In May 2024, MOHAI began the work to reimagine how we share the stories that make up our community.
At the center of this work are MOHAI’s Community Advisory Committees (CACs), formed to guide the museum through the concept phase of this initiative. These committees bring together key stakeholders from across the region, representing Native American, Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Disability, and LGBTQ+ communities, among others. Their insights, lived experiences, and historical knowledge are helping MOHAI rethink how we share Seattle’s history and make space for more voices, more perspectives, and more meaningful engagement.
Over the past year, MOHAI staff have held meetings with CAC members, discussing potential themes such as the environment, community, innovation, and Seattle’s global connections—as well as community specific narratives. And this work is far from over. MOHAI is deeply committed to inclusive storytelling and will continue holding these conversations and collaborations beyond the life of this project.
This effort is supported by MOHAI’s Curator of Community Engagement, alongside partners including Indigenous consultant Owen L. Oliver (Quinault/Isleta Pueblo) and Studio Pacifica, experts in accessible design. Together, they are helping us ensure that the museum’s future spaces are welcoming, inclusive, and reflective of the region’s full historical tapestry.
We move this project forward, the voices of our community remain at the forefront because history isn’t just something we preserve, something we live—together.
About this project
Generous support for MOHAI’s Community Advisory Committees is provided by 4Culture.