Revitalizing Cal Anderson Park: Aaron Carr on Building Community and Healing Spaces
Photos by Jordan Somers
In a recent episode of The Day with Trae, guest host Deaunte Damper sat down with Aaron Carr, the Cal Anderson Park Activations Manager for the Cal Anderson Park Alliance. Aaron Carr, originally from Detroit, Michigan, has been a significant community builder in Seattle for over a decade, using his passion for art and community engagement to transform spaces into hubs of healing and connection.
Aaron’s journey in Seattle began in his own home, where he hosted community brunches that evolved into art therapy sessions with up to 40 people. From there, his work expanded to organizing events for BIPOC and queer communities, including at spaces like Wanawari and Langston Hughes. His focus on creating safe, inclusive environments for underrepresented communities has shaped his current role at Cal Anderson Park, where he envisions the park as a center for healing and connection.
Carr defines “activation” as planting a seed and nurturing it, fostering growth within the community. He draws inspiration from the spirit of community ownership that emerged during the 2020 CHOP (Capitol Hill Organized Protest) protests in Seattle. Aaron's vision is for Cal Anderson Park to feel like a true community space, where people feel empowered to organize, connect, and heal together.
One of Aaron’s recent initiatives, Good Vibes, is a program designed to bring diverse community members together through events that foster dialogue, empathy, and support. One such event, "Say Their Names," was held in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day. It provided a space for people to memorialize loved ones lost to overdose through a mural and an open mic, promoting the importance of humanizing those impacted by addiction and loss. Carr emphasized that rather than calling for more police presence in the park, what the community needs is more empathy, humanity, and understanding.
Following "Say Their Names," Carr continued the activation with a community celebration featuring Harvest House, a collective of young BIPOC artists. The event, called Day Camp, included games like giant Jenga, Uno, and sober pong, reimagining the park as a space of joy and safety, especially at night. Carr’s programming does not stop at just one event; he creates “complex programming” that seamlessly blends different community-building activities, reinforcing the park as a vibrant and welcoming place for all.
Looking ahead, Aaron is planning a day-long house music festival at Cal Anderson Park on October 6, in collaboration with House Party. This 12-hour event aims to bring people together through music, joy, and connection. Additionally, he is working on making smaller community spaces within the park more accessible for workshops, teach-ins, resource fairs, and gatherings.
Through his leadership, Aaron Carr is reshaping Cal Anderson Park as a place where community members can feel safe, seen, and heard. He encourages anyone interested in getting involved or hosting an event to follow @goodvibescalpark on Instagram.
To see more guests like Carr, tune in with Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
