Anne Seeman
Anne received a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, and an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. She moved to Visitacion Valley in 1991, and lives in a former bakery which local lore claims was the only bakery to survive the 1906 Earthquake.
With the birth if her daughter in 1994, Anne became interested in creating a better neighborhood for her daughter to grow up in. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the city Recreation and Parks Department initiated a series of meetings at this time, to help the community organize and prioritize goals for parks and open space. Anne was a founding member of the Friends of Visitacion Valley Parks, and advocated for her community at City Hall and McLaren Lodge.
Inspired by this process, Anne came up with the initial vision for the Greenway, and together with Rebecca Lillis of TPL, mapped a conceptual plan giving each of the 6 lots its unique theme. A petition drive was launched to build support for the plan, as the lots at that time were threatened with development. Fran and Jim joined the effort, bringing their amazing artwork and design skills. The Greenway continues to be a collaboration of neighbors, city departments and nonprofit organizations. It is a laboratory of possibilities, enriched by all who participate.
Anne has been involved in every phase of Greenway development, from advocacy to design and programming. She is Co-coordinator of the Greenway, and works with children, youth and adult volunteers, with a particular interest in the agricultural component of the Greenway. She has developed weekly programs for the adjacent preschool, and is a program director for the Green Rangers and the Green Stewards.
She is currently seeking interviews with community members who would like to share gardening folklore, tips, and recipes, representing the diverse cultures of our community. She has served on the Board of the Visitacion Valley Community Center, is on the Board of the Visitacion Valley Planning Alliance, and is a member of the Schlage Lock Redevelopment Citizens' Advisory Committee. Other pursuits include playing steel guitar with the Tin Pan Haoles, and Murray's Banjo Racketeers.
