[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 14 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E80]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF WIER HARMAN

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                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 2024

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and 
contributions of Mr. Wier Harman who sadly passed away on December 11, 
2023, at age 57. Wier leaves behind a legacy as a champion of arts, 
culture and civic engagement in Seattle, Washington.
  Wier grew up in Virginia, attended the University of Pennsylvania and 
studied directing at the Yale School of Drama. In the early 1990s, he 
directed plays and was the marketing manager at Seattle's Annex 
Theatre. He left Seattle for jobs in Atlanta and New York before 
returning to serve as Executive Director of Town Hall Seattle for 17 
years. In 2015, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine named him one of ``15 
People Who Should Really Run Seattle.''
  Wier will live on through his contributions to Seattle and the 
Pacific Northwest. His passion was evident in his love for community, 
commitment to arts and culture, and tireless efforts to shape Town Hall 
Seattle into an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone in the 
region. Wier's enthusiasm and dedication to providing a platform for 
the people of Seattle to come together and forge a deeper understanding 
of one another garnered the trust and admiration of so many of us who 
experienced his work at Town Hall. Not only did he expand the landmark 
Town Hall's event offerings to include civics, arts, music, and 
sciences, but he also insisted on keeping ticket prices affordable and 
making attendance free for many young people.
  Wier positioned Town Hall at the intersection of so many different 
communities and conversations. He was a connector--Wier seemed to know 
everyone, and everyone seemed to know Wier--and he used this capital to 
encourage new bonds and friendships to the benefit of our entire 
region. Wier was an advocate for young artists and cross-disciplinary 
collaboration. He championed civic participation, bold ideas, 
conversation and debate, empathy, kindness and generosity.
  Wier's dedication to a robust civic life and his support of arts and 
culture will serve as a model for years to come. As he put it in 
describing Town Hall's essential work: ``Our role is simple and 
profound--to remind us that some things must be experienced together, 
and that `coming together' is often its own reward.'' His enduring 
spirit will live on in his wife, Barbara Sauermann, his children Stella 
and Ruby, and all of us who admired him so greatly in his community.

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