Susan Davenport

Raised by Quaker civil rights, peace and social justice activist parents in May Valley Cooperative Community east of Seattle where Puget Consumer Coop was established in the founder’s basement. Children breaking down orders paid with dried apricots. Family connected to Sunshine Landtrust/Tolstoi Farm outside Davenport, WA. As a teen traveled with community members from there as itinerant farm workers and hopped freight trains. Next worked with Seattle Workers Brigade in the Cooperating Community Warehouse and Little Bread Company. Delivering Bread to the Asterisk in Olympia, decided to enroll at TESC. Moved into the Alexander Berkman Collective (ABC) house, which became the Black Walnut Association Land Trust. As a student at TESC, initiated the Womens Shelter and Support Services Task Force which became Safeplace of the YWCA. Married into the arts and music community surrounding OBRADOR. Cofounded Family Friends a child abuse prevention agency; wrote a curriculum for mother/infant enrichment and home visiting. A member of Thurston County Child Abuse Prevention Council and was appointed to the City Council task group for before and after child care resulting in the Child Care Action Council. Served on Associated Ministries board as rep from Olympia Friends Meeting for 7 years prior to Interfaith Works. Continued in child welfare until partial retirement. Initiated the Thurston Housing Land Trust.

• The Occupation of Cascadia in Tacoma – A Solidarity Action – 1976 – By Susan Davenport
  FIRST PEOPLES The Occupation of Cascadia in Tacoma – A Solidarity Action – 1976 By Susan Davenport
• Women’s Shelter Task Force – 1975 – By Susan Davenport
  In 1975, one of the social spots for young adults and students was, oddly, the local Crisis Clinic. Many Evergreen and Saint Martin’s students who were looking for ways to connect in the Olympia community volunteered there. Word of mouth got around that they offered exceptional training in communication skills, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and de-escalation of acute mental health episodes, along with expansive knowledge about local agencies, resources, contact numbers, and their eligibility criteria. This was a treasure trove for students in sociology and psychology studies and those interested in internships or social-issue policy work.
• Alexander Berkman Collective Becomes Black Walnut Association Land Trust 1974 – 1976 By Susan Davenport
  Tess and I made a couple trips to Olympia looking at places. Olympia was semi-rural as close as two miles out of the Westside and Evergreen was essentially in the woods. We were interviewed by some landlords and potential housemates that just didn’t click for either of us. Our last stop was one recommended by Don Martin who knew a household that was having an exodus of roommates. They would have openings. It was Alexander Berkman Collective, “sister house” to the Emma Goldman Collective.