-Thank you for being here the morning.
I want to first give a few thanks
before I get into the substance
of what is really an exciting announcement of our partnership,
of the district and the labor and business in our council.
I want to thank Deputy Mayor Tiffany Washington
for her leadership,
just outstanding leadership on really making sure
collaboratively we're listening and trying to meet the students
and the community where they are.
Operations manager Lori Baxter,
sort of her partner in crime so to speak.
Deal Director Dwane Chapelle and all of the Deal staff,
their hard work on this proposal.
Thank you Councilmember Riz Rivera
who you will hear from for her collaboration and leadership
during the councils process
and the entire City Council for the thoughtful deliberation.
South Seattle College Dr. Monica Brown,
thank you have hosting us at your Georgetown campus,
it's really exciting to be here.
So let's get into what this Levy is about.
We think this is likely one of the most powerful
and transformative investments the city can make in its future.
We want to give very simply,
every child in our city the strong start
they deserve and the support they need
and we want to set them up for long-term success,
not just in school, but in life. For 35 years we know
that the Seattle voters have committed
to taking bold action in supporting our youth,
and we're proud to send this package
to the ballot this November. This is a six year,
1.3 billion dollar renewal of the Families and Education Levy.
It will support our youth from the cradle to the classroom
and into college and into successful careers.
And we know the challenges they are facing.
Many of you have children, you are around children,
you see that -- you're around parents and you are parents.
You see the rising cost of childcare
and the affordability concerns in the city.
You see mental health challenges following the pandemic.
You see frightening incidence of gun violence in
and around our schools
and federal funding threats everywhere.
And many of you,
like myself that went to Seattle public schools,
when we were trying to study,
we didn't have to deal with any of the conditions
that these kids are facing now.
The constant shutdowns, the proliferation of guns
and so we have to be very intentional about our policies
and our investments. So, what are we going to do?
Looking at this very holistically,
we're going to double access to childcare.
We're going to add 800 new subsidized childcare seats,
serving 1,400 children a year
and supporting our working families by relieving them
from the cost burden.
And don't worry fellow speakers, I'm not going to say all of it,
I'm going to leave you something to say.
I know they're thinking, "Well I had that in my notes Mayor".
We're going to support our childcare workers,
providing direct payments to 5,000 childcare workers.
This is truly God's work in my eye.
I appreciate what they do,
we want to support this critical workforce
and recognizing many of these are women of color.
The predominant number of them
have chosen this profession to do and we thank them for that
and we want to show that -- show our thanks.
We're going to expand high quality preschool.
We're going to add 600 new seats
to the nationally acclaimed Seattle preschool program
and we should be very proud of that program.
We will serve 3,100 of our youngest learners
every year to make sure they are ready for kindergarten.
We understand brain development.
We understand those critical years at the beginning.
We're going to strengthen mental health services,
adding five new school based health centers,
and expand in-person and telehealth staff
and ensure students are healthy, supported and ready to learn.
We want that connection,
that connectivity between students and those
that can help the students.
We're going to expand youth programs and enrichment,
we're going to boost school day,
after school and summer
programs to keep more than 19,000 students safe,
healthy, engaged, in and outside of the classroom.
This is where it gets really exciting.
Two year tuition-free college,
invest in Seattle Promise program
to give Seattle public school graduates a path
to pursue postsecondary education.
The Promise program serves nearly 1,500 scholars annually
and we're going to help more students enter
the skilled trades.
I talked to Ray Dumas, is it Doomas or Dumis?
-Dumas.
-Dumas, earlier about the critical role
that his organization plays.
And these are good paying, great jobs.
You need the skills for it
and we want to make sure
that these high school graduates find apprenticeship
and skill building opportunities.
That's why we're here
that at the South Seattle's Georgetown campus.
This campus is Washington State's
largest apprenticeship training institution,
serving over 3,000 apprentices annually in
over 50 different trades. From iron workers, machinists,
and maintenance technicians, sprinkler fitters,
cement masons, electricians,
these are the kinds of apprenticeships
we want to support our entire --
to ensure that our workforce is ready.
These are good paying jobs and indeed you need the skill
and we want to teach these skills.
So I want to recognize the Cement Masons and
Plasterers of Washington Apprenticeship Coordinator,
Mike Raymond, for letting us be in their classroom today,
by this new 3D concrete printer.
That's in my notes. Is that, where is it?
I want to see what I'm talking about.
Okay. Oh, wow!
I thought it was one of those little things up there,
my goodness gracious, okay.
This is an exciting advancement for the future of construction
and it's just amazing what can be done now with AI
and different software techniques,
coupled with machinery.
So this Levy again, embodies our One Seattle vision of safety,
equity and opportunity
and it's a strong proposal to send to our voters.
I talk to mayors across the country
and one of are things I say that I think a great city,
a great city will show us greatness by
how it invests in its kids.
Are they safe? Are they optimizing?
They are, the cliché is they are our future.
But I also say they are our now.
Because what we do right now has to ensure
that they are optimized.
So you're going to hear next
from Councilmember Maritza Rivera and Councilmember Monica,
you can make your way to the podium.
She was chair of the select committee on the Levy
and has just been an outstanding champion
for our youth and families. Councilmember Rivera.
-I'm a little shorter than the mayor, just a tad.
Just a tad. Good morning everyone.
I am so excited to be here.
And mayor you didn't mentioned welders, my dad was a welder.
So shout out to welders as well.
I'm so proud to be here today with all of you,
to celebrate this last step
before this Levy proposal is delivered to the Seattle voters.
I'm grateful for Mayor Harrell's partnership,
in supporting kids across the city
and a special note of gratitude to Deputy Mayor Washington,
for being an amazing partner during this journey.
For 35 years as Mayor Harrell said,
the Families, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy,
has been making meaningful, long-lasting,
positive differences in the lives of Seattle's kids
and you're going to hear from one, Kevin, in a few minutes,
who was a Promise scholar and then moved on.
You'll hear his journey, I won't share, I'll let him share.
But it is -- it had a long-lasting impact already.
That is why voters have come to love or excuse me,
value and love and trust this Levy.
It benefits kids and directly supports their academic futures.
This proposal builds on the decades long legacy,
by doubling affordable childcare slots as the mayor said,
to benefit even more kids and their working families
and adding hundreds more preschool slots.
I'm grateful to the wonderful work of the childcare
and preschool workers,
who provide the early learning programs,
like Denise Louie in our district,
that set the children up for a lifetime of success.
This Levy will also help our K-12 students thrive,
by giving them the academic and health services
they need to do well in school.
That includes the school based health centers,
with access to mental healthcare,
both in person and online, for our kids
who are still grappling with the learning losses
and social challenges associated with living
through a global pandemic.
And it will pave the way to a bright future,
by providing universal access to a two year college degree
or a path to the trades through
our successful Seattle Promise program.
As a daughter of a union welder, I am especially proud
that we will expand these pathways to the trades
as part of the promise to our public school graduates.
Students will be able to work towards an associates degrees
or a trade certificate,
knowing both can lead to a successful career.
In this time of uncertainty and insecurity,
we have an opportunity to provide stability and
encouragement and to show our kids that we are here for them.
Thank you. -Thank you Councilmember.
Next you're going to hear from Dr. Monica Brown
who has spent over two decades in leadership positions
in the college environment
and she's going to speak about the pathways
in the postsecondary education through the Promise program
and how we're getting the Seattle graduates up
and running.
And I'm trying to make this for you here.
Okay. I think the Councilmember broke it!
-Alright, thank you mayor and good morning
to everyone and welcome to South Seattle Colleges'
Georgetown campus.
I am Dr. Monica Brown
and I am pleased to serve as the President
of South Seattle College.
I'm honored to have you here this morning
and to be able to speak on behalf of Seattle colleges
as a partner for one of the most transformative efforts
our city has ever seen,
the expansion of the Seattle Promise
through the mayor's Every Child Ready plan,
under the soon to be renewed FEPP Levy.
For the past six years,
Seattle Promise has been opening doors
to college tuition-free for all Seattle public school graduates.
But now, together with Mayor Harrell,
the city of Seattle,
Seattle Public Schools and our Labor Partners,
we're opening even more doors.
Doors that lead directly to livable wage jobs
and our region skilled trades
and professional technical careers.
The setting for today's event is fitting, as you can see.
We are at South Seattle's Colleges Georgetown Campus,
where we operate the largest apprenticeship training center
in Washington State, in a space
where the cement masons are learning
3D cement printing skills.
And it takes one conversation with Mike
to get you excited about it.
These are the very spaces
where Seattleites learn the skills
that form the back bone of our city,
skills that lead to jobs that build our skyline,
power our home and keep our communities moving.
And now we're saying to young people, these jobs are for you.
With the expansion of Seattle Promise
and the launch of the Path to Trades,
we are proudly reaffirming Seattle College's role
as the leader in skilled trades education for our city,
as we build upon existing career
and technical education structures,
that start in Seattle public schools,
continue at Seattle colleges and lead to fulfilling careers.
We are preparing our young people for careers with dignity,
for paychecks
that covers today's necessities and plan for the future.
For work that brings pride, not just to individuals,
but to families and communities.
This opportunity is personal for so many of our students,
you'll hear from on shortly.
I've spoken with those whose parents who work two
or three jobs to get by and now because of Seattle Promise,
they are training to become electricians, mechanics,
welders, medical technicians,
cement masons and much more.
They tell us in their applications,
they want financial stability,
for themselves and their families.
They don't want a hand out.
They want a hand up.
They want work where there is tangible, societal impact.
This is what opportunity looks like
and this is what the Levy will make possible.
The isn't just about expanding access,
it's about expanding belief.
Belief that no matter your background,
you belong in Seattle's economy.
With this national standard setting Levy
and a Promise Program held as a national model,
we're making sure every child in Seattle is ready,
not just for college, but for a career.
Let's deliver on the promise,
let's pave the way to trades
and let's create a future full of hope.
Thank you again.
-After Dr. Brown speaks I want to say, "At ease".
You all straightened up when she spoke.
That was powerful.
Next you're going to hear from Susan Yang,
that's just really modeled the partnership
we love having with the city of Seattle.
As you know, she's the Executive Director
of Denise Louie Education Center
and they've been a partner with the Seattle's preschool program,
provided with locations in Beacon Hill and
Magnuson Park and Yesler Terrace,
just outstanding partnerships.
She also served on the Early Learning Advisory Council,
representing the Asian-Pacific Islander community
and has just been probably one of the most effective
and strongest advocates for early education.
Susan, please come forward.
Thank you. -Thank you.
Hi, my name is Susan Yang
and I am the Executive Director
at Denise Louie Education Center.
First, I would really like
to thank Mayor Bruce Harrell and Councilmember Maritza Rivera,
for their bold leadership in putting
forth the Every Child Ready to Start initiative,
that promotes a holistic view
and thoughtful investment in the Cradle to Career journey,
for our children.
The Family, Education, Preschool and Promise Levy
has been a cornerstone of providing high quality,
accessible and affordable
early learning opportunities for Seattle families.
Early learning, as we've all noted,
represents a powerful investment in our children's future
and in the long-term well-being for our Seattle children.
Denise Louie Education Center was an early adopter
of the Seattle Preschool Program.
At Denise Louie,
our mission is to promote school and life
readiness by providing high quality,
multicultural preschool,
home visiting and childcare services
to children and families,
especially those who need our services the most.
We serve over 400 children prenatal to five,
in the community
and this investment in high quality early learning,
is critical support at a time of great uncertainty
in our community.
High quality childcare
and preschool programs foster children's social
and emotional development, prepares them for kindergarten,
helps close the opportunity gaps and children
in high quality settings have a higher graduation rate,
setting them on a path for success in the future.
The city's efforts to make preschool free
or significantly more affordable, does wonders
for families economic stability and well-being.
This investment in our community also enables parents to work
or pursue education and gives family a peace of mind,
knowing their children are in a safe and loving environment.
On behalf of the early learning workforce,
I can only offer my sincere thanks to the mayor
and the councilmembers,
for including and investment in the worker retention efforts.
Our workforce is comprised of over 80% women.
And over 45% women of color.
While we always wish for even more pay equity
for our fellow workforce,
this continued effort to offer direct payments for the workers,
lifts our field up
and provides a well-deserved recognition
for essential workforce,
who are often underappreciated
and represent a critical engine to the city's economy.
In a meeting of the preschool programs
earlier in the year I asked councilmember Rivera to go big
and bold and I appreciate that every child ready
to start, does just that.
I also want to thank Dwane and Taylor,
I see here,
as well as Leilani for their support
in the Department of Education and Early Learning.
We couldn't do that work without you.
Denise Louie Education Center is a proud partner with the city,
and we look forward to creating an shaping our city's
next generation of mayors, city councilmembers,
and perhaps welders as well, to keep our city's future bright.
Thank you.
-Our next speakers going to be Ray Dumas.
I want to share a little bit about Ray's
incredible background.
He joined the Plasterer's in February of 2011,
so he's been true to the trade for some time.
Many of you know he has worked on House Bill 1788,
which closed the equity gap in the workers comp system
and it was signed by governor Ferguson.
And again, his leadership
and his commitment to creating jobs and training folks
is unprecedented.
Some would say.
And I also give his former title
that he is the Plasterers Business Agent
and serves as the Legislative Affairs Director for Cement,
Mason's and Plasterer's Local 528.
Please take it over Ray.
-Good morning everybody
and welcome to South Seattle College's Georgetown campus.
I'm extremely honored
and privileged to be able to speak with you here today
and
represent the Cement, Masons and Plasterers Local 528.
So glad that you could join us.
I'm especially proud to be gathering
in this incredible place of learning,
the Cement Masons Training Center,
at South Seattle College,
where skills are taught
and transformed into lifelong careers.
Today, we come together in support of the city
of Seattle's Family, Education,
Preschool and Promise Levy renewal.
This initiative represents a shared commitment
to building stronger communities within our city.
This Levy will continue to provide local resources
for early learning, academic and mentorship programs,
while also strengthening those pathways into the trades
by expanding access tuition scholarships,
opening the doors to life changing opportunities
like the ones trained right here in this building.
These investments are key to developing
a more diverse skilled workforce and creating living wage,
home grown career opportunities.
With these investments, we not only build futures,
but equity, inclusion
and economic strength across our city.
With that I want to thank you for being here
and for being part of this important work.
In the spirit of the trades and community,
let's continue to build together.
Thank you. -Thank you Ray.
Our last speaker is someone
who we're really excited to hear about it.
Kevin sort of represents what this is all about.
Just by way of background,
he attended Ingraham High School
and is part of the 2020 Promise Cohort at North Seattle College
and he has since used path to the University of Washington
to study supply chain management,
at the University Washington Foster School of Business.
And true to public service we asked him if he'd share words
and he did not hesitate to join us.
Thank you very much Kevin for being here
and we look forward to hearing from you.
-Hello everyone, how's everyone doing?
I just want to start off by saying
how much of a huge honor it is to be here
in presence of you all and how much of an honor
it is to be representing this year's cohort
and also the current alumni and the current scholars
within the Seattle Promise Scholarship program.
I thought it was a little bit appropriate
to share what my experience has been like
and how Seattle Promise changed my academic journey for,
even after post-graduation too.
So to start off, I graduated high school in the year 2020.
Ingraham High School, let's go Rams!
So that was at the height of the pandemic,
the COVID-19 pandemic just started.
There's a lot of excitement that I experienced at first,
just knowing that I was going to --
just wondering what new things I'm going to learn
within my academic journey.
But there was also fear and a lot of anxiety.
Just wondering,
what exactly is the classroom environment going to be like,
now that we're going to do everything online
and that we're going to not have that one
on one interaction with our professors
or even our classmates too.
That feeling only became more intensified
as I began my first year at North Seattle College.
Having to balance my family responsibilities
and also my academic journey as well,
to make sure I get that higher education,
it became very overwhelming.
It's gotten to a point where I almost felt overwhelmed
and I wanted to just drop out of college entirely,
just to support my family.
At that time, I only could think of one person to reach out to.
It was my retention specialist at the time.
My academic advisor. By maintaining consistent,
careful communication with my academic advisor,
I made sure that I was succeed in this very,
very difficult environment.
And I'm proud to say that I was able to graduate
with an Associate's degree at that time,
with the Business Administration.
And then I would also proceed to graduate, just recently,
with my Bachelors in Business Administration
at the University of Washington's
Foster School of Business.
But that wasn't also just the only rewarding experience had
during my time as a Seattle Promise scholar as well.
What also surprised me a lot too, was the desire
that I grew to want to give back to my communities as well.
One prime example I can think of was my willingness
to be a mentor for the future
incoming Seattle Promise scholars.
This is because after going through those difficult times
during my first year,
I realized how difficult it was
and I told myself I never want anyone else
to have to go through that same experience
I had to go through myself.
And just from that mentorship program alone,
I learned how rewarding it was just hearing the voices
of the excitement and the relief that the students felt
every time I was able to address some sort of
questions or concerns they had.
And I carried that same tradition even after
the Seattle Promise Scholarship program,
during my time at the University of Washington
as a Vice President
for the Student Club for Business Ethics Association.
Even also as a mentorship as well,
for what's called the Building Networks program,
where they goal was to assist transfer students
to get admitted into our business school as well.
I want to finish off by saying
that this shared value of giving back to our communities
is not only just found within myself,
I've seen it also
within our other Seattle Promise scholars as well.
From students
within
Engineering and Technology,
to Law Government Society,
to also Arts and Humanities, Businesses,
you name it,
there's always a student within each of our disciplines
and our academic fields, with that shared passion.
That's why I'm very confident
and I whole heartedly believe
that Seattle Promise is fostering the next generation
of leaders who will tackle on
whatever challenges comes our way,
with also prioritizing our communities as well.
I can't wait to see what more Seattle Promise will do,
for this next generation
of Seattle Promise alumni or scholars.
Thank you everyone.
-Remember the name Kevin Martinez Flores,
because young man is going places!
Remember that name! You heard it here first.
And what I really, a strong take away Kevin,
is one of the first things
you did was give back through monitoring.
And I think a lot of the leaders here,
I want to recognize the Interim Superintendent
Fred Podesta and Ted Howard and others.
I think they've all been mentored
and they've been mentors and that is the first step
to really giving back.
Thank you.
And with that, I want to thank all of you for being here
and these very gifted speakers for joining us.
We have to get this across the finish line.
It's going to take work, advocacy,
but we are on the right side of history in this fight together.
It's all about the kids, the administrators, the infants.
This is us bringing out the best in ourselves
to help those others.
And so let's do a signing
and I can't wait to give away some pens.
This is a remarkable day, thank you very much.
Alright, hold on you guys.
Alright, we did it.
Thank you!