Ryan Phelan

Ryan Phelan is a writer currently studying journalism and political science at the University of Washington. His film and television backlog is miles long, and he is interested in the intersection between entertainment and diversity in media and art.
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Wing Luke museum examines legacy of Seattle housing discrimination

by Ryan Phelan
"Excluded, Inside the Lines" explores the history and lasting effects of housing discrimination and redlining in Seattle on communities of color.
Mar 12, 2019

Seattle Pro Musica highlights choral works of Asian composers

by Ryan Phelan
"Pacific Voices" will feature works by composers from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and the United States.
Mar 5, 2019

U.S. intervention in Venezuela gets critical eye at Seattle event

by Ryan Phelan
Critics of those calling for sanctions or military action against its President Nicolas Maduro say it is a ploy to grab political control of the oil-rich nation, especially given the United States' track record with intervention in South America.
Feb 27, 2019

Will Washington state sue Trump over his border wall emergency declaration?

by Ryan Phelan
More than a dozen states have filed suit challenging Trump's declaration of a national emergency that would enable him to redirect billions of dollars from military programs to his border wall.
Feb 25, 2019

Movement to push U.S. military out of Pacific Islands comes to Seattle

by Ryan Phelan
On the “Oceania Rising: Peace Pivot to the Pacific” speaking tour, three activists will highlight efforts to remove the U.S. military from Indigenous lands in the Pacific Islands.
Feb 11, 2019

Comedian’s border patrol run-in on Spokane bus raises enforcement questions

by Ryan Phelan
Comedian Mohanad Elshieky was pulled off a Greyhound bus last week by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Spokane, about 90 miles away from an international border.
Feb 5, 2019

Bystander training focuses on countering hate with solidarity

by Ryan Phelan
CAIR-WA and Densho will partner on a training that focuses on the principles of nonviolence, and on the importance of being supportive to the target rather than confronting the attacker.
Feb 4, 2019

Intiman Theatre sheds debt as it focuses on social justice

by Ryan Phelan
The Intiman Theater has focused in recent years on issues of justice and inequity both nationally and locally —  and now has retired the $2.7 million in debts that nearly crushed it.
Jan 28, 2019

Anti-trafficking campaign gets boost at Sea-Tac airport and on King County buses

by Ryan Phelan
Victims and survivors of trafficking are disproportionately people of color, according to local and national organizations.
Jan 23, 2019

Census citizenship question blocked in federal court

by Ryan Phelan
Washington state had joined the lawsuit seeking to bar the citizenship question.
Jan 16, 2019

The greatest choice his parents ever made for him

by Ryan Phelan
"You go to a store, people try to talk to you, say, "Hey, uh, you can't touch that, you can't touch that." But you can only look at their facial expression, looking like, oh, they're screaming at me, what are they really saying?"
Jul 6, 2018
Participants in last year’s 4th World Indigenous Media Lab work hands-on with a camera. (Photo Courtesy of Tracy Rector)

Indigenous women filmmakers the focus of 2018 4th World Media Lab

by Ryan Phelan
This year is the fourth year of the 4th World Media Lab, which includes training and mentorship for indigenous filmmakers, as well as feature and short films.
May 24, 2018
The International 2014, the fourth annual eSports "Dota 2" championship tournament hosted by Valve Corporation at KeyArena. (Photo by Dota 2 The International via Flickr)

International esports tournament leaves Seattle for Canada

by Ryan Phelan
Valve attributed the relocation to Vancouver, B.C. to KeyArena renovations, but last year recurring issues with participant visas spurred rumors that the tournament would leave Seattle.
May 2, 2018