Call for volunteers:
join us for an hour of community service
We are a volunteer organization comprised of people who live and work in Pioneer Square, Seattle. We are here to:
Build community. We walk the neighborhood every week, giving each other a chance to learn new things, meet new people, and then carry that collective love for the Square through the rest of our week.
Solve problems. We look for opportunities to help. Maybe it’s letting people know about services, or giving the city data and feedback to make more informed decisions, or just generally lending a helping hand.
Make connections. Many people and organizations want to help the Square—from DESC to LEAD to SPD to the DSA and all our fellow neighbors. We want to pool our knowledge and help turn resources into results.
We walk the streets, but we’re more than a neighborhood watch. A traditional block watch asks you to be concerned about your neighbor’s property and well-being as well as your own. We want to take that even further—as a thoughtful, creative, persistent presence that’s determined to see our neighborhood thrive.
What We Do
Gather
Meet at a local business and get a quick orientation. Get to know your fellow volunteers.
Walk
Take an hour-long walk around the neighborhood to find or brainstorm ways to improve things.
Connect
We'll often have guests from city departments or non-profits. They can see our neighborhood needs, and we can learn about their work so we can collaborate.
Collect
We collect data primarily on the Find It Fix It app. This helps solve problems while giving the city valuable data on how to set priorities and allocate budgets.
Help
We lend a hand. We might clean graffiti, remove stickers, or simply listen or answer questions.
Celebrate
We end each walk with an optional social hour, where we get to know one another, debrief, and enjoy food and drinks together.
Who We Are
Circle the Square is a volunteer organization comprised of people who live and work in Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. It was founded by Paul Hughes, RaNae Vodder, Tija Petrovich, and Grace Norman.
Our Partners
We work in close coordination with the Alliance for Pioneer Square, Pioneer Square Residents’ Council, Metropolitan Improvement District, Downtown Seattle Association, Seattle Chinatown Block Watch, Community Assisted Response & Engagement (CARE), Friends of Occidental Square, and the Seattle Police Department West Precinct.