Seattle, WA (May 2025): RVCDF Celebrates 10 Years of Impact with Annual Community Event — Venue Designed by La Union Studio

Seattle, WA — The Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVCDF) proudly marks a decade of transformative investment with its 10th Annual Community Impact Event—an evening dedicated to honoring the people, partnerships, and projects that have shaped Southeast Seattle. Held on Thursday, May 23, 2025, at the beautifully renovated historic Southeast Seattle Senior Center, this milestone celebration showcases a decade of shared growth, collective resilience, and ongoing commitment to community empowerment.

The event takes place in a newly refreshed venue reimagined by La Union Studio, a Seattle-based architecture and interior design firm known for its work with mission-driven and culturally rooted clients. Designed with warmth, dignity, and function in mind, the reimagined center reflects the spirit of Rainier Valley itself—vibrant, diverse, and community-first.

For the past ten years, RVCDF has played a pivotal role in reinvesting in local small businesses, affordable housing projects, and nonprofit initiatives that uplift residents across the Rainier Valley. The annual celebration brings together community leaders, longtime residents, and first-time entrepreneurs to recognize the achievements made possible through local partnerships and neighborhood-based solutions.

"This event isn’t just about looking back—it’s about recognizing the living legacy of Rainier Valley and setting the stage for what’s next," says Sergio Max Legon-Talamoni, co-founder of La Union Studio. "We’re honored to contribute to a space that supports intergenerational care, cultural gathering, and real conversations about equity and place."

This year’s event includes a formal program highlighting cornerstone projects, a catered dinner by local chefs, and live performances representing the cultural richness of the Rainier Valley. True to RVCDF’s mission, the celebration is more than a fundraiser—it’s a tribute to the power of intentional design, economic justice, and community trust.

The redesign of the Southeast Seattle Senior Center marks a new era for the beloved institution. With improved accessibility, flexible gathering areas, and thoughtful use of natural materials, the new space is set to serve as both a welcoming hub for elders and a shared community resource.

La Union Studio is proud to collaborate with RVCDF on this meaningful renovation, offering architectural and interior design services that honor the community’s past while preparing it for the future. As RVCDF enters its second decade, it does so with renewed energy—and a space to match.

About La Union Studio
Led by co-founders Sonia-Lynn Abenojar and Sergio Legon-Talamoni, La Union Studio is a full-service architectural and interior design studio based in Seattle, Washington. The studio specializes in tenant improvements for cultural, hospitality, retail, multi-family, and single-family residential projects. Known for their culturally conscious and community-driven design approach, their portfolio includes work with Ayala Coffee, Hood Famous Café & Bar, Boon Boona Coffee, and Phin Vietnamese Coffee. Learn more at www.LaUnionStudio.com.

About RVCDF
The Rainier Valley Community Development Fund is a community-controlled financial institution dedicated to investing in small businesses, affordable housing, and nonprofit spaces that benefit the diverse communities of Southeast Seattle. For more on their work and upcoming programs, visit www.rvcdf.org.

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