The City of Lacey has announced Window Seat Media as the recipient of the 2026 Ken Balsley Historian of the Year Award.
Window Seat Media’s mission is to spark conversation, connection, and social change through community oral history and storytelling in the South Sound and beyond, according to a news release from the city. Through projects, partnerships, and public programming, the organization helps preserve and elevate stories that reflect the region's diversity and history.
In 2025 alone, Window Seat Media served more than 530 adults and 175 youth through 26 in-person events in collaboration with 11 partner organizations, including the Lacey Museum. Their work has created opportunities for community members to connect through history and storytelling.
The organization’s current oral history initiative, the “Pride Storytelling Project,” is dedicated to gathering and preserving local queer history throughout the South Sound. During 2025, the project focused on training, collaboration, and identifying stories that need to be told and preserved. Throughout 2026, Window Seat Media will share the project’s stories and findings through events, artist talks, exhibits, workshops, and performances.
Established in 2002, this award recognizes local community members and organizations that have made significant contributions to the preservation or promotion of Lacey’s history.
For more information on the Historian of the Year program, visit LaceyParks.org/Historian.
