Mountlake Terrace presenter describes building cultural groups for Tatar, Saha, Kazakh and Crimean communities

Beza, who identified herself only by her first name, told the Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission on Nov. 20 that she has organized several diaspora communities in the Seattle area and is seeking more local venues and volunteer support.

Her presentation summarized how she connected with groups from Tatarstan, Siberia (the Saha/Yakut people), Kazakhstan and Crimean communities and then helped form nonprofit associations to plan events, language meetups and seasonal festivals. “If they said yes, I told them I wanna be your friend,” Beza said of early outreach to Tatar community members, and later added, “Let’s just create a Toutar Association.”

Beza described a string of community gatherings she organized: a small potluck limited to about 30 people at a community center; a Bothell event that drew about 80 attendees including people who drove from Portland; an event she estimated at roughly 60 people for the Saha community that included traditional ceremonies; and a Kazakh picnic with about 123 attendees after a singer flew in from California. She said those activities led to monthly meetups to practice languages, dance and share food.

Commissioners and staff asked clarifying questions about logistics and city involvement. Commissioner Vanessa Francisco and Chair Scott Matsuda praised the outreach and encouraged Beza to bring specific event proposals to the commission for possible partnership or space support. Staff members Sienna (communications manager) and Andrew (events coordinator) said the city could consider providing venue space, promotional help or modest in-kind support once organizers submit concrete requests.

Beza listed recurring obstacles: the cost of venues for small or newly formed groups, scarcity of volunteers in communities without formal volunteer traditions, and the administrative work of forming and sustaining new nonprofits. She said many groups share the same goals — language preservation, intergenerational transmission of traditions and a desire for a shared cultural center — and several groups told her they would be willing to share space rather than each seeking a separate facility.

Commissioners discussed immediate next steps. The commission urged Beza to present formal event proposals to staff so the city could evaluate logistical and budgetary support. They also discussed coordinating a shared celebration for spring equinox/Nowruz that several Central Asian and Eurasian groups observe — noting calendar conflicts with Ramadan this year — and suggested the commission could help publicize events and recommend modest city support where feasible.

The meeting’s discussion did not include any formal vote on funding or guaranteed city sponsorship; commissioners framed the session as encouragement and initial planning. Beza said she will return with specific requests for space, volunteers or promotional help when dates and budgets are firm.

Beza’s presentation, and the subsequent conversation, highlighted the city commission’s role as a convening point for newer immigrant communities and as a channel to connect organizers with city staff and existing community partners.