third Creative Mornings event that Catalysis is hosting, for even more creative inspiration and laughs.

(Photo Credit: John Cornicello)