>>> ALL RIGHT , GOOD MORNING,
WELCOME TO THE VIKING HOUSE,
A.K.A. THE CROWN JEWEL OF THE
SOUTH END. I AM THE PROUD
PRINCIPLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. I
WANT TO THANK SUPERINTENDENT
JONES AND MAYOR HARRELL AND ALL
OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE PRIORITY OF SAFETY IN
OUR SCHOOLS. FIRST , I WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. IT IS
FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO WE
HAVE LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU. AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE SUMMER I MADE THE DIFFICULT
DECISION TO CLOSE THE CAMPUS
DURING LUNCH IS BECAUSE I LOVE
MY STUDENTS AND I LOVE MY
COMMUNITY. I MADE THIS DECISION
WITH LOTS OF FEEDBACK FROM
STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, AND DATA FOR
INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE HAVE
TAKEN THE NECESSARY STEPS TO
ENSURE THAT OUR KIDS RECEIVED
TASTY MEAL OPTIONS AND THAT
THERE ARE SPACES THAT STUDENTS
CAN ENJOY DURING THE LUNCHTIME.
OUR JUNIORS AND SENIORS WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO OFF
CAMPUS, BUT ONLY WITH PARENTAL
CONSENT. THE EPIDEMIC OF GUN
VIOLENCE HAS DONE A NUMBER ON
OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THEY NEAR
BEACH HAS BENEFITED , FROM THE
SEATTLE COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE. I WANT TO PUBLICLY
THANK MAYOR HARRELL AND
SUPERINTENDENT JONES , FOR
MAKING AN EVEN DEEPER
INVESTMENT TO KEEP ALL OF OUR
KIDS ON OUR CAMPUS IS SAFE AND
I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO
MY COLLEAGUES WHO ARE HOLDING
IT DOWN TO KEEP THINGS SAFE. I
WILL NOW INTRODUCE MAYOR
PEDERSEN -- BRUCE HARRELL.
>> TEST, ONE, TWO? I WANT TO
GET CLOSER, SO THAT YOU CAN
HEAR ME. WOW. I SEE A COMMUNITY
THAT IS PASSIONATE ABOUT
PROTECTING THIS COMMUNITY, OUR
COMMUNITY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
THE STRONG PARTNERSHIP THAT DR.
JONES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR BEING HERE
. I WANT TO LEVEL SET WITH
STARTING FROM THE MASAI SAYING,
FROM TANZANIA , WHEN A
COMMUNITY MEMBER GREETS EACH
OTHER THEY ASK, AND HOW ARE THE
CHILDREN? IT IS A POWERFUL
REMINDER THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
-- THAT IS MY DIRECTOR,
CHAPELLE, DISTRACTING ME, IN
THE MIDDLE OF A MASAI
TRADITION. HOW ARE THE YOUNG
PEOPLE? WE ARE GOING TO GET
THROUGH THIS AND PROTECT THE
COMMUNITY. HOW ARE THE
COMMUNITY CHILDREN ? THE YOUNG
PEOPLE ARE THE MEASURE OF A
COMMUNITY'S HEALTH. THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR, OUR
TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS,
PARENTS, WE MAKE THAT CLEAR. I
AM JOINED BY SUPERINTENDENT
JONES, ANNOUNCING A $14.55
MILLION INVESTMENT, $12.25
MILLION FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, $2.3 MILLION FROM
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO
ALIGN, STRENGTHEN, AND EXPAND
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND
STUDENT SAFETY. LET ME BREAK
DOWN WHAT THIS MEANS. THIS IS
AN ADDITION, I NEED TO MAKE IT
CLEAR, TO THE NEARLY $37
MILLION THAT WE ARE INVESTING
IN COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, DESIGNED TO
ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF
VIOLENCE. THIS IS NOT JUST
WINDOW DRESSING, THIS IS PART
OF A SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT
STRATEGY TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES. LIKE ALL CITIES
RIGHT NOW, VIOLENCE, INCLUDING
GUN VIOLENCE, ON SCHOOL
CAMPUSES, IT HAS BEEN OUT OF
CONTROL. AND IT IS A COMPLEX
ISSUE. LET ME MAKE THAT VERY
CLEAR. IT WAS SIMPLE TO SOLVE,
IT WOULD BE SOLVED BY NOW, IF
YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING
IN SEATTLE, SEATTLE
HISTORICALLY HAS HAD MORE
HIGHER RATES . ABOUT 14% OF ALL
RELATED CRIMES IN 2023 AND 2024
INVOLVED JUVENILES AS EITHER
SUSPECTS OR AS VICTIMS . NOW,
WITHIN THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE
COLLECTED, WHEN I SAY WE, I AM
TALKING ABOUT THE SEATTLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, CLOSE TO 960
GUNS. THAT IS BUILDING ON 1533
GUNS THAT WE COLLECTED LAST
YEAR. THAT IS NOT A STATISTIC
THAT I AM PROUD OF BECAUSE I
HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY, WE HAVE
TOO MANY GUNS OUT ON THE
STREETS AND THEY ARE IN THE
WRONG HANDS. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN,
QUITE CANDIDLY, WITHIN THE LAST
MONTH, A 20% INCREASE IN
ARRESTS, CITYWIDE. ONCE AGAIN ,
WHEN I BECAME MAYOR SEVERAL
YEARS AGO, I SAID , WE WERE
LEAD WITH COMPASSION, EMPATHY,
AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE LEAD
ROUTE CAUSES. BORN AND RAISED,
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT. I
WILL MAKE ARRESTS WHEN WE NEED
TO, MY JOB IS TO PROTECT . THE
THREEFOLD STRATEGY THAT I WILL
TALK ABOUT BREAKS DOWN HOW WE
WILL SORT OF GO ABOUT THIS . I
WILL CALL IT A THREE-PRONGED
APPROACH. SCHOOL -BASED
MEASURES, I WILL TALK IN DEPTH
ABOUT THOSE, THAT IS ROUGHLY
ABOUT $8 MILLION. THE THIRD
PIECE, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS,
I SEE A LOT OF THE WARRIORS AND
PROTECTORS HERE TODAY. AND
THEN, THE SECOND PRONG , THE
INTERIM POLICE CHIEF, WE WILL
TALK ABOUT THE SPD STRATEGY
THAT WE WILL DEPLOY ON THE
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. SO, WE ARE
GOING TO BE TARGETING
INTERVENTIONS, IN 11 PARTICULAR
SCHOOLS AS THE INITIAL ROLLOUT.
AND WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING,
THE HIGHEST RATE OF VIOLENCE IN
AND AROUND THE CAMPUSES. SO,
GARFIELD, REGNIER BEACH, THAT
IS WHERE THE DANGER LEADS US,
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS OR THE
FEEDER SCHOOLS, IF YOU WILL,
WASHINGTON, DENNY, ROBERTS,
EAGLE STAFF , AND MANY OTHERS.
LET ME TALK ABOUT THE FIRST
PILLAR, IF I MAY, WE ARE GOING
TO INVEST $5.2 MILLION IN 21
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS ,
TO PROVIDE INTERVENTIONS AND
REFERRALS, THIS IS MANAGED BY
PUBLIC HEALTH AND THIS FUNDS 42
POSITIONS, REAL WORK ,
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE TOOLS ,
TO OPTIMIZE GROWTH, AND WE WILL
INVEST $2.4 MILLION TO EXPAND
HEALTH ACCESS TO OVER 2000
STUDENTS, I GUARANTEE, IF I
ASK, WHO HAS A PHONE RIGHT NOW,
EVERY HAND WILL GO UP. IT IS A
MEANS TO REACH A LOT OF PEOPLE
AND WE DO IT IN A CONFIDENTIAL
AND SAFE MANNER. THIS IS A
GOOD, $2.4 MILLION INVESTMENT,
AND THE SECOND PIECE, THE
SECOND PRONG, $2.5 MILLION
INVESTED TO ARRANGE OF GUN
VIOLENCE PROTECTION. THIS LOOKS
LIKE FUNDING THE INTERVENTION
STAFF. NOW, WHEN I USE THINGS
LIKE THAT , REMEMBER, THEY ARE
GOING TO BE IN THE SCHOOLS. WE
WANT THEM TO BE HERE , WE ARE
TRYING TO INTERVENE AND STOP
THE VIOLENCE. IN THE SAME
SENTENCE, I SAY, WE ARE TRYING
TO CREATE LOVE, RELATIONSHIPS,
MENTORSHIPS, WE ARE TRYING TO
PROTECT. WE ARE TRYING TO
INTERVENE AND STOP THE
VIOLENCE. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, DAVID. WE WILL
BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH
CURRENT PERSONNEL WHO ARE AT
THE HIGHEST RISKS OF THE IMPACT
OF GUN VIOLENCE, WE WILL EXPAND
SAFE PASSAGE PROGRAMS IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND I THINK THAT ALL OF YOU
KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE
PASSAGE. WE WILL EXPAND CASE
MANAGEMENT OF STUDENT IMPACTED.
AND YOU HEARD THE PRINCIPAL,
WHICH YOU MENTION NAMES, SHE
COULD NOT HELP BUT GET
EMOTIONAL, AS MANY OF YOU ARE.
THESE ARE REAL HUMAN BEINGS,
MANY OF WHOM WE HAVE LOST. AND
WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE PAIN OF
A MOTHER, FATHER, BROTHER,
SISTER, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT,
AGAIN, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT
CASE MANAGEMENT IS OCCURRING,
STUDENTS, DIRECTLY IMPACTED,
THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM IMPACTED ,
AND WE NEED TO ESTABLISH A
RESOURCE FUND. THOSE ARE JUST
DOLLARS. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO
SUPPORT STUDENTS MOST AT RISK
OF GUN VIOLENCE . SO, THIS IS A
TOOL TO MITIGATE RISK FACTORS,
HELPING CLOTHING, FOOD,
UTILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE REALIZE, WHEN DONE IMPACTS
-- GUN VIOLENCE IMPACTS A
FAMILY, IT DISRUPTS THEIR LIFE.
THE THIRD APPROACH , IT WILL BE
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AS WE
ARE FIGURING OUT NEW ROUTINES,
THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
FROM THE CITY, THE DISTRICT,
AND OUR PARTNERS, FOR OUR
CHILDREN. OVER THE COURSE OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE WILL BE
DEPLOYING THE SERVICES AND
INTERVENTIONS THAT I HAVE
OUTLINED ABOVE. BUT YOU WILL
ALSO SEE, I WOULD SAY, A POLICE
PRESENCE AND EMPHASIS AROUND
THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE ARE THERE FOR YOU,
PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY. NOW,
THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW DO WE
LOOK AT TELEHEALTH AND ALL OF
THESE DIFFERENT TOOLS ? WITH
PARTNERSHIP, FOR THE STUDENTS,
LISTENING TO THE PARENTS,
TALKING TO COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS, AND LETTING THE
PARTNERSHIPS ROLE THE WAY. AND
I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WE DO NOT
HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS. I HAVE
A DEPUTY MAYOR OUT IN EMORY,
AND WE ASKED HER TEAM, SHE
LEADS PART OF THIS PARTICULAR
PORTFOLIO, SHE SAID, STEADY THE
COUNTRY, STEADY THE WORLD, WE
WILL EVOLVE, WE WILL GROW, WE
WILL LEARN, WE WILL LISTEN TO
YOU, I WILL CLOSE AND INTRODUCE
THE SUPERINTENDENT IN MY
CLOSING STATEMENT.
EXCUSE ME.
WHEN WE LOSE A CHILD , I FEEL
LIKE I LOST A CHILD. WE HAVE TO
BE SMARTER AND MORE
COLLABORATED -- COLLABORATIVE
THEN THE BAD PEOPLE. IT IS VERY
EASY TO BLAME PEOPLE, YOU ARE
NOT DOING THIS, YOU ARE DOING
THIS, YOU ARE NOT SEEING ME
BLAME PEOPLE. I AM A STRONG
PERSON. YOU SEE ME
COLLABORATING. UNDER THE
SUPERINTENDENT, YOU DO NOT KNOW
THE HOURS THAT WE WORK
TOGETHER, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A STRATEGY THAT WORKS. WE WILL
DO THIS TOGETHER, WE WILL DO
THIS STRONGLY, WE LEARN, WE
WILL EVALUATE, WE WILL MEASURE,
AND WE WILL DO IT AGAIN. THIS
IS A JOURNEY TOGETHER
COMMUNITY. I WILL HAVE THIS
DISCUSSION WITH STUDENTS
THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE YEAR.
WHEN WE LOSE THESE KIDS, AS I
HAVE SAID PUBLICLY AND
PRIVATELY, I FEEL LIKE I AM
LOSING MY OWN. YOU NEED TO HAVE
A MAYOR WHO BELIEVES THAT AND
WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. I NOW
INTRODUCE SUPERINTENDENT DR.
BRENT JONES. THE ONLY BAD THING
I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT BRENT
JONES, HE WENT TO FRANKLIN, I
WENT TO GARFIELD, I STILL LOVE
HIM ANYWAY. I DO LOVE THE
QUAKERS. I DO LOVE THEM, GO ,
QUAKERS. I SAID IT ONCE , AND I
AM NOT GOING TO SAY IT ANYMORE.
>> I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING
MAYOR HARRELL, THE CHIEF, AND
THE COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE,
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IS
ENDURING AND IT IS INVALUABLE
AS WE TACKLE SOME OF THESE
TOUGHER ISSUES . I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THEY ARE GIVING
A CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS CHARGE
TO MITIGATE WHAT HAS BEEN
HAPPENING HERE. WE STARTED WITH
LISTENING. WE BEGAN WITH
PLANNING, BY LISTENING TO THE
STUDENTS, FOLLOWING THE TRAGEDY
AT GARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, WE MET
WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO HEAR
THEIR HOPES, NEEDS, FEARS, AND
CONCERNS. AND IT IS CRITICAL.
>> DID YOU PLAN THAT? QUAKER
JOKE ?
>> YES. WE NEED TO ASK THAT
STUDENTS FEEL SAFE AND ARE
SAFE, SO THAT WE CAN DO OUR
BEST. WE KNOW THAT IF STUDENTS
DO NOT FEEL SAFE, THEY CANNOT
LEARN, THAT IS THE FACTS. WE
NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
NEEDS ARE , WE CAN BE RELEVANT,
STRATEGIC , THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE CAN DO THAT CAN BE
ATTAINABLE AND WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT
THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS ARE.
THE LISTENING LEADS TO ACTION .
WE ARE NAVIGATING A LANDSCAPE
FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES. WE NEED TO DEVELOP
A NEW PLAYBOOK AND WE ARE
DEVELOPING IT TOGETHER. THE
MAYOR, POLICE CHIEF CAMA , AND
I, WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER,
BECAUSE WE COLLECTIVELY BELIEVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY BEGINS AT
SCHOOL . IT HAS MADE THE
DIFFERENCE FOR ME, WE WERE
PRODUCTS OF SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. SO THIS IS REAL , THIS
IS HELPFUL FOR US. WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES
OF OUR STUDENTS, WHAT WOULD BE
DIFFERENT? OUR SAFETY PLANS ARE
DESIGNED TO ALIGN RESOURCES
WITH THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR
SCHOOLS. HERE IS WHAT IT WILL
LOOK LIKE, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER
4th. RELATIONSHIPS MATTER,
STUDENTS WILL INTERACT WITH
ADULTS FOCUSED EXPLICITLY ON
THEIR SAFETY, BECAUSE OF THE
STRENGTH AND COLLABORATION WE
HAVE WITH THE POLICE, STUDENTS
MAY SEE A POLICE PRESENCE
AROUND SCHOOL PARAMETERS, PART
OF STRENGTHENING OUR
COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS
AND OUR POLICE. THERE WILL BE
REGULAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN
THE POLICE AND THE SCHOOL YOUR
LEADERS . THERE WILL BE
WALK-THROUGHS, THROUGH THE
SCHOOLS, TO MAKE SURE ABOUT
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
STUDENTS, SOME OF THE PHYSICAL
CHANGES YOU WILL SEE , ACCESS
CONTROL MEASURES .
>> AND TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS .
THIS WILL COME FROM THE CITY,
CONTRACTORS, THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE HERE TO
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND
COMMUNITY, FORMING AN
INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
AT SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE
BELIEVE THAT OPPORTUNITY BEGINS
HERE AND THAT OPPORTUNITY IS
ROOTED IN EVERYTHING , STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS, PARTNERSHIP,
PLANNING, ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I
MENTIONED THIS IS DEEPLY
PERSONAL TO ME AS A GRADUATE OF
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS THE
PARENT OF AN SPS GRADUATE, IT
IS MEANINGFUL. WHEN THE MAYOR
WAS CHOKED UP A FEW MINUTES
AGO, I FELT LIKE THAT. WHEN WE
LOSE STUDENTS, I FEEL THE EXACT
SAME WAY, THAT IS THE DIRECT
SENTIMENT , WE ARE REPRESENTING
THAT WE ARE HERE TO DO WHAT IT
TAKES TO DISRUPT WHAT IS
HAPPENING. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS
TO NOT JUST SURVIVE, WE WANT
THEM TO THRIVE, I WANT TO
EXTEND MY GRATITUDE. I AM
ENROLLING YOU ALL IN THIS VITAL
MISSION TO CREATE SAFETY. I AM
APPRECIATED OF THE CHIEF, THE
MAYOR, AND EVERYONE BEHIND ME,
THIS IS THE TEAM THAT IS GOING
TO MAKE A TRANSFORMATION. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH, AND BACK TO YOU,
MAYOR HARRELL.
>> I DON'T THINK I WAS CHOKED
UP, FOR THE RECORD. I GET A
LITTLE EMOTIONAL. I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE IF YOU FOLKS , BEFORE
I INTRODUCE THE INTERIM CHIEF
OF POLICE. I INTRODUCED OUR
DIRECTORS , DAVE CHAPELLE --
NOT DAVE CHAPELLE, DR. DUANE
CHAPELLE. STAND UP. NO STRANGER
, NO STRANGER. AND OUR
DIRECTOR, TANYA KIM, OUR
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN SERVICES,
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS
WELL. AND THERE IS ANOTHER
PERSON, WEIGHT IN THE BACK, I
WANT YOU TO RAISE YOUR HAND,
BRIAN STEWART. LET ME TELL YOU
WHY, YOU ARE CLAPPING, YOU
DON'T EVEN KNOW BRIAN STEWART,
HE IS A GARFIELD COACH AND HE
IS HELPING KIDS AND HE WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST PEOPLE, WHEN WE
HAD THE THAT, HE WAS HIS COACH.
I LOVE EVERYONE HE IS A
WASHINGTON STATE COUGAR, AS
WELL. BUT THIS IS HOW WE WILL
GET THINGS DONE, THEY CAN GO
UPSTREAM, THEY CAN HELP US
NAVIGATE THROUGH THE WATERS AND
AS I INTRODUCE POLICE CHIEF SUE
RAHR, THIS IS PART OF THE
STRATEGY. SHE IS A
NATIONALLY-RESPECTED LEADER IN
LAW ENFORCEMENT. SHE TEACHES
PEOPLE NOT JUST HOW TO MAKE
ARRESTS, BUT SHE UNDERSTANDS
THE ECOSYSTEM YOU ARE MAKING
ARRESTS IN. I HATE TO SAY
INTERIM POLICE CHIEF , BECAUSE
IT MAKES ME SAD THAT ONE DAY
SHE MAY NOT BE MY POLICE CHIEF.
BUT I WILL SAY IT ANYWAY,
INTERIM POLICE CHIEF SUE RAHR.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, THIS
IS ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING TO
SEE THE GIANT NETWORK OF
SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR
KIDS. AND I AM SO HOPEFUL, AND
I KNOW THAT WE ARE STARTING OUT
THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM A PLACE OF
FEAR, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST
YEAR. BUT WHAT I CAN SEE, A
BUNCH OF PEOPLE JOINING
TOGETHER TO MAKE OUR KIDS SAFE.
I WANT TO BRING A SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT FLAVOR OF POLICE WORK
TO THE ECOSYSTEM WE HAVE HERE.
I STARTED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH
SUPERINTENDENT DR. BRENT JONES
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. I HAD
NOT MET HIM BEFORE. I HAD HEARD
GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM. BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT, WE NEED TO GET
TOGETHER AND LEARN ABOUT ONE
ANOTHER AS HUMANS BEFORE WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER. IT DID NOT TAKE
MORE THAN 10 MINUTES FOR US TO
CLICK. WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL ,
TO KEEP THE KIDS SAFE. WE ALSO
AGREE THAT THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE
THE PLACE, WHERE KIDS AND
PARENTS JUST BREATHE A SIGH OF
RELIEF AND SAY, I KNOW THAT MY
CHILDREN ARE SAFE NOW, THEY ARE
SURROUNDED BY ADULTS, BY
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, THEY HAVE
DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THESE
CHILDREN. I TOLD DR. JONES,
RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, I AM
HERE TO ASK WHAT YOU NEED . WE
ARE NOT HERE TO SAY, WE ARE
COMING IN AS A POLICE
DEPARTMENT WITH GUNS A BLAZING,
THAT IS THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY
TO MAKE THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT
SAFE. WE DO NOT DO THAT. WE
ALSO AGREE THAT THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN DO
IS CREATE TRUSTING
RELATIONSHIPS. I KNOW THAT THE
POLICE HAVE WORK TO DO, IN
BUILDING TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS
AND THIS MAKES ME HOPEFUL THAT
WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT, THAT IS
WHAT WE ARE STARTING WITH. THE
POLICE WILL BE AROUND THE
SCHOOL, WE WILL BE AS VISIBLE
AS WE POSSIBLY CAN FOR THE
PURPOSES OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW
THAT WE ARE HERE TO KEEP YOU
SAFE, AS THE SCHOOL YEAR GOES
ON , I HOPE THAT WE CAN BUILD
COMMUNICATION AND TRUST,
BECAUSE THAT IS HOW WE KEEP
STUDENTS SAFE, IT IS REALLY AN
HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU, THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE
SOUTHEAST SAFETY NETWORK, I
WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE BOYS AND
GIRLS CLUB, I SEE YOU, I
RECOGNIZE YOU, AND YOU ARE
DOING GOOD WORK. I KNOW MANY OF
YOU, LET ME SAY THIS, IN THE
RIGHT WAY, I USUALLY OFFEND
SOMEONE, TWO OR THREE TIMES A
DAY. I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU
CAN RELATE TO THE PEOPLE THAT
YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT, THAT
IS IN MY VERNACULAR, THAT IS
GOD'S WORK, THANK YOU FOR
REALIZING THAT YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE, THIS NEXT SPEAKER
WORKS THE TEEN HEALTH CENTER AT
FRANKLIN. WE LOVE FRANKLIN. I
AM TRYING TO CLEAN UP MY
FRANKLIN JOKE. SHE IS
PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS WORK,
CHELSEA ? [ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, MY
NAME IS CHELSEA AND I AM A
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR AT
FRANKLIN NOW FOR THE LAST THREE
YEARS THAT I WAS A VERY PROUD
SOCIAL WORKER, RIGHT HERE AT
RAINIER BEACH FOR THREE YEARS.
IT WAS COOL TO HEAR THE
STATISTIC, I AM LOOKING AT YOU,
DR. CHAPELLE, ABOUT THE
INCREASE IN SOCIAL WORK. THE
FIRST FEW YEARS I WORKED THERE,
THERE WAS NO SOCIAL WORKER
POSITION. DR. CHAPELLE AND I
GOT CREATIVE ABOUT HOW TO BRING
THAT PERSON INTO THE BUILDING
AND NOW IT FEELS LIKE A
PERMANENT POSITION. WE ARE
MOVING FORWARD, IN TERMS OF
GETTING STUDENTS WHAT THEY
DESERVE, BUT WE ARE NOT THERE
YET. I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT
THE FIRST PRONG, AROUND
EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS
FOR YOUNG FOLKS. COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH CENTERS HAVE EXISTED IN
SEATTLE SINCE 1989. I BELIEVE
THAT THE FIRST ONE WAS HERE.
AND NOW THERE ARE MORE THAN 70
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND
KAISER PERMANENTE OPERATES NINE
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS
INCLUDING THE ONE THAT I WORK
AT, IN FRANKLIN, AT THE
CENTERS, THEY ARE OVERSEEN BY
SEATTLE PUBLIC HEALTH, AND KING
COUNTY, THEY CAN GET
IMMUNIZATIONS, CONTRACEPTION ,
MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER
HEALTHCARE, WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL
BUILDING, IT IS A REAL CLINIC.
IT COULD BE DOWN THE STREET,
BUT IT IS INSIDE THE SCHOOL,
THAT INCREASES ACCESS HAVING
THOSE INSIDE OF THE SCHOOL
REALLY PRIORITIZES AND SHOWS
STUDENTS THAT THIS IS AS
IMPORTANT TO US AS THE
ACADEMICS ARE, WE WILL MAKE IT
AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO
BE EMPOWERED AROUND YOUR OWN
MENTAL HEALTH, AND SCHOOL-BASED
HEALTH CENTERS HAVE BEEN
ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER GRADES,
DECREASED EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
VISITS. AND I PERSONALLY HAVE
SEEN HOW IMPORTANT HAVING THESE
SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS ARE
TO YOUNG PEOPLE AND HOW
TRANSFORMATIVE IT HAS BEEN TO
YOUNG PEOPLE, THERE ARE SO MANY
BARRIERS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE DEALING
WITH MORE STRESS, VIOLENCE, AND
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THEN KIDS
HAVE MAYBE EVER HAD TO DEAL
WITH BEFORE, WE SEE A LOT OF
STUDENTS IN THE HEALTH-BASED
CENTERS, THEY ARE GOING THROUGH
A CRISIS. THEY ARE TRYING TO
HEAL THEMSELVES, HEAL THEIR
FAMILY, TURN THE TIDES AROUND
GENERATIONAL TRAUMA , WHICH IS
SO EXCITING THAT THEY WANT TO
DO THIS WORK AND THEY ARE
ASKING FOR THIS MONEY TO BE
ALLOCATED . THE CARE
COORDINATOR ROLE THAT WAS
MENTIONED EARLIER WILL SUPPORT
THE INITIAL SCREENING AND
TRIAGE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND
HELP GET THEM CONNECTED TO
AVAILABLE MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES BECAUSE, TO BE
HONEST, WHICH IS GREAT, THE
DEMAND REMAINS VERY HIGH. WE
HAVE A LOT , A LOT MORE
REFERRALS. SOMETIMES THE
THERAPIST SPENT A LOT OF TIME
TRYING TO MAKE REFERRALS TO
OTHER AGENCIES, THAT TIME COULD
BE SPENT IF THERE WAS A CARE
COORDINATOR OUT IN FRONT. WE
WERE VERY HAPPY TO SEE THERE
WILL BE ADDITIONAL STAFFING,
THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE
ABILITY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
WITH HIGH QUALITY , CULTURALLY
RESPONSIBLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
THAT ARE FREE , SO WE ARE HAPPY
TO SEE THAT, I WANT TO THANK
MAYOR HARRELL AND
SUPERINTENDENT DR. BRENT JONES,
ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER
LEADERS WHO ARE HERE, DOING
GOOD WORK. YOUR SUPPORT IN OUR
HEALTH CENTERS ENSURES NOT ONLY
POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, BUT
POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND
NECESSARY CRISIS SUPPORT FOR SO
MANY STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS, I
WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK
WHO I CONSIDER THE TRUE LEADERS
OF THIS MOVEMENT, THEY ARE THE
YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO HAVE USED
THEIR VOICES AND THEY HAVE
ENGAGED IN A LOT OF ACTIVISM .
DEMANDING MORE FUNDING. YOU ARE
MODELING FOR US ADULTS HOW
IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH CARE
IS. KEEP FIGHTING, KEEP PUTTING
THE PRESSURE ON, AND
APPRECIATION TO THE ADULTS WHO
ARE TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY
TO MEET WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO
THRIVE, WHICH THEY DESERVE TO
DO.
>>, THANK YOU , CHELSEA
GALLEGOS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE
LIZA RANKIN, THANK YOU, LIZA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOU
HAVE A TOUGH JOB, TOO. OUR NEXT
SPEAKER, IF YOU DON'T KNOW
HER, SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS
WORK FOR 22 YEARS, SHE IS THE
PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR THE BOYS
AND GIRLS CLUB, WHICH IS ONE OF
OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY
INITIATIVE. AND SHE DOES THIS
WORK WITH INTELLIGENCE,
INTEGRITY, AND PASSION. I AM
VERY PROUD TO CALL HER A
PARTNER .
>> I MEAN, I AM DONE, RIGHT? HE
GAVE ME MY SHOUT OUT. GIVE ME A
MOMENT TO COLLECT MYSELF. IT IS
HOT UP HERE. WHO SET THIS
LIGHTING UP. I AM THE SOUTHEAST
NETWORKS PROGRAM OUTSIDE
COORDINATOR. I HAVE BEEN WITH
THE SOUTHEAST NETWORK FOR 12
YEARS. WE ARE PROUD PARTNERS IN
LEADING THIS WORK WITH SEATTLE
, I'M SORRY. SEATTLE? THANK
YOU. [ LAUGHTER ] LET ME
COLLECT MYSELF. WE ACTUALLY ARE
PART OF SEATTLE COMMUNITY
SAFETY INITIATIVES AND WE HAVE
PROVIDED SITE- BASED
INTERRUPTIONS SINCE 2015 FOR
THE RAINIER BEACH AREA. I AM
PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS, THOSE
WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY,
THEY IN AND DAY OUT , TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING
THE SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED FOR
THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE BEEN
VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE A SAFETY
TEAM BEAST -- BASED OUT OF
RAINIER BEACH, AND IT WE HAVE
SUPPORT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH
WORK THAT IS HAPPENING HERE.
OUR STRATEGY IS TO INCREASE
CAPACITY. I WOULD BE REMISS IF
I DID NOT MENTION OUR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, OUR FEARLESS LEADER,
MARTY JACKSON. TRULY. TRULY.
ALL OF THE INTELLIGENCE AND
GREATNESS THAT YOU SPEAK ABOUT
HAS COME FROM THE TUTELAGE AND
LEADERSHIP. I STAND ON THE
SHOULDERS OF DOMINIQUE DAVIS,
THE AMAZING WORK IN THIS
COMMUNITY , I MEAN , I AM SO
PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I
AM PART OF THAT. BUT I WILL
TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE
UNCOMFORTABLE. AND, FOR A
MOMENT, LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR
KIDS. FOR ME, IT IS DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT MAYOR HARRELL SAID,
MENTIONING A NAME THAT GOES IN
ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. OUR
KIDS NEED HELP, THEY ARE
EXPECTING SUPPORT, THEY ARE
HAVING TO NAVIGATE EMOTIONALLY,
LOSING FRIENDS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND I LIKE TO CONSIDER MYSELF
TO BE A PRETTY WITTY PERSON
WITH A VERY JADED PAST. WE DO
NOT NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT
TODAY. NOT NECESSARILY. IN MY
TENURE, I HAVE. 38 YOUNG PEOPLE
WHO HAVE LOOKED ME IN THE FACE
AND HAD FAITH THAT I WAS GOING
TO BE ABLE TO SPARE THEM FROM
THE CASKET. I AM BOTH
EMOTIONALLY MOVED , I AM
APPRECIATIVE, I AM ALSO
MOTIVATED , EVERY TIME THAT I
SEE ONE OF THE LIVES OF OUR
YOUNG PEOPLE CUT SHORT. THANK
YOU, CHAPELLE, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND DUANE LEFT
HERE AND WENT TO BECOME A
SUPERHERO AND BECOME THE LEADER
IN WHAT SCHOOLS NEED. AND I AM
EXCITED TO SEE THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HERE
TODAY . I HAVE SO MUCH FAITH IN
THE WORK THAT IS HAPPENING AT
RAINIER BEACH, MY OWN CHILD, MY
YOUNGEST BABY, GOES HERE. I
WILL BE HONEST , SHE DOES NOT
ALWAYS FEEL SAFE OR
COMFORTABLE. YOU KNOW, YOU NEED
YOUR KIDS TO HAVE SAFE PASSAGE.
PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE SAME
BUILDING, THEY CALL ME, THEY
SAY WE HAVE HER RIGHT HERE, AND
WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS AND
THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE IS
SAFE. I APPRECIATE THAT MORE
THAN YOU KNOW. I COME PEOPLE TO
WORK AND I TELL PEOPLE I CAN GO
WHEREVER I WANT TO GO. AND I
COME HERE, BECAUSE I HAVE
FAITH, NOT IN THE KIDS WHO I
BURIED , BUT THE KIDS WHO ARE
STILL SITTING HERE SAFELY
TODAY. AND MY JOB IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT YOU RECEIVE THE
SERVICE AND SUPPORT, WHATEVER
ADVOCACY THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.
I LOVE YOU, BRUCE, YOU NEED TO
KNOW THAT, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT
AT THE END OF THE DAY -- IS
THAT HOW IT IS NOW? OH, IS IT?
OKAY, SORRY, BRUCE . MAYOR
HARRELL , I APPRECIATE THE
INVESTMENT BY THE CITY, I
APPRECIATE THE CITY'S
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
INVESTMENT NEEDS TO BE
EXPOUNDED UPON. I APPRECIATE
COMING BACK TO THE TABLE EVERY
TIME THAT WE SAY, HEY, THIS IS
NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH. WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO
DO, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
EACH OTHER, TO MAKE SURE THAT
IT IS ENOUGH FOR YOU. THAT IS
MY COMMITMENT TO YOU ALL. NOW,
THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, MS. RICOLE JONES,
THANK YOU, MS. RICOLE JONES.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS RAY PARKER
-- PROCTOR JR. , I KNOW HIS
FAMILY. I ASKED HIM BEFORE THE
CONFERENCE, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
AFTER YOU FINISH AT THE BEACH.
YES, LET US GIVE THAT A HAND.
AND WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ,
USUALLY I WANT TO BE LIKE
LeBRON JAMES. BUT WE ARE ALL
NOT 6'8" AND WHAT WAS THAT OLD
SONG? ♪ I WISH I WAS A LITTLE
BIT TALLER ♪ BUT WE ARE NOT ALL
GOING TO BE LeBRON JAMES. I
LOVE IT WHEN THEY HEAR YOUNG
PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE GOING TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND THEY
SEES THE OPPORTUNITY. ROY
PROCTOR JR., SENIOR RIGHT HERE
IN RAINIER BEACH. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> I AM READY PROCTOR , I AM A
SENIOR AT RAINIER BEACH. I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT SAFE PASSAGE
AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME
THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL, THEY
HAVE BEEN STRONG PEOPLE IN MY
COMMUNITY THAT HAVE HELPED ME.
THEY HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGH THE
GUN VIOLENCE, THEY PROTECTED
ME, MY BROTHERS, EVEN THOUGH I
LOST MY COUSIN. BUT, THEY
HELPED Y TALKED TO
ME, THEY WERE WITH ME , EVEN
THROUGH EVERYTHING HAPPENED.
THEY HAVE HELPED ME A LITTLE ,
THEY HELPED ME A LOT. THAT IS
ALL I HAVE TO SAY. [ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, RAY. THAT WILL
CONCLUDE OUR REMARKS. WE WILL
HAVE INFORMATION AVAILABLE. I
WILL ENTERTAIN A COUPLE OF
QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS. YES,
SIR. PLEASE PROCEED.
>> I WANT TO SHARE THIS WITH
YOUR STAFF AND WITH DR. JONES,
CBS NEWS ANALYZED EVERY
SHOOTING SINCE 1966 AT A
SCHOOL, SINCE PARKLAND IN
FLORIDA, 80%, 84%, ACTUALLY,
HAVE HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL
WALLS, INCLUDING ALL BUT ONE,
IN SEATTLE, NOW WHAT DOES THIS
PLAN DO TO ADDRESS THAT
REALITY, DR. JONES?
>> LET ME BE CLEAR, THAT IS NOT
A SINGULAR PLAN , SINCE THE
OTHER TRAGEDY AT INGRAM HIGH
SCHOOL, WE HAVE GOTTEN TOGETHER
WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WITH
SPD, WE HAVE FLIPPED OUR
INTERNAL SYSTEMS. I BELIEVE
THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFER NOW
INTERNALLY OBVIOUSLY THEN
EXTERNALLY. I BELIEVE THAT ALL
OF THE INTERVENTIONS WE HAVE
DONE, FROM CHANGING THE LOCKS,
TO TRAINING, TO THE SIGNAGE .
IT HAS MADE OUR SCHOOLS SAFER.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF
MITIGATION IN PLACE NOW DID NOT
TO JUST INSURE, BUT TO HAVE A
99% INSURANCE THAT IT IS
HAPPENING AGAIN.
>> THE FACT THAT IT IS
HAPPENING NOT JUST HERE, IS
THAT REVELATORY?
>> IT IS NOT REVELATORY, I WAS
AT A CONFERENCE WITH A BUNCH OF
SUPERINTENDENTS AND FIVE OF
THEM HAD TO LEAVE THE
CONFERENCE IN REAL TIME,
BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING GUN
VIOLENCE INCIDENTS, BACK IN
THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THIS IS
A NATIONAL PHENOMENON, THE
POWER OF WHAT WE ARE DOING
HERE, THE POWER THAT WE ARE
DOING, IT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN
TERMS OF THE PARTNERSHIP WE
CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS MADE UP OF
TEACHERS, THAT IS WHAT WE DO.
WE DO NOT HAVE TRAINING IN
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION . WE HAVE
TRAINING IN INSTRUCTION, NOW
THAT WE HAVE THESE
PARTNERSHIPS, I BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN CREATE THIS ECOSYSTEM OF
SAFETY, THAT IS THE POWER OF
WHAT YOU ARE SAYING HERE TODAY.
I CANNOT SPEAK TO WHY THESE
THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I KNOW
THAT, POLITICALLY, I DO NOT
LIKE IT AND IT DOES NOT ALIGN
WITH MY VALUES. HOWEVER, I
BELIEVE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS
HAD ENOUGH AND WE WILL DO WHAT
WE NEED TO DO , TO ACTUALLY
ADDRESS IT, NOT AN EASY
SOLUTION, NOT SOMETHING MAGICAL
THAT WE HAVE TO DO, WE NEED TO
DIG DOWN , EACH ONE OF US, AND
MANAGE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR
GREATER COMMUNITIES, IN THE
CITY. IF WE ALL LEAN INTO THAT
WITH SOME EVIDENCE-BASED
PRACTICES, WE COULD CHANGE THE
CONDITIONS, ALMOST OVERNIGHT,
SO, THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD LOVE TO ADDRESS
THIS. A FEW THINGS. I CITED
MANY STATISTICS ABOUT THE GUNS
THAT WE RECOVERED, WE DO NOT
JUST TAKE THEM AND PUT THEM IN
AN EVIDENCE ROOM, HOW DID THIS
PERSON GET THE GUN, WHETHER IT
WAS INSIDE THE SCHOOL OR
OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL, WE TRIED TO
SAY, HOW COULD WE HAVE
INTERRUPTED THE CYCLE OF
VIOLENCE? THIS IS WHERE THE
COMMUNITY COMES IN. RIGHT NOW,
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY, WHEN
SCHOOL STARTS, THERE COULD BE A
CHILD, A STUDENT, WHO JUST
WANTS TO GET AN EDUCATION, THEY
MAY BRING A GUN TO SCHOOL. WHO
CAN HE OR SHE TALKED TO? WHO
CAN SAY, WHY ARE YOU WALKING
AROUND WITH THIS? BECAUSE
SOMETHING WAS POPPING OFF AND
THEY KNOW WHO I AM, THAT IS THE
CULTURE, AND WHEN I WENT BACK
TO SCHOOL IN THE DINOSAUR AGES,
THAT IS NOT HOW WE GOT THINGS
DONE. I WILL BE CANDID ABOUT
IT, YOU GOT IN A FIGHT, AND
THEN YOU ARGUED ABOUT WHO WON
THE FIGHT THE NEXT DAY. OUR
RELATIONSHIPS ARE DEVELOPED TO
SHOW PEOPLE THAT THERE IS
ANOTHER WAY OUTSIDE OF
VIOLENCE. AND AGAIN, AS THE
PRINCIPAL SAID, WE KNOW WHO WE
HAVE LOST, SOMETIMES A LITTLE
BIT DIFFICULT TO MEASURE WHO WE
ARE SAVING, AND THE BEAUTY OF
MR. PROCTOR'S STATEMENTS. HE
SAID THIS HELPED HIM BECOME WHO
HE IS . INWAY, HE WAS
SAYING THANK YOU. ANOTHER
QUESTION, IF THERE IS ONE.
>> TALKING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE
CAN EXPECT, THE STUDENTS WOULD
BE ABLE TO SEE PHYSICAL
SECURITY. FOR THE GARFIELD
STUDENT GOING BACK, FIRST WEEK,
FIRST MONTH, ALL OF THESE
PROGRAMS ARE ROLLING OUT, WHAT
WILL BE DIFFERENT IN THAT FIRST
WEEK, WHAT DOES THE ROLLOUT AND
THE REACH OUT LOOK LIKE FOR
THESE NEW THINGS?
>> I WILL TALK ABOUT A FEW
THINGS MAYBE MY CHIEF OF POLICE
OR DEPUTY MAYORS COULD GIVE
SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC. THE
FIRST THING IS, MANY OF US ARE
GOING TO BE THERE AROUND SOME
OF THESE SCHOOLS. WE TARGETED
OF COURSE 11 SCHOOLS IN OUR
INVESTMENT STRATEGY , WE WILL
BE WELCOMING AND LETTING THE
STUDENTS KNOW THAT WE CARE.
THAT IS NOT JUST SYMBOLIC, THAT
IS THE MEANS BY WHICH WE ARE
LETTING YOU KNOW . AS THE
POLICE TALKED ABOUT, YOU ARE
GOING TO SEE CERTAIN CARS IN
CERTAIN AREAS AT CERTAIN TIMES
OF THE DAY. AND WE DO NOT SHARE
ALL OF OUR POLICE STRATEGIES
AND TACTICS. THERE ARE INTERNAL
STRATEGIES THAT WE HAVE
DEVELOPED ON THE WHITEBOARD, SO
TO SPEAK, I WILL PLAY COY ON
EXACTLY HOW THEY WILL BE
MANEUVERING GOOD WE ARE NOW
NEGOTIATING ON HOW THE VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTERS, TO USE THAT TERM,
WILL BE IN THE SCHOOL, SUCH
THAT THEY WILL KNOW WHERE TO GO
TO, THEY WILL KNOW WHO TO CALL,
AND YOU WILL SEE ALL OF THAT ON
THE FIRST DAY. I WILL NOW ASK
THE DEPUTY TO SAY LITTLE BIT
MORE.
>> YOU ARE ASKING FOR A
TECHNICAL ANSWER TO AN ADAPTIVE
ISSUE. WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT,
YOU WILL SEE MORE OF THE
COMMUNITY THAT YOU SEE AROUND
HERE SURROUNDING THE SCHOOLS,
IT IS NOT NEW, IT JUST HAS BEEN
UNDERFUNDED. ALL OF THESE FOLKS
IN BLUE SHIRTS. WHAT IS THAT?
NEON? I AM NOT COLORBLIND. NEON
SHIRTS, YOU WILL SEE MORE OF
THEM, THIS PROBLEM IS
ADDRESSED. I DON'T KNOW WHO IT
WAS UP HERE, IT WAS TRAUMA .
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA . ED
THEY DO NOT TRUST ANYBODY BUT
THEY DO TRUST PEOPLE IN THE
ROOM THAT LOOK LIKE THEM, WALK
LIKE THEM, TALK LIKE THEM, AND
WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES LIKE
THEM. AND THEY HAVE COME OUT ON
THE OTHER SIDE THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO SEE MORE OF THEM, THEY
WILL BE RESOURCED MORE, THEY
WILL HAVE THE FAMILY RESOURCE
FUND TO HELP THE YOUNG PEOPLE,
AND THEIR PARENTS , TO SURVIVE,
AND MORE PROGRAMS TO HELP YOUNG
PEOPLE THRIVE. SO, IT IS NOT
NEW , BUT IT IS JUST THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO BE ADEQUATELY
FUNDED THANKS TO THE
PARTNERSHIP THAT THE MAYOR AND
THE SUPERINTENDENT JUST TALKED
ABOUT.
>> THANK YOU, DEPUTY MAYOR.
>> VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS, ARE
THOSE THE SECURITY SPECIALISTS?
PLEASE EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE.
I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO GARFIELD
PARENTS THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT
THESE PARTNERS ARE AND WHAT
THEY DO.
>> WE HAVE SECURITY SPECIALISTS
IN HERE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE
IN EAR, RAISE YOUR HAND. WE ARE
GOING TO INCREASE THAT BY 33%.
33% INCREASE, YOU CAN SEE
ALMOST 15 NEW SECURITY
PERSONNEL, THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS TANGIBLE IN WHAT YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR. AND IN TERMS
OF SIGNAGE AND TRAINING AND
CAMERAS, AND MAYOR HARRELL
ALLUDED TO IT. WE ARE NOT GOING
TO SAY WHAT THE FACTORS ARE,
BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY READY,
PARENTS AND FAMILIES WILL SEE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT GARFIELD
ON DAY ONE, IT IS GOING TO BE
TANGIBLE. MAYBE TWO TO FIVE, IN
SOME CASES.
>> HEY. YOU SAID INTERVENTION
SPECIALISTS. YES. VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION , YES. OUR
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS AND SAFE
PASSAGE TEAMS WILL BE DEPLOYED
IN AREA SCHOOLS, THE FIRST DAY
OF SCHOOL, THEY PROVIDE A LEVEL
OF GUARDIANSHIP IN THE
COMMUNITY AND THEY GET YOUNG
PEOPLE CONNECTED TO DIFFERENT
SERVICES AND THEY CONTINUE A
LEVEL OF CASE MANAGEMENT TO
ENSURE THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY
NEED, AND THEY WANTED IN
ADDITION, WE ALSO PROVIDE CASE
MANAGEMENT, THOSE OF THE FOLKS
AT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. THEY
ARE IN HERE. THEY ARE IN THE
BACK OF THE HOUSE, IN THE SENSE
THAT THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE
DO NOT SEE WITH OUR KIDS WHEN
THEY SHOW UP WITH THE BACKPACK
ON THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNPACK
THOSE THINGS WITH THE YOUNG
PEOPLE AND GET THEM CONNECTED
TO THOSE SERVICES.
>> IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, WITH
VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS. B SAFE.
WHAT WE CALL THE RAINIER BEACH
COURT OUR, SOUTHLAKE, EMERSON .
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER . THESE
ARE OUR KIDS . IT IS THE SAME
FOR GARFIELD, COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS. PLEASE, RAISE YOUR
HAND. THESE ARE THE VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTERS IN THE CENTRAL
AREA COMMUNITY. WE ALL WORK
TOGETHER, AND IT IS BEING ABLE
TO BE FOCUSED . RAINIER HAS
INVITED ALL OF THE KIDS BACK ON
DAY ONE, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
KIDS FEEL SAFE ON DAY ONE,
THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE
PRESS? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
>> I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING
ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> TUESDAY, JUNE 11th , OR
WHATEVER. IT'S ALL REALLY
GOOD, AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
LOTS OF FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS,
THEY SAID IT DID NOT FEEL GOOD,
IT WAS REACTIONARY. KIDS WERE
ASKING, WHERE OF THESE PEOPLE
BEEN BEFORE TODAY ? I
APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE CHECKING IN WITH THE KIDS
TO MAKE SURE THAT IT FEELS GOOD
WITH THEM.
>> I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK
AND I WANT TO VALIDATE THAT. MY
MOTHER AND FATHER WENT TO
GARFIELD . AND I GET THAT. WE
DID SOME FOLLOW-UP WORK, THAT
IS GREAT FEEDBACK, THANK YOU
FOR SHARING THAT WITH US. WE
ARE GOING TO CLOSE IT DOWN NOW.
I WILL TALK , IF YOU ARE NOT A
MEMBER OF THE PRESS, I WILL
TYPE -- IT TALK OFF CAMERA.
>> WE TALK ABOUT SO MANY
PROGRAMS, WE TALKED ABOUT THESE
LAUNCH PROGRAMS, HOW DO WE
MEASURE SUCCESS, HOW ARE WE
GOING TO REPORT THIS SO THAT
COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES CAN
TRACK WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE
OUTCOMES?
>> IF YOU DID NOT HEAR THE
QUESTION, IT IS A GREAT
QUESTION. HOW DO WE MEASURE
SUCCESS IN THE PROGRAM? LET ME
MAKE ONE THING CLEAR, THIS IS
UNPRECEDENTED IN WHAT WE ARE
TRYING TO DO. I REFERRED TO
THEM AS CASE BUILDERS. WHAT WE
ARE TRYING TO DO, AT THIS
SCALE, HAS NOT BEEN DONE
BEFORE. WE WILL LOOK AT THE
METRICS, THE TEAM, THEY ARE
VERY DATA ORIENTED. WE TRY TO
FIGURE OUT WHO IS DROPPING OUT,
HOW MANY GUNS HAVE BEEN FIRED,
HOW MANY GUNS HAVE BEEN
RETRIEVED. AT THE END OF THE
DAY, IN ADDITION TO THE DATA,
IN ADDITION TO LIVES LOST AND
LIVES SAVED , AS THE PARENT
FROM GARFIELD SAID, HOW DO THE
KIDS FEEL? THERE IS ONE
STATISTIC THAT I DID NOT TALK
ABOUT IN MY SPEECH. I WANT TO
SHARE IT WITH YOU. ACTUALLY, I
HAD A SPEECH. BUT I ALWAYS
DEVIATE FROM THEM, THIS IS
INTERESTING.
50% OF EIGHTH GRADERS IN OUR
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM,
AND A 71% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE 12
GRADERS REPORT FEELING ANXIOUS,
FEARFUL, AND 1 IN 3
12TH-GRADERS REPORT FEELING
DEPRESSED. THEY ARE SUFFERING
FROM DEPRESSION. THESE ARE
STATISTICS THAT WE WILL MEASURE
AGAINST, HOW DID THEY FEEL, IN
ADDITION TO HOW THEY ARE
GRADUATING. I APPRECIATE THE
QUESTION. WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW
CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS
BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR USING DATA.
I LEAD WITH DATA. WE WILL
MEASURE IT AND HOPEFULLY, AT
THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL GO
TO THESE GRADUATIONS AND THESE
KIDS WILL FEEL LIKE SOMEONE
CARES, THEY WILL FEEL LIKE
SOMEONE CAN OPTIMIZE. ONE MORE
QUESTION, GO AHEAD.
>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] IS
THAT THE SAME THING, OR A
NUMBER THAT YOU HOPE WILL BE
REPEATED FOR YEARS TO COME?
>> LET ME GO BACK TO WHAT I
SAID, ACTUALLY, $12.25 MILLION
FROM THE CITY AND $2.3 MILLION
FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
AND THIS WAS ARRIVED AT BY
LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, AND
TALKING TO EVERYONE WE COULD.
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THERE IS A
DEFICIT WE ARE HAVING, WHEN WE
LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE
PRIORITIZING , THIS RISES TO
THE TOP. I STARTED WITH A QUOTE
SAYING THAT THE HEALTH OF OUR
CHILDREN IS THE METRIC OF WHAT
WE ARE DOING. IT WAS MANY
PEOPLE, IN ADDITION TO ME, MY
EXECUTIVE TEAM, WORKING WITH
THE DISTRICT, AND WORKING IN
UNPRECEDENTED FASHION AND I
MADE THIS CLEAR. THIS IS
EVOLVING WORK. I MAY COME BACK
IN SIX MONTHS, WE MAY INCREASE
AND EXPAND. THIS IS EVOLVING
AND WE HAVE TO BE E-LEARNING
CITY. I SAID THAT, WHEN I TOOK
OFFICE, WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO
BE BETTER. EVERYONE IS TALKING
PAST ONE ANOTHER. WE HAVE TO
LEARN TOGETHER, AND HERE AT
RAINIER BEACH , IT IS A GREAT
LEARNING INSTITUTION. THEY HAVE
A LOT OF SCHOLARS, AND GREAT
PROGRAMS. I AM GOING TO CLOSE
THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND I
WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR
BEING HERE, BECAUSE THIS SENDS
A MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE CITY,
84 SQUARE MILES OF SEATTLE,
THAT THIS PART OF THE CITY
NEEDS A LOT. ALL OF OUR
STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY
MEAN A LOT. WE HAVE 11 SCHOOLS
WE ARE DEALING WITH AND WE
STARTED HERE AT ONE OF THE MOST
DIVERSE ZIP CODES IN THE
COUNTRY. RIGHT HERE AT RAINIER
BEACH. GO, VIKINGS ! GO ,
QUAKERS! AND GO, BULLDOGS!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.