September 13, 2026, Proclaimed as Grandparents Day in the City of Seattle

On Sunday, Sept. 13, the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM), in partnership with the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders (MCAAE) and Age Friendly Seattle, brought generations together to celebrate Grandparents Day and recognize the important role grandparents and elders play in our families and communities.

Held at NAAM, the celebration created an opportunity for grandparents, grandchildren, families, and community members to spend meaningful time together. The afternoon centered on connection, celebrating elders, sharing stories across generations, enjoying live music and community, and creating new memories together.

A special moment during the celebration came when Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt joined the community on behalf of Mayor Katie Wilson and the City of Seattle. Before presenting a City proclamation recognizing Grandparents Day, Deputy Mayor Surratt reflected on his own grandparents and the lessons he gained from growing up connected to both his Black and Korean heritage.

He spoke about how the wisdom grandparents share can sometimes be difficult to fully appreciate when we are young, but often takes on deeper meaning as we grow older. Reflecting on his family’s experiences, including his father’s upbringing in Jim Crow-era Oklahoma and his family’s connections to Tulsa and Black Wall Street, he described his grandparents as a source of stability, continuity, and strength.

“Me and my younger brother, we’re the legacy of their work. We’re the legacy of their struggle. We’re the legacy of the joys that they brought forward,” he shared.

His remarks also connected the celebration to a broader need for community and belonging. At a time when social isolation and loneliness affect people across generations, he emphasized the importance of creating spaces where people can remain connected and where elders are recognized as active participants in community life.

The Deputy Mayor then read the City proclamation recognizing the invaluable contributions of grandparents and elders as caregivers, mentors, teachers, advocates, and sources of stability. The proclamation also specifically honored the longstanding role of African American grandparents and elders in sustaining families and communities and passing down culture, resilience, knowledge, and lived history.

On behalf of Mayor Katie Wilson, Deputy Mayor Surratt officially proclaimed Sept. 13, 2026, as Grandparents Day in the City of Seattle.

The celebration also reflected the ongoing work of the Mayor’s Council on African American Elders, which advises the mayor and City leaders on issues affecting African American older adults and advocates for elders to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. MCAAE’s current priorities (housing, caregiving, nutrition, and social connectivity) are all closely connected to creating communities where older adults can age well, remain engaged, and continue contributing their knowledge and experience.

Grandparents Day was ultimately about more than recognizing one generation. It was an opportunity to strengthen the relationships between generations and remind us that the stories, wisdom, and experiences of our elders are part of the foundation on which future generations continue to build.

Contributor Eldad Mekuria is a planning and development specialist with Age Friendly Seattle, City of Seattle Aging & Disability Services Department.