While much has changed in our neighborhood in the past decade and a half, one constant has been Meaningful Movies. (Well, okay, there’s Dick’s also!) James Little was kind enough to write and let us know about an important anniversary coming up for MM, and he provides this interesting little history:
Meaningful Movies in Wallingford will celebrate their fifteenth anniversary at the Friday, 2 Feb 2018 screening of the documentary, “War on the EPA,” followed by a panel discussion with former EPA employees. As always, everyone in the Wallingford neighborhood is invited. Admission is free, but donations are requested to cover operational costs. The location is 5019 Keystone Place N. (Keystone Church), one block North of the Good Shepherd Center, across 50th Street.
The Meaningful Movies Project began in Wallingford in February 2003 and now has grown to over twenty venues in Washington. It began as a project of Wallingford Neighbors for Peace and Justice, an offshoot of the S.N.O.W. Coalition (Sound Non-Violent Opponents of War), which formed in 2002 to protest the military intervention in Iraq. An initial film series called Friday Night at the Meaningful Movies attracted large audiences, as neighbors clamored to learn together and then discuss important issues in our lives. When the film series ended, several in the group decided to continue the film and discussion events, due to the high interest by participants. The initial founders were Rick Turner, Diane Turner, Rich Gamble, Ellie Rose, Greg Speltz, Mary Speltz and Howard Gale, with Rick assuming the leadership. Films were screened weekly in the downstairs room at Keystone Church, where they continue today.
In 2012, under Rick Turner’s guidance, the Meaningful Movies Project was established as a non-profit to support a network of ever-increasing Meaningful Movies venues throughout the Puget Sound area, based on the Wallingford model. As these other venues became active, the original Wallingford venue tapered back from weekly to monthly screenings (1st Fridays of the month). Sadly, Rick Turner passed away in December 2016, but Meaningful Movies in Wallingford (MMiW) and the Meaningful Movies Project (MMP) continue, with Rick’s wife Diane taking over the leadership role, backed up by many other dedicated volunteers. MMiW has had wonderful support from community groups as well: Essential Baking Company has donated specialty breads for many years and recently Cubes Baking Company has been donating cupcubes (aka cupcakes). Wallingford-based Tableau Software provided a grant to upgrade our projector and King County 4Culture Program and Rotary Club of Seattle have given grants for general support. In addition, Attorney Mark Wittow of K&L Gates has provided pro bono legal advice on screening rights and intellectual property issues.
Meaningful Movies is proud to have contributed to the history and civic pride of Wallingford and is honored to continue providing a resource for community building, through the use of social justice documentary films, empowering citizens to gather, educate, inspire, and commit to effective, nonviolent solutions for a more peaceful and just world.