Meet Our Rainmakers: Jini Palmer

Rainmaker Jini Palmer says, "[The Emerald] is a beacon for equity, uplifting communities and stories that are typically underrepresented in our media."

by Amanda Sorell

Welcome to a new series: Meet Our Rainmakers!

Rainmakers are readers like you who make regular donations to the Emerald — their contributions help us amplify the authentic voices of the South End, and we couldn't do it without them.

Stay tuned for more Rainmaker mini-profiles, where you can learn more about the communities that support the Emerald.

Want to be a Rainmaker? Head to our official Kindful website to support BIPOC-led media in South Seattle with a monthly contribution of any amount.

Already a Rainmaker? Thank you! '

Jini Palmer

Jini Palmer, a board director for the South Seattle Emerald, has been a Rainmaker since April 2022. She originally learned about the Emerald from its founder, Marcus Harrison Green, and she became a paid supporter because she values the publication's mission and the community it serves. "The Emerald teaches us about our community and creates a space for marginalized folks to connect and express themselves. The Emerald creates authentic, valuable content. It is a beacon for equity, uplifting communities and stories that are typically underrepresented in our media."

As a podcaster, musician, and filmmaker, Palmer is well-acquainted with using media to express and uplift — her Emerald bio reads, "All of her trades are rooted in writing and inspired by the scope of media to communicate, inform, and inspire change." The future of her work, she says, is "devoted to bettering our world. We all play a vital role in that quest." And for Palmer, this desire to inspire change is reflected in the personal as well as the professional. "I love connecting with people and am passionate about creating a better world. I value my time with family and friends and enjoy playing in the great outdoors, writing, playing music, learning, and growing." Some of Palmer's favorite South End places for these activities include Seward Park, Jefferson Park, the Rainier Arts Center, Columbia City Theater, The Royal Room, The Beacon Cinema, and all the restaurants and shops along Beacon Avenue.

While Palmer moved north of Seattle in 2022, her connection to the South End remains strong through her bonds with friends, her presence on the board, and her time spent reading the Emerald. For her, the Pongo Poetry Project, in particular, exemplifies the power of words to create space and connect. "Writing is an invaluable outlet and particularly helpful in processing one's emotions, perspectives, and life. It's an honor to read these youths' raw, personal accounts. As a reader, I slow down when I read poetry, so the emotion and depth of the words sink in. I feel their pain and their hope — and I hope with them."

Palmer says she's a proud, loving full-time mom with spurts of time for her own creations; learn more about Palmer and see her personal and professional creations on her website.

Amanda Sorell is a storyteller who lives in Seattle. She's an editor for the Emerald. Read her newsletter at eClips.Substack.com.

Featured image designed by the Emerald team; photo courtesy of Jini Palmer.