For 25 years, the City of Seattle has sponsored a series of community festivals collectively know as Festal. The 24 festivals celebrate different ethnic and cultural groups from all corners of the globe.

A little over two years ago, just as the pandemic was gaining force, Heidi Jackson took Festal's helm, navigating the program through online and Zoom activities to the return of live, in-person celebrations

Co-hosts Vivian Phillips and Marcie Sillman talk with Jackson about the Festal program, and the essential role creativity plays in building and reinforcing community.