17th Annual SLEE Gala Strengthening Local Economies Everywhere!

We are excited to come together once again at the beautiful St. Demetrios Church! This will be our first time gathering in a traditional venue since 2019. We will offer hors d’oeuvres and libations, as well as our classic salmon dinner! As always, guests will enjoy live music, our Silent Auction, and tabling by community partners.

Date: Saturday, October 14th, 2023
Time: 5 - 9:30 PM PDT
Location: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

See below for accessibility info.

Keynote: Black Food Sovereignty, Local to Global

Keynote speaker: Malik Kenyatta Yakini, Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network

Learn more about Malik Yakini!

Schedule of Events

SAT. October 14th, 5-9PM

Happy Hour 5 - 6:30PM: Enjoy libations, live music, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and the opportunity to acquaint yourself with featured food justice organizations and groups promoting urban agriculture, food sovereignty and Fair Trade.

6:30 - 9:30PM Enjoy a scrumptious locally sourced and Fair Trade meal. Feast on incredible treats during the Dessert Auction!

Tickets: Buy now! 

Sliding scale $40-$200: Please be generous in your support! We want to make this event accessible to everyone while also recognizing the need for us to raise crucial funds.

Support a Farmer/Farmworker/Organizer: By purchasing a second ticket (at $50 or $100), you ensure that local farmers, farmworkers and food organizers can be honored guests at our event. Look for this purchasing option when you register.

Solidarity Tickets: We are committed to making this an accessible event for all. If you are unable to afford a full-price ticket, please contact Noel for Solidarity Tickets. 

Table Captains: Bring Friends to SLEE!

Table Captains fill a table for 10 people, and provide CAGJ with important seed funds for our organizing. You can choose between buying a table for you and your 9 guests, or asking your guests to buy tickets individually. Learn more and find a sample email here, or email Noel.

Volunteers needed to help organize SLEE, and the day-of!

If you are interested in volunteering before, or on the day of the event (as a server, auction helper, child-care, bartender, set-up & clean-up), please check out our SLEE Volunteer Opportunities and contact Noel.

Accessibility Info:

• Bus Information: We encourage people to carpool, ride their bikes, and take public transit to this event! Bus routes 48, 43 stop .4 miles away from St. Demetrios.

• Restrooms: In order to provide a welcoming and inclusive space for trans folks and to make sure that everyone is comfortable and safe, we will provide gender-neutral bathrooms and gender-specific bathrooms at SLEE. There will be clear signs designating which is which and where they are.

• Please be Fragrance Free: For the health and safety of community members with chemical sensitivity, please abstain from using scented cosmetics, lotions, or hair products and please do not wear clothes that have recently been smoked in. There will be scent-free soap in the multi-stalled bathrooms. Read here for more info on how to be fragrance free.

• Wheelchair Accessibility: The venue is wheelchair accessible. Enter via the entrance on the parking lot side of the building, 19th Ave. E., and take the elevator up to the main floor for registration. We will have plenty of room for wheelchairs between tables.

• Dining Room info: Every effort will be made to ensure wheelchairs can access all tables, however the space is tight, thus it is preferred that CAGJ be notified in advance to ensure a table that is easily wheelchair accessible. We will provide air purifiers in the case they are needed for people with chemical sensitivities. There are low-lit rooms people can retreat to if needed.

• Interpretation: We will do our best to provide interpretation services if requested. Contact [email protected] and we will work to arrange an interpreter to support your needs.

• CART captioning provided

• Free childcare: Free childcare will be available for kids aged 2-11 from 6:30-9pm. Include names and ages when registering.

COVID/Health and Safety Precautions

CAGJ will provide masks for attendees to use if they wish. Hand sanitizer will be readily available. Any volunteer handling or serving food will be required to wear a mask. If you feel unwell, we encourage you to please stay home and take care of yourself. 

Thank you to our Sponsors! 

Central Co-op, Equal Exchange, Farmer Direct Organic, Friends of the Earth, Loki Fish Company, Madres Kitchen, New Roots Organics, Northwest Harvest, PCC Community Markets, Real Change, Social Justice Fund, UAW 4121, UFCW 3000

Thank you to our Community Partners!

BlockCorporateSalmon, Catalytic Community, LELO, Na’ah Illahee Fund, National Family Farm Coalition, NW Farmers Market Association, US Women & Cuba Collaboration

For more information, please contact CAGJ: 206-405-4600 or [email protected]