January Newsletter
At the recent Peace Ball in Washington D.C., renowned activist Angela Davis reminded us, “While we cannot create the conditions for the struggles we engage in, we can bring our determination, our vision for a better future... Dr. King said we cannot capitulate to finite disappointments. What we do is confront those finite disappointments with infinite hope.”
We may not know what lies ahead, but we do know this: infinite hope and power come from standing (and sitting in circle ;) ) together—creating authentic, loving spaces in our work, homes, and communities, and caring for one another. Neighborhood solidarity, rooted in a deep investment in our school communities around us is what matters most now.
We have some announcements this month that we are excited to share.
Diverse Healers Grant Award announcement!
Summer Freedom Schools position applications open February 3rd!
Website Update: Restorative Justice Educational Materials now available
Best Start For Kids: Diverse Healers Grant
King County Initiative Best Starts for Kids has collaborated with MIDD to launch a new funding opportunity to ensure young people can access culturally responsive support from providers and healers who share their experiences and background: Centering Diverse Healers for Youth Well-Being.
We are thrilled to announce that WA-BLOC is one of seven awardees who will take on this work! This multi-year project centers diverse communities in entering, accessing support and resources, and increasing representation within the broader youth mental health and healing fields.
This funding will allow us to launch two really exciting new programs: A “Healers Collective” cohort series aimed at nurturing a sense of belonging and fostering collaborative learning among school-based social workers, restorative justice (RJ) practitioners, counselors, and other healers and a Restorative Justice Fellowship Program that will help create a career pathway for queer, Black, and Brown college-aged young adults who are passionate about liberatory education, youth mental health, and restorative practices in school settings.
“We are so excited to receive support that will allow us to continue nourishing our community of Restorative Justice practitioners in Seattle Public Schools. We hope these programs will continue to fortify the Restorative Justice community across Seattle and beyond to support the agency and liberation of queer, Black and brown kids everywhere.” Mari Ramirez (he/him/el), WA-BLOC Restorative Justice Practitioner.
We cannot wait to get this work started and share more with our community!
Summer Freedom Schools Position Applications Going Live February 3rd!
Save the Date! Applications for our Summer Freedom Schools staff positions will be going live February 3rd!
We will be looking for Summer Program Educators and Site Assistants who are college-aged leaders (18-27, roughly) interested in education and/or supporting Black and brown youth. Educators will teach a class of ~10 elementary-aged scholars this summer, leading them through explorations of justice and oppression, race and culture, and identity. Through participation in this summer program our educators will receive:
training in topics crucial to responsive and restorative education,
mentorship from experienced Black and brown educators,
hands on experience facilitating safe, engaging, liberatory learning spaces for youth,
and connection to local Black and brown leaders, communities, and justice movements.
“For educators to reach their full potential and stop the mass exodus, they must find a team that encourages and empowers them! The Freedom Schools team/WA-BLOC team is truly iconic. Imagine having a whole staff of people you are excited to be around and make you feel loved, cared for, seen, and enough, EVERYDAY.” -2024 Summer Educator
Restorative Justice Educational Materials Now Available!
We are excited to share a new resource page featuring original materials that our team has developed to support educators and schools on their restorative justice journeys. Curriculum includes learning standards, weekly themes, visual aids for classrooms, and more.
