Black joy lives and breathes in Colman Commons. Looking back at these photo booth snapshots from Deaunte Damper's birthday celebration at Colman Commons, the room overflowed with Black joy, laughter, and pure love, expertly captured by Smile Patrol NW.

We’re still riding the wave of radical joy from May when friends, family, and allies gathered to celebrate We Live In Color host Deaunte Damper’s birthday and his appointment as 2026 Seattle Pride Grand Marshal.

The waterfront was buzzing last week, and if you weren’t there, you missed a historic shift in our city’s cultural landscape. When Colman Commons officially threw open its doors, it transformed the historic Colman Building into a sanctuary for Black creativity, connection, and unfiltered joy. 

When filmmaker and photographer Paul Sanders walked into Colman Commons with his wife Jackie, he wasn’t just planning a photo shoot—he was helping her launch a new chapter.

Paul, the founder and owner of Gravity Proof Media, is a true end-to-end creative: cinematographer, photographer, producer, director, and editor. Known in some circles as Buff Rogers, he’s spent years behind the lens telling powerful stories. This time, the story was close to home.