Kevin Erickson recently moved to
Seattle from Anacortes, where
he was
the resident do-it-all for the Department of Safety, to
take a job as coordinator and interim codirector of the All-Ages
Movement Project, an organization founded by all-ages superadvocate
Shannon Stewart of the Vera Project.
“Every kid deserves a place like
Seattle’s Vera
Project,” says Erickson, “and AMP is trying to eliminate the
barriers set up to prevent that from happening.” In his new role,
Erickson will help AMP continue to execute its vision of providing an
all-inclusive organization for open communication and interaction
between successful and fledgling all-ages spaces across the country.
“So if someone in Buffalo doesn’t know what licenses they need or how
to talk to the city,” he says, “AMP can directly support and provide
guidance from someone who knows.”
AMP’s first phase has resulted in The All-Ages Movement
Project, a forthcoming publication compiling years of research
on successful all-ages spaces across the nation. Next up for the
organization will be to distribute that information, to set up an
online support forum for all-ages advocates and spaces, and to let
organizations know that these resources are available, according to
Erickson. “People running these places often get the sense that they
are doing it in a vacuum, but the same issues and problems always come
up. AMP wants to pool resources and share our struggles and
successes. Within a national network we can create sustainable
cultural outposts for youth that won’t just fold in a year.” 
Thurs Jan 22: Tera Melos, Astronautalis at the Vera
Project, 7:30 pm, $9 ($8 w/club card).
Fri Jan 23: No-Fi Soul Rebellion, Circles at the
Old Fire House, 8 pm, $6.
Fri Jan 23: Soul Control, Vanguard, Sojourner, Ill
Intent, On at West Seattle Legion Hall, 8 pm.
Fri Jan 23: Anchors, Beware of the Sea, the
Benjamin Clocks at Ground Zero,
7 pm, $6 ($5 w/can of
food).
Fri Jan 23: Sunship at Gallery 1412, 8 pm,
$5–$15 sliding scale.
Sat Jan 24: Exit Collapse, Raw Nerves, Same-Sex
Dictator at Squid & Ink, 8 pm.