This blog post was written by Joy Y. Sebe, United Way of King County Director, Education Strategies.

On a Saturday morning in March, Rainier Beach Community Club was buzzing with excitement. Friends walking in to hugs and greetings in a mix of English and Tigrinya. The music a mix of familiar American songs and Eritrean music.

The event hosted by the Eritrean Health Board (EHB) and funded by King County Parks focused on women’s health and fitness in celebration of Women’s Day. It’s part of a series designed to promote the well-being of the Eritrean community through holistic health, connection, and movement, and supports the EHB’s vision to “improve the overall health, well-being, and quality of life of the Eritrean Community in Washington State.”

Sesait Tekle, Administrative Coordinator for United Way’s Community Services Team, started the event series on her off days as an intergenerational walk around Seward and Green Lake Park, where community members from children to elders could get to know one another or catch up while breathing in the fresh air. 

Since then, Sesait continues to carry out the vision of EHB and create more community events. Volunteers, many of them young Eritrean American professionals, donated their time and talents. Sesait shared, “A lot of us grew up together. I could not do this without everyone helping out.”

Photographing the event was Wintana Dawit, who also makes the flyers and advertises the events on social media. The PhotoBooth, where guests could snap pics with each other, was running seamlessly thanks to Biniam Tesfaghaber, owner of PNW Premium PhotoBooths & Party Rentals.  ShopMadelinas donated the game prizes of hair care products and cultural attire. And Coach Hawi Gezai, fitness specialist and owner of HG Fitness, led us through a high-energy HIIT workout, which was the main event.

The workout was just the right balance of core, upper body, and lower body, but the squats are most memorable for me.

“Okay, squat down low again…and how hold it for 5 seconds, you can do this.”

After a long round of squats, the last thing I wanted to do was stay low and hold it, but the motivational mix of Eritrean, Arabic, and Afrobeats played by DJ Sesait and the ladies around me helped me power through. After the workout, Coach Hawi led us on a neighborhood walk to cool down. I didn’t know anyone else going into the event, but we had just pushed through an hour-long workout together, the ice was broken and I made some new friends.

By the time we returned, the smoothie station volunteers had churned out three types of delicious smoothies, a long table with Uno and Jenga had replaced the yoga mats, and the PhotoBooth was waiting for us to snap beautifully framed pics together.

On my way out, I received a tote bag from the Eritrean Health Board with the words “Better Every Day.” For me, those words summed up the outcome of everyone’s collective work. “Better Every Day” expressed the hope and joy that comes when a generation of young adults with diverse talents is taking care of the kids who are coming up behind them, the elders who raised them, themselves, and each other – together and in their own way.

As the event wrapped up, Sesait shared, “Today felt like a dream, to collectively execute an event highlighting women, fitness, and creating something truly by and for the community. Not only is it happening, it’s growing.”