>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY,
THE MAY 12th 2025 MEETING OF THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE
FAMILIES, EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL,
AND PROMISE LEVY WILL COME TO
ORDER, 5:03 P.M. I AM CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO
NOTE COUNCILMEMBER SOLOMON IS
EXCUSED FROM TODAY'S MEETING,
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER SAKA?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH?
>> HERE
>> COUNCILMEMBER MORE?
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER KETTLE?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR RINCK.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR RIVERA.
>> PRESENT.
>> SIX COUNCILMEMBER ARE
PRESENT.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA IS ADOPTED, WILL THE
CLERK READ ITEM ONE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> COUNCIL BILL 120981. AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO REGULAR
PROPERTY TAXES REQUESTING A
SPECIAL ELECTION BE HELD
CONCURRENT WITH THE GENERAL
ELECTION FOR SUBMISSION TO THE
QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY,
A PROPOSITION TO LIFT THE LIMIT
ON REGULAR PROPERTY TAXES UNDER
CHAPTER 84.5 FIBRCW AND TO
AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO LEVY
ADDITIONAL TAXES FOR UP TO SIX
YEARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF
PROVIDING EDUCATION SUPPORT
SERVICES DESIGNATED TO IMPROVE
ACCESS TO EARLY LEARNING,
INCLUDING CHILD CARE AND
PRESCHOOL, ACADEMIC, HEALTH, AND
SAFETY SUPPORTS FOR K-12
STUDENTS, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER
PATHWAYS FOR SEATTLE STUDENTS.
APPLYING THE EXEMPTION FOR LOW
INCOME SENIORS, DISABLED
VETERANS, AND OTHERS AUTHORIZED
BY RCW84.36.381; AUTHORIZING
CREATION OF DESIGNATED FUND;
DIRECTING THE APPLICATION OF
LEVY PROCEEDS; ESTABLISHING
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
PARTNERS; ESTABLISHING
ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORT ING
STRUCTURES, REQUIRING A FORTH
COMING IMPLEMENTATION AND
EVALUATION PLAN; PROPOSING A
BALLOT TITLE; AUTHORIZING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENTS FOR
THIS LEVY LID LIFT WHICH WILL BE
COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE FAMILIES,
EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL, AND
PROMISE LEVY; AND RATIFYING AND
CONFIRMING CERTAIN PRIOR ACTS.
FOR BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING.
>> THANK YOU, THIS ITEM HAS BEEN
READ INTO THE RECORD. VERY LONG
WINDED WAY OF SAYING WE SUPPORT
OUR KIDS IN SEATTLE. GOOD
AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, BEFORE WE
GET STARTED I WANT TO THANK
EVERYBODY JOINING IN PERSON OR
CALLING IN REMOTELY TO SHARE
YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RENEWAL
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU FOR TAKING
THE TIME TO COME HERE AND PR
BEING ENGAGED. I VERY MUCH LOOK
FORWARD TO HEARING FROM ALL OF
YOU, COLLEAGUES, I THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE AS WELL. I KNOW YOU,
TOO, ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HEARING FROM OUR PUBLIC
COMMENTERS. I WANT TO THANK
DIRECTOR DWANE CHAPPELLE AND
MARISSA ROUSSELLE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING, OR DEAL AS WE
AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT AT THE
CITY, FOR JOINING US TO GIVE A
PREEF OVERVIEW BEFORE WE HEAR
FROM THE PUBLIC. FIRST, TO SET
US UP FOR THE HEARING, FOR 35
YEARS, FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
LEVIES IN SEATTLE, THESE
INVESTMENTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT
TODAY AS THE FEDERAL
ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES THE
ATTACKS ON OUR WORKING FAMILIES
AND CHILDREN, AS A CITY WE
CANNOT REPLACE EVERY FEDERAL
PROGRAM THAT IS BEING CUT AND
DISMANTLED, BUT HERE IS WHAT WE
CAN DO WITH THIS IMPORTANT LEVY
RENEWAL. WE CAN BUILD ON
SEATTLE'S DECADES LONG LEGACY
OF INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN'S
ACADEMIC FUTURES TO HELP OUR
WORKING FAMILIES WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET,
ESPECIALLY AS CHILDCARE COSTS
CONTINUE TO RISE. THESE HIGH
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS
WILL SET CHILDREN UP FOR A
LIFETIME OF SUCCESS. WE CAN HELP
OUR K-12 STUDENTS THRIVE BY
GIVING THEM THE ACADEMIC AND
HELP SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO BE
SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. WE CAN
PAVE THE WAY A BRIGHT FUTURE
BY PROVIDING UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO
A TWO-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE OR A
PATH TO TRADES WITH OUR
SUCCESSFUL SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, EVEN AS
THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO
TEAR US APART. NOW, WE WILL HEAR
FROM DIRECTOR DWANE CHAPPELLE
AND GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
NICOLE, FROM MY TEAM, WILL BE
CLERKING, LONG WITH DEPUTY CLERK
JODY SCHWINN. THANK YOU. NICOLE
WILL BE READING NAMES OF THOSE
TO COMMENT. PLEASE LINE UP AS
YOUR NAMES ARE BEING CALLED SO
YOU CAN BE NEXT TO COMMENT.
LASTLY, AND IMPORTANTLY, PLEASE
REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL OF
OTHERS' COMMENTS AND OF OUR
COMMENT PROCESS. PLEASE DO NOT
CLAP AFTER THE COMMENTS IN ORDER
TO INSURE WE GET TO EVERYONE,
BUT, INSTEAD, PLEASE DO JAZZ
HANDS IF YOU WANT TO SHOW YOUR
SUPPORT. I ALSO WANT TO THANK
OUR SECURITY GUARD WHOSE ARE
HERE THIS EVENING, CEDRIC CLARK,
ANDY LOU, AND MIKE LIONS.
COUNCILMEMBER MOORE HAS JOINED
US. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAMES AND
YOU MAY PROCEED. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM DR. DWANE CHAPPELLE.
>> HELLO, MARISSA ROUSSELLE.
>> SO, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY, BUT TONIGHT WE
ARE HERE TO PROVIDE A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF MAYOR HARRELL'S
EVERY CHILD'S READY VISION AND
PROPOSAL FOR RENEWAL FOR THE
FAMILIES EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND
PROMISE LEVY. WE WILL KEEP IT
SHORT. AS WE KNOW, WE HAVE
COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE PRESENT,
AND WE WANT TO INSURE THEY HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME
REMARKS. AS WE HAVE SHARED WITH
COUNCIL PREVIOUSLY, THE EVERY
CHILD READY INITIATIVE AIMS TO
SUPPORT EVERY CHILD TO BE READY
TO START KINDERGARTEN BY
INVESTING IN AFFORDABLE HIGH
QUALITY EARLY-LEARNING
OPPORTUNITIES. READY TO LEARN IN
K-12 BY CREATING SAFE, HEALTHY,
SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, AND READY
TO LAUNCH INTO COLLEGE, CAREERS,
WITH FREE TUITION AND JOB
OPPORTUNITIES. THIS FOCUSES ON
UP STREAM INVESTMENTES AND
HARNESSES EVIDENCE, RESEARCH,
AND WHAT WE HAVE OBSERVED HERE,
AS YOU MENTIONED, COUNCILMEMBER,
IN SEATTLE, IN THE LAST 35 YEARS
SINCE OUR FIRST FAMILIES AND
EDUCATION LEVY, SO WHEN YOU
INVEST EARLY, YOU SEE GAINS THAT
ARE SUSTAINED AS CHILDREN
DEVELOPED INTO ADOLESCENCE AND
INTO ADULTHOOD. FOR EVERY DOLLAR
INVESTED IN EARLY LEARNING,
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT $16 RETURN
ON INVESTMENT ATTRIBUTED TO
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, PREVENTION
OF JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, AND
PURSUIT OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
THIS PROPOSED $1.3 BILLION
INVESTMENT WILL PROVIDE SIX
YEARS OF ESSENTIAL FUNDING FOR
SEATTLE'S CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND
FAMILIES. THE CHILDREN'S
FUNDING PROJECT, WHICH IS A
RESPECTED NATIONAL NON-PROFIT
THAT COLLABORATEWISE MAYORS,
GOVERNORS, PHILANTHROPY, AND
COMMUNITY GROUPS, HAS PRAISED
SEATTLE'S FUNDING STRATEGY FOR
CHILDREN OF ALL AGES CALLING IT
A NORTH STAR, AND THAT
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
ARE NOW STRIVING TO REPLICATE.
AS WE HAVE SHARED PREVIOUSLY IN
COMMITTEE, IN THE READY TO START
CATEGORY, THIS PROPOSAL, MORE
THAN DOUBLES THE NUMBER OF
CHILDCARE SUBSIDIES FOR FAMILIES
BY ADDING 800 NEW SLOTS. WE
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
TAKING GOOD CARE OF THE
INDIVIDUAL WHOSE PERFORM THE
ESSENTIAL WORK, AND BY
RECOGNIZING THIS, THE MAYOR'S
PLAN INCLUDES DIRECT SUPPORTS
FOR 5,000 CHILDCARE WORKERS.
FINALLY, THIS LEVY ADVOCATES 600
NEW SEATS TO THE SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. IN THE READY
TO LEARN AREA, THIS LEVY
MAINTAINS THE ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC
AND ENRICHMENT SUPPORTS FOR K-12
STUDENTS WHILE ADDING FIVE NEW
SCHOOL BASED HEALTHCARE CENTERS.
THIS LEVY ALSO CONTINUES TO
INSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE
CRITICAL MENTAL HEALTH AND
SCHOOL SAFETY SUPPORTS
INCORPORATED INTO THE BUDGET
OVER THE PAST YEAR. PROPOSED
EXPANSION OF STUDENTS SAFETY
SUPPORTS IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS
WILL BE DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY. LASTLY,
IN THE READY TO LAUNCH CATEGORY,
THIS LEVY WILL SUSTAIN THE
SUCCESSFUL SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM AND PROVIDE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG
PEOPLE SUCH AS EARNING A
FOUR-YEAR DEGREE FROM UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON, OR OBTAINING
CERTIFICATIONS AND
APPRENTICESHIPS IN A SKILLED
TRADE. SIMILAR TO THE OTHER NEW
OR EXPANDED INVESTMENTS, THIS
PROPOSAL, THE PATH TO TRADES
INVESTMENT, WILL BE FURTHER
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
STAKE HOLDERS AS UNIONS AND
EMPLOYERS DURING THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING.
BEFORE WE MOVE TO PUBLIC
COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO REMIND
THE COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC THAT
THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE OF
LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE
RENEWAL OF THE FEPP LEVY. THE
LEGISLATION BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE, IT ESTABLISHES THE
FUNDING AMOUNT AND PRIORITIES
FOR INVESTMENTS WITHIN THE LEVY,
AND DEEL, WE PLAN TO RETURN TO
COUNCIL IN EARLY 2026 WITH AN
IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION
PLAN THAT WILL OUTLINE THE
PROGRAM POLICIES, ELIGIBLE
PARTNERS, AND INVESTMENT
TIMELINES FOR THE COMPETITIVE
GRANTS. SO, THANK YOU, COUNCIL,
FOR THIS TIME, AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO LISTENING TO OUR
SEATTLE COMMUNITY TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR, AND
THANK YOU, MARISSA, FOR BEING
HERE AND GIVING THAT BRIEF
OVERVIEW. ALL RIGHT. AS
PRESIDING OFFICER I AM NOW
OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120.981, PUBLIC
COMMENT SHOULD RELATE TO ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND WITHIN
THE PURVIEW OF THIS SELECT
COMMITTEE. CLERK, HOW MANY
SPEAKERS ARE SIGNED UP TODAY?
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE 69 IN
PERSON SPEAKERS, AND 29 REMOTE
SPEAKERS SIGNED UP.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK. MAY YOU
PLEASE READ THE PUBLIC HEARING
INSTRUCTIONS?
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE
MODERATED IN THE FOLLOWING
MANNER, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE
TWO MINUTES. SPEAKERS WILL BE
CALLED IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED. SPEAKERS WILL
ALTERNATE BETWEEN IN-PERSON AND
REMOTE SPEAKERS, UNTIL THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS ENDED.
SPEAKERS WILL HEAR A CHIME WHEN
TEN SECONDS ARE LEFT OF THEIR
TIME. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON THE LIST, AND
THEN WE WILL ASK THAT PEOPLE
LINE UP SO THE FIRST SPEAKER ON
THE LIST IS GOING TO BE JAMESY
FACKLER FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL
MCENTIRE FOLLOWED BY LILLY
PETERSON.
>> THANK YOU, CLERK.
>> TO GET THROUGH THIS AS
SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE, THERE ARE
THREE MICs, IF YOUR NAME HAS
BEEN CALLED, YOU CAN STEP UP TO
ANY ONE OF THE MICs AND WE CAN
KEEP THAT GOING. THANK YOU.
PLEASE START.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER,
THANK YOU, DIRECTOR Y GOT TO SAY
FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART I
THINK THE FEPP LEVY REPRESENTS
SORT OF THE BEST ASPIRATIONS OF
SEATTLE AND HOW WE GOING TO
RAISE OUR CHILDREN IN THIS
COMMUNITY. IN THAT SPIRIT, I
THINK THAT IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE FULLY
SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO, I
WANT TO SET THE STAGE THERE, I
DO REALLY SUPPORT THIS, AND I
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK
ON IT. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY AND THE
PROCESS AND I AM REALLY HOPING
WE CAN RUN A ROBUST TRANSPARENT
PROCESS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE LEVY, WITH GOOD PUBLIC
OUTREACH THAT IS REALLY ENGAGING
WITH COMMUNITY. THAT IS MY
EXPECTATION AS A CITIZEN OF MY
ELECTED OFFICIALS. MY SON GOES
TO SCHOOL IN LITTLE SAIGON, WE
KNOW WHEN VIOLENCE HAPPENS IN
SCHOOLS IT IS OFTEN BECAUSE OF
TRAUMA CAUSED BY POSITIVEITARY
AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY IN OUR
CITY. WE CAN SEE THAT IN THE
EDUCATION GAP FROM STUDENTS OF
CULLER AND WHITE STUDENTS. MY
TIME AT THOROUGH GOOD MARSHAL
PTA IT WAS CLEAR WHAT THE
DIFFERENCE WAS BETWEEN A GOOD
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND
ONE THAT WASN'T. YOU KNOW, SO I
THINK THAT IT IS REALLY CRITICAL
THAT WE FUND THIS. AS WE HAVE A
CHILD, MY KIDS IN HIGH SCHOOL
RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY, WE SEE SUCH
A NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES AND MENTORSHIP IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND IN THOSE CHILDREN. I
REALLY THIS FUNDING NEEDS TO GO
SPECIFICALLY TO COMMUNITY
PASSAGE WAY DOING VIOLENCE
INTERRUPTION WORK IN THE
COMMUNITY, AND NOT POLICE
OFFICERS. I AM HOPING WE CAN
STAY TRUE TO OUR KIDS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOUISMS .
>> NEXT ISIC MICHAEL MCENTIRE,
LILLY PETERSON, AND EKRA
MUHAMMAD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, MY
NAME IS MIKE SXL I SERVE AS
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
AND SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE
ALLIANCE FOR GUN RESPONSIBILITY,
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. I
AM ALSO A RESIDENT OF COLUMBIA
CITY IN DISTRICT TWO. HERE TO
SPEAK ON HOW WE ALLOCATE THE
PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENT AND
PROPOSED LEVY, SPECIFICALLY GUN
VIOLENCE PREVENTION. IND ORDER
TO MAKE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY
SAFE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WE KNOW WE
NEED INVEST IN STRATEGY PROVEN
TO WORK. THAT STARTS WITH
SCHOOLS, RIGHT? WE KNOW THAT
STUDENTS THRIVE WHEN THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO COUNSELORS, NURSES,
PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND SOCIAL
WORKERS. THESE ARE PROFESSIONALS
THAT BUILD RELATIONSHIPS,
DE-ESCALATE CONFLICT, AND
SUPPORT STUDENTS BEFORE GUN
VIOLENCE OCCURS. WE ALSO KNOW
SCHOOL-BASED INVESTMENTS LIKE
THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAMS AND
ANTIBULLYING INITIATIVES PLAY A
CRITICAL ROLE IN KEEPING
STUDENTS SAFE. OUTSIDE OF THE
SCHOOL THERE IS A TON OF WORK TO
DO AS WELL, ACROSS SEATTLE WE
ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH A
BIG GROUP OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE
INTERVENTION ORGANIZATIONS, A
LOT OF WHICH YOU WILL HEAR FROM
TODAY BUT TO NAME A FEW, CHOOSE
180, COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS,
YMCA, GIRLS AND BOYS CLUBS, WHO
ELSE? IRVIN FAMILY THAT SHOWED
UP TODAY, THESE ORGANIZATIONS
ARE DIRECTLY BREAKING THE CYCLES
OF VIOLENCE AND DOING SUCH GOOD
WORK, AND THIS LEVY REALLY NEEDS
TO FUND THEM IN ITS FULL
SUPPORT. WE CAN'T IGNORE THE
THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND
PUBLIC SAFETY RESEARCH, GROUPS
LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON FIREARM INJURY AND
POLICY RESEARCH PROGRAM, HAVING
THREATS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO
THEIR FUNDING AND FUNDS FROM
THIS LEVY COULD GO TOWARDS
SUPPORTING GROUPS LIKE THAT, AT
THE ALLIANCE WE BASE LOT OF WORK
IN THE GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
RESEARCH AND THAT WOULD BE A
REALLY GREAT CAUSE TO GET
BEHIND. ALL THESE STRATEGIES
WILL HELP BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST,
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. WE HAVE
THE CHANCE TO BE THE BEST.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS EKRA MUHAMMAD
FOLLOWED BY JOSELYN AND MELODY.
>> I█ THINK WE SKIPPED LILLY
PETERSON. SO SORRY.
>> LILLY PETERSON, YOU ARE NEXT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PERFECT. AM I GOOD TO GO?
>>
>> YOU ARE ALL GOOD TO GO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MY NAME IS LILLY PETERSON AND
I AM THE LEADED PATH TO UW
ADVISOR WITH THE PROGRAM ON THE
LEVY, I PARTNER WITH SEATTLE
PROMISE STUDENTS AND THE SEATTLE
PROMISE PROGRAM TO SUPPORT
EQUITABLE EDUCATION ACCESS TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOR
STUDENT WHOSE ARE IN SEATTLE
PROMUS AND INTERESTED IN
PURSUING A TRANSFER PATHWAY. I
GET TO WORK EVERY DAY ON THE
GROUND WITH THESE STUDENTS AND
WITNESS FIRST HAND HOW
LIFE-CHANGING THE PATH TO UW
TRANSFER PROGRAM IS, FOR THEM
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES TOO. PATH TO UW
PROGRAMMING IS UNIQUE, IT
CONSIDERS BOTH THE ACADEMIC AND
LIFE TRANSITIONS THAT COME WITH
TRANSFER PLANNING AND TRANSFER
STUDENT ACCESS. IT REMOVES
BARRIERS AND SUPPORTS STUDENTS
IN MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS BY
PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
EARLY UW CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT THAT
HELPS STUDENTS ENVISION
THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE
COMMUNITY, EVEN BEFORE THEY
TRANSFER. FOLKS SUPPORTING SENSE
OF CONNECTION THAT HELPS
STUDENTS NOT JUST GET INTO UW,
BUT ALSO THRIVE ONCE THEY ARE
HERE, AND GET THROUGH THE
GRADUATION MILESTONE. A STUDY
CONNECTED BY THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE RESEARCH INITIATIVE ON
PROGRAMMING CONFIRMED THE
CRUCIAL ROLE THAT PATH TO UW
PLAYS IN STUDENTS LIVES. FINDING
IT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES
TRANSFER READINESS, AND DEEPEN
STUDENT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND
BELONGING TO UW, BOTH PREAND
POST-TRANSFER, PARTICULARLY IN
TARGET COMMUNITIES OF FIRST
GENERATION STUDENTS AND STUDENTS
OF COLOR. FINDINGS HIGHLIGHTED
HOW CRUCIAL PATH ADVISORS ARE,
OFFER CLEAR, PERSONAL, AND
PERSONALIZED GUIDANCE THAT
DOMESTIFY THE TRANSFER PROCESS.
STUDENTS SHARE THE
TRANSFORMATION PROCESS. ONE
STUDENT PUT IT, I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK OR THAT
TRANSFERS COULD BE POSSIBLE BUT
THE ADVISORS WALKED ME THROUGH
OPTIONS, EXPLAINED THE TRANSFER
PROCESS AND HELPED ME MAKE A
PLAN THAT FELT RIGHT FOR ME.
THAT STUDENT HAS SENSE
TRANSFERRED. THAT IS THE DEEP
IMPACT WE ARE HAVING AND HOPE TO
CONTINUE. NOW, I WOULD LIKE YOU
TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM ONE OF MY
REMARKABLE STUDENTS IN THE
PROGRAM, EKRA.
>> SPEAKERS, SORRY, OUR CHIME IS
NOT WORKING, SO THE TIMER IS UP
HERE, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE TIMER TO NORMALLY IT
DINGS 10 SECONDS, BEFORE YOUR
TIME IS UP. BUT YOU ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO LOOK AT IT, FOR NOW,
ANYWAY. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR
YOUR PATIENCE. GO AHEAD.
>> NEXT IS EKRA FOLLOWED BY
JOSELYN, FOLLOWED BY MELANIE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HI. MY NAME IS EKRA, HERE TO
TALK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE AS
RECENT UW SEATTLE TRANSFER
THROUGH THE SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM AND THE PATH TO UW
PROGRAM. I KNEW I WANTED TO
STUDY PSYCHOLOGY AND BECOME A
THERAPIST BUT NOW HOW TO GET
THERE. WHEN THE TIME CAME TO
TRANSFER I NEVER ANTICIPATED THE
OVERWHELMING AND DIFFICULT
PROCESS. I FELT VERY ANXIOUS AS
THE TIME GREW CLOSER BECAUSE I
DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE WAYS TO
PREPARE AND THE STEPS TO SUBMIT
MY APPLICATION, THIS IS ALSO
SOMETHING MY PARENTS COULDN'T
GUIDE ME ON AS THEY HAVEN'T
GOTTEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO
COLLEGE. WHEN I STARTED TALKING
TO MY PATH TO UW ADVISOR, LAURA
AND LILLY, THEY HELPED ME PLAN
MY PATH AND MADE ME FEEL
CONFIDENCE AND PROUD OF MY
PERSONAL STATEMENT AND ENTIRE
APPLICATION. WITH MY ADVISOR'S
HELP, I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE
UW SEATTLE PROGRAM AND RECEIVE A
SUBMISSION INTO PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR
PROGRAM THIS QUARTER. PATH TO UW
IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY
COLLEGE SUCCESS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TO GET
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON TODAY,
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME
TO SPEAK.
>> JOSELYN, MELODY, AND THEN
KAREN.
>> HI, I AM JOSELYN. I AM HERE
TO TALK ABOUT OUR PATH TO UW
PROGRAM. WE LOVE BEING PARTNERS
WITH OUR SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM, AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE TO EASE THAT
TRANSITION, EASE THAT PROCESS,
AND HELP THEM GET TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND
EARN THAT DEGREE. WE ARE PROUD
TO SAY THAT OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH
PATH TO UW PROGRAM HAS SHOWN TO
BE IMPACTFUL. 82% OF SEATTLE
PROMISE STUDENTS WHO ENGAGE WITH
OUR PROGRAM ARE ADMITTED TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON,
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OUR
ADMIT RATE FROM GENERAL
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
ADDITIONALLY WE PROUD THAT WE
HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO EQUITALLY
SERVICE PROMISE STUDENTS, 70% OF
STUDENT WHOSE ENGAGE WITH PATH
TO UW ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR, 54%
ARE FIRST GENERATION, 41% ARE
PEL ELIGIBLE AND 56% ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED AID. I
HAVE A COMMENT FROM STUDENT WHO
COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT
BECAUSE SHE HAD HER ORIENTATION
TONIGHT BUT SHE DID SEND
COMMENTS SAYING MY EXPERIENCE
WITH SEATTLE PROMISE AND PATH TO
UW HAS BEEN REALLY SPECIAL, AND
DIFFERENT FROM THE TYPICAL FIRST
GEN STUDENT JOURNEY, I WAS NEW
TO THE COUNTRY, NAVIGATING NOT
JUST SCHOOL BUT ENTIRELY NEW
LIFE. WHAT MADE THE PROGRAMS
STAND OUT WAS PERSONAL TOO. I
LOVED HAVING THE CHANCE TO BE ON
CAMPUS BEFORE STARTING CLASSES,
IT HELPED BUILD TRUST WITH A
GROUP OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH
THE SAME CHANGES. THE FIRST
QUARTER SEMINAR GAVE US SPACE TO
REFLECT, REALIZE WE WEREN'T
ALONE IN ADJUSTING TO LIFE AT
THE UNIVERSITY, I AM TRULY
GRATEFUL FOR THE PROGRAMS. THEY
HELPED SHAPE MY COLLEGE JOURNEY.
>> MELODY, KAREN, AND LENA
NGUYEN.
>> MY NAME IS MELODY Y HAVE ONE
OF THE BEST JOBS EVER, SERVING
AS SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR
THE SEATTLE PROMISE PROGRAM
SINCE 2018. I AM HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE EVERY
CHILD READY PLAN AND
SPECIFICALLY THE SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM. YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR
THIS FROM OTHERS BUT LET ME TELL
YOU, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE
GETTING TO TELL A STUDENT AND
THEIR FAMILY THAT COLLEGE IN IS
IN THEIR FUTURE, NOT JUST LIKE A
HUNDRED STUDENTS, EVERY STUDENT,
EVERY SINGLE STUDENT WHO
GRADUATES FROM SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL HAS A COLLEGE EDUCATION
IN THEIR FUTURE Y. HAVE HAD A
FRONT LOW VIEW TO SEE HOW
IMPACTFUL IT IS TO GIVE OUR
YOUTH HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURES,
AND A PLAN TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC,
INDIVIDUAL AND CAREER GOALS. WE
HAVE SUPPORTED MORE THAN 13,000
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WITH COLLEGE
NAVIGATION PROCESS SINCE 2019,
SEATTLE PROMISE HAS A SHOCKINGLY
HIGH FAFSA COMPLETION RATE WHICH
HAS RATERS FROM ACROSS THE
NATION, NATIONAL MEDIA TO FIND
THE SECRET TO SEATTLE'S SUBSES.
STUDENTS OF COLOR ARE APPLYING
AT RATES THAN PEER, WE ARE
MAKING PROGRESS TO CLOSE THE
RACE GAPS, WHAT WE ARE DOING
TOGETHER, INTENTIONALITY OF
DESIGN BEHIND THE PROGRAM, THIS
MATTERS. WHAT WE ARE LEADING
TOGETHER IS SPECIAL, I AM
POSITIVE THAT WE ARE ALL GOING
TO LOOK BACK ONE DAY AND KNOW
WITH THIS PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY,
WE HAVE PERMANENTLY CHANGED OUR
CITY FOR THE BETTER. I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO SUPPORT THE EVERY CHILD
READY PLAN, INCLUDING CONTINUED
FUNDING FOR SEATTLE PROMISE AND
EDUCATIONAL PATHS PREPARING OUR
KIDS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> KAREN, LENA, LEANN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN
SUPPORT OF THE EDUCATION LEVY
AND SPECIFICALLY SEATTLE
PROMISE, MY NAME IS KAREN&I AM
THE PREAPPRENTICESHIP DIRECTOR
AT GEORGETOWN CAMPUS AND A
PARENT OF TWO SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS GRADUATES. GEORGETOWN
CAMPUS IS THE LARGEST
APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING CENTER
IN WASHINGTON STATE. WE TRAIN
OVER 35 # 0 APPRENTICES AND
PRE-APPRENTICES ANNUALLY IN MORE
THAN 80 OCCUPATIONS INCLUDING
BUILD TRADES, PUBLIC UTILITY,
HEALTHCARE, AND ADVANCE
MANUFACTURING. SEATTLE PROMISE
IS SUCH A VALUABLE PROGRAM FOR
THE STUDENTS OF SEATTLE, WHILE
MANY PEOPLE HERE TODAY MAY BE
FAMILIAR WITH THE BENEFITS TO
STUDENTS PURSUING TRADITIONAL
COLLEGE PATHS, I WOULD LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT HOW SEATTLE PROMISE
BENEFITS AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL
SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS
PURSUING TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN
THE SKILLS TRADES. ONE OF THE
BEST PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS IN
CONSTRUCTION ARE
PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. THEY
ARE IMPORTANT BRIDGES FOR
STUDENTS TO GAIN TECHNICAL AND
LIFE SKILLS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. WE
AT GEORGETOWN HAVE BEEN DOING A
LOT OF WORK WITH SEATTLE PROMISE
AND SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO
INCREASE AWARENESS WITH HIGH
SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND
STUDENTS AND MANY OPPORTUNITIES
AVAILABLE TO TRADES TO BUILD AND
MAINTAIN THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
SEATTLE AND THE PUGET SOUND
REGION. THESE INCLUDE
ELECTRICIAN, MACHINISTS, WELDER,
CEMENT MASON, BRICK AND TILE
LAYER, SPRINKLER FITTER,
PAINTER, AND DRYWALL INSTALLER.
THAT IS JUST TO NAME A FEW OF
THE OPPORTUNITIES. I AM HAPPY TO
SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS
INTERESTED IN PURSUING THESE
IMPORTANT CAREERS HAS BEEN
GROWING TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND SEATTLE
PROMISE IS KEY TO HELPING THESE
STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.
WE TRULY HOPE THAT SEATTLE
PROMISE CONTINUES TO BE FUNDED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, KAREN. NEXT IS
LENA. LEANN. LAURA. PLEASE STEP
UP IF I CALLED YOUR NAME
>> ONE SCHOOL YEAR, THAT IS ALL
THE TIME PEOPLE IMPACT ONE PART
TIME RESTORED PRACTITIONER CAN
AFFECT ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
ONE YEAR. MY NAME IS LENA AND I
AM RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
PRACTITIONER AT COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATION W WASHINGTON
BUILDERS AND LEADERS OF CHANGE.
WHILE MY COLLEAGUES WERE
ADVOCATING TO MAINTAIN FUNDING
AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEET YG
WAS AT ONE OF MY PARTNER'
SCHOOLS HOLDING A HEALING CIRCLE
FOR STAFF DETERMINED TO WORK
THROUGH HARMS USING RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES. ONE OF THE TEACHERS
THERE SAID I FEEL LUCKY WE GET
TO SIT THROUGH THE PROCESS
TOGETHER, NO OTHER SCHOOL IS
WILLING TO DO THIS, NOR HAS
THIS. COMMUNITY-BASED
PRACTITIONERS HOLD THERAPEUTIC
SKILLSER THAT HUMANIZE STUDENTS,
CAYY CAPACITY TO HOLD
EXPERIENCES OF HARM AND
INTERROGATE SYSTEMIC INJUSTS IN
OUR SCHOOLS. THROUGH GRIEF, JOY,
AND HEALING I HAVE HAD THE HONOR
OF CO-KEEPING CIRCLE SPACES FOR
OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS
THROUGH THE TIMES WHEN SUPPORT
THAT DISTRICT WAS LIMITED.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IS VIOLENCE
PREVENTION, IT PUTS COMMUNITY
PRACTITIONERS AND SCHOOLS WHEN
THEY HAVE THE TIME, SPACE, AND
KNOWLEDGE TO HOLD A NUANCE OF
BEING HUMAN WITH OUR CHILDREN
AND TEACHERS. I URGE THE CITY
COUNCIL AND MAYOR'S OFFICE, TO
INVEST IN RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
IN THE LEVY RENEWAL AND WISE
WORDS OF THE PRINCIPLE AT JOHN
MURE ELEMENTARY, RESTORATIVE
PRACTICE DO NOT HAPPEN OVER
NIGHT. IT TAKES TIME SO PLEASE
TRUST THE PROCESS.
>> LEANN, LAURA, AND THEN SWITCH
TO REMOTE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I SERVE AS
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES PROGRAM
MANAGER FOR SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLSISM ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS, OUR TEAM HELPS SCHOOLS
BUILD RELATIONAL, SAFE,
EQUITABLE SCHOOL CULTURES. WE
SUPPORT WITH CONFLECT
RESOLUTION, RESPOND IN TRAGEDY.
FOUR-PERSON CENTRAL OFFICE TO
SUPPORT MORE THAN A HUNDRED
SCHOOLS, THE CITY FUNDING IS
WHAT MADE IT POSSIBLE TO PLACE
COORDINATORS IN OVER NINE
SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE COACHING AND
SUPPORT THROUGH COMMUNITY
PARTNERS. BECAUSE OF YOUR
ADVOCACY, THROUGH THE RJ
INVESTMENT THE CITY MENTAL
HEALTH INVESTMENT AND THE LAST
LEVY SCHOOLS WITH THE GREATEST
NEED RECEIVED MORE DEDICATED
RESTORATIVE SUPPORT. RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES ALONG SIDE COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ARE THE TRUSTED ADULTS
IN THEIR BUILDINGS. THEY HOLD
SPACE FOR STUDENTS AND CRISIS
AND CONFLICT, THEY CONNECT
STUDENTS TO MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, AFTER TRAGEDIES ROOMS
FILL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING
COMFORT AND CARE. THEY TRAIN
STAFF AND STUDENTS AND CONFLICT
RESOLUTION AND COMMUNITY
BUILDING. THE READY TO LEARN
INVESTMENT IN THE NEXT LEVY
NAMED STUDENT PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AS
PRIORITIES AND RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES FALLS IN THOSE. PLEASE
INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THIS WORK,
ONE OF THE UPSTREAM PREVENTED
SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH
SOLUTIONS NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ADVOCACY.
>> THANK YOU. LAURA AND THEN WE
SWITCH TO REMOTE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
LAURA Y AM COMMUNITY MEMBER AND
PRACTITIONER, I AM HERE TO URGE
YOU TO STRENGTHEN AND RENEWAL
THE FEPP LEVY, SPECIFICALLY K12
INVESTMENT FOR RESTORATIVE
PRACTUS AND SUMMER LEARNING
PROGRAM. I WATCHED THE LEVY FOR
SEVEN YEARS FILL CRITICAL GAPS
IN ACCESS TO SUMMER LEARNING AND
THIS MUST BE SUSTAINED. THROUGH
THE LEVY, ORGANIZATIONS HAVE
FREE SUMMER PROGRAMMING, THESE
AREN'T JUST SUMMER PROGRAMS OR
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT, THEY ARE
COMMUNITY ANCHORS, JOY CENTERED
IN HEALING LEARNING SPACES
GROUNDED IN CULTURALLY AND
LINGUISTICALLY REFLECTIVE
PRACTICES. PROGRAMS NURTURE
READERS, BUILDS LEADER S, AND
GROWS ORGANIZERS THAT CARE ABOUT
THE CITY THAT THEY CALL HOME. I
MET CATHERINE IN 2017, SHE WAS
NERVOUS, QUIET, BUT ALSO
HILARIOUS. SHE FELT A SENSE OF
HOME RIGHT AWAY WITH OUR PROGRAM
AND STAFF AT FREEDOM SCHOOLS AND
RETURNED SUMMER AFTER SUMMER.
FIRST PARTICIPANT, THEN STUDENT
LEADER, THEN A SITE ASSISTANCE,
INTERN COORDINATOR, AND SO ON.
HER ACADEMIC SCORES STRENGTHENED
AND LEADERSHIP BLOSSOMED. SHE
FELT SEEN, CARED FOR, CATHERINE
GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, IN THE
SUMMER SHE WILL RETURN TO
FREEDOM SCHOOLS PROGRAM, THIS
TIME AS CERTIFIED TEACHER,
GUIDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF
K-5 SCHOLARS IN THE NAME
NEIGHBORHOOD SHE GREW UP IN.
THIS IS THE KIND OF CHANGE AND
IMPACT YOU CONTRIBUTE TO WHEN
YOU SAY YES TO RENEWING THE
LEVY. YOU SAY YES TO
INTERGENERATIONAL LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT, STUDENT
EMPOWERMENT, BECAUSE HOW ELSE DO
WE MEASURE THE HEALTH AND
PROSPERITY OF THE CITY IF NOT
THE WELL BEING OF OUR CHILDREN?
ONE PARENT SAID FREEDOM SCHOOLS
IS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT WORKED
TO HEAL THE TRAUMA MY CHILDREN
>> THANK YOU, LAURA, WE WILL
SWITCH TO ONLINE SPEAKERS NOW.
>> FIRST ONLINE SPEAKER, ANDREA
GOMEZ MORRISON THEN BILLING
HARRINGTON AND OLIVER. PRESS
STAR 6.
>> HI, MAY NAME IS ANDREA,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GIRLS ON
THE RUN PUGET SOUND. THANKS TO
THE FEPP LEVY AND DEEL FUNDING
WE SERVED HUNDREDS OF GIRLS IN
SEATTLE, WE INSPIRE GIRLS TO BE
JOYFUL, CONFIDENT USING
EXPERIENCE TO CREATIVELY
INTEGRATE, OUR PROGRAM EMPOWERS
GIRLS TO FEEL CONFIDENT, BUILD
CONNECTIONS TO SCHOOL AND
COMMUNITIES AND STAND UP FOR
FRIENDSHIPS. THREW OUR
CURRICULUM THEY DISCOVER THE JOY
OF PHYSICAL MUBMENT AND LEARN
RUNNING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
COMPETITIVE, BUT CAN BE DONE
SOCIALLY AND IN FRIENDSHIP. THE
LAST 20 YEARS THE MONITORING THE
FUTURE STUDY TRACKED HOW
SATISFIED GIRLERIZE WITH
THEMSELVES AS MEASURE OF
CONFIDENCE. THE STUDY SHOWS IT
CONTINUES TO DECLINE WITH GIRLS
REPORTING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS
SATISFACTION WITH THEMSELVES
THAN BOYS. THE TREND IS
HAPPENING AT A YOUNGER AGE IN 10
AND 11-YEAR-OLD S WHERE GIRLS
WHO DESCRIBED THEMSELVES
CONFIDENT DROPPED 86% TO 68% IN
2023. OUR PROGRAM EVALUATION
SHOW 95% OF GIRLS ON THE RUN
PARTICIPANTS DESCRIBE THEMSELVES
AS MORE CONFIDENT THANKS TO THE
PROGRAM. TEEN GIRLS REPORTED
FEELING MORE LONELY YEAR AFTER
YEAR SINCE 2011 OUR PROGRAM
BUILDS POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THEIR ADULT VOLUNTEER
COACHES AND OTHER PEERS.
CHILDREN WHO HAVE POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS REPORT LOWER
LEVELS OF SADNESS, HIGHER RATES
OF CONFIDENCE, DO BETTER
ACADEMICALLY AND HOAR LIKELY TO
ENJOY SCHOOL. ONE PARTICIPANT
STRUGGLED AND TOLD HER COACH SHE
WENT TO SCHOOL ONLY BECAUSE
THERE WAS GIRLS ON THE RUN
PRACTICE AFTER SCHOOL. OUR
EVALUATION SHOWS OVER 98% OF OUR
PARTICIPANTS AGREED THEIR
TEAMMATES SUPPORTED THEM AND
THEIR COACHES CARED ABOUT THEM.
WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE EVERY
GIRL KNOWS AND ACTIVATES
LIMITLESS PROTELGS. PLEASE RENEW
THIS MUCH- NEEDED FUNDING.
>> BILLY THEN OLIVER AND ABNER.
BILLY, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, AND THE
REST OF THE COUNCILMEMBER, I AM
POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR LABORS
LOCAL 242 REPRESENT 7,000
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN KING
COUNTY. EXCITED TO BE HERE
TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE
PROMISE RENEWAL AND THE
INCLUSION OF PATHWAYS INTO THE
TRADES. WE KNOW THAT NOT ALL
STUDENTS ARE BOUND FOR COLLEGE,
AND TO ADD A PATHWAY INTO THE
TRADES, LIKE PRIOR SPEAKERS AT
THE GEORGETOWN CAMPUS WE WERE
SEEING EXPLOSION OF CAREER
STUDENTS IN THE TRADE. THESE ARE
PATHWAYS INTO MIDDLE CLASS AND
INTO JOBS THAT GIVE YOU SKILLS
THAT ARE TRANSFERABLE ACROSS
MANY DIFFERENT THINGS. NOT A LOT
OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT NORTHWEST
LABOR TRAINING JUST PAST FRIDAY
HAD A HUGE GROUND BREAKING IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH LABORS LOCAL
242 AND OPENED UP A 20,000
SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IN DES
MOINES, AND NORTHWEST LABORS
TRAINING IS SEVERAL YEARS AGO,
WE GOT ACCREDITED, WE ARE
ACCREDEDT INSTITUTE, YOU CAN
VISIT US AT NWLETT.EDU, GRADUATE
FROM OUR LABOR'S APPRENTICESHIP
RECEIVE TRANSFER DEGREE WITH
COLLEGE CREDIT. PEOPLE TEND TO
CHANGE CAREERS SEVERAL TIMES SO
IF THE TRADES DON'T WORK OUT,
THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF THAT
TRANSFER DEGREE AS WELL. IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT
PROGRAM OF SEATTLE'S PRIORITY
HIRE, THE SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
HAS THEIR STUDENT COMMUNITY
WORKFORCE AGREEMENT THAT PIN
POINTS STUDENTS THAT GRADUATE TO
GIVE THEM PRIORITY ON THOSE
PROJECTS. THIS IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY, ANOTHER OPTION FOR
SEATTLE GRADUATES AND WE ARE
REALLY HAPPY YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT ADDING THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WANTED THE RECORD TO
REFLECT COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH JOINED US A WHILE
AGO, AND OUR, THE BELL IS NOW
WORKING SO WHEN YOU HEAR THAT
YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO THE END
OF YOUR COMMENT PERIOD.
>> OLIVER, YOU ARE NEXT, I WAS
JUST TOLD OLIVER CAME IN PERSON.
>> HI, THANKS FOR HEARING US
TODAY AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE,
EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS OLIVER, I
AM SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
EDUCATOR AND LGBTSMALL BUSINESS
OWNER AND ADVOCATE FOR ECONOMIC
JUSTICE, ESPECIALLY IN SCHOOLS.
I ALSO BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE FEPP LEVY AND THE
CHALLENGING PLACE WE ARE IN AS
CITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN
LEGISLATURE DOESN'T DO ITS
PARAMOUNT DUTY TO FULLY FUND OUR
SCHOOLS. THANKS FOR THE FEPP
LEVY. OUR LEGISLATURE DID NOT
CHANGE THE FACT OUR TAX CODE,
49th OUT OF 50th IN THE STATE,
IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES,
MEANING WE ARE TAXING WORKING
CLASS PEOPLE MORE THAN THE
WEALTHY LEVY FUNDS SHOULD BE
DONE IN COLLABORATIVE WAY WITH
COMMUNITY, NOT BEHIND CLOSED
DOORS, WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY. SO
FAR WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH
THE RUMORS FROM SPD, THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE, AND OUTGOING
SUPERINTENDENT THAT THIS
PROPOSAL COULD INCLUDE SPD
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK IN
OUR SCHOOLSISM NOT EVEN THE
SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTORS HAVE BEEN
NOTIFIED, LET ALONE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS LEADING
SCHOOL SAFETY IN THE SOUTH END,
AND IT IS ABOUT TIME WE BUILD
CAPACITY FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE HERE TODAY, LIKE
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS AND CHOOSE
180. THESE ARE BLACK-LED
ALTERNATIVES TO POLICE THAT WILL
KEEP EVERY STUDENT SAFE AND NOT
CRIMINALIZED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WILL BE ANAB, ERICA.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> I AM AN EDUCATOR, I WOULD
LIKE TO RENEW AND STRENGTHEN THE
FEPP LEVY AND TO STAY IN SCHOOL
BASED IN STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
AND RESTORATIVE PROCESSES, THE
WORK IS NOT ABSTRACT, IT IS
REAL, HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN
SCHOOLS ACROSS SEATTLE. IN OUR
WORLD OF PRACTITIONERS WORKING
WITH LEVY FUNDED SCHOOLS, WE
SUPPORT STAFF AND STUDENTS IN
CREATING SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM
ENVIRONMENTS THAT FEEL SAFE. WE
TRAIN STUDENTS AS PEACE KEEPERS
AND CIRCLE KEEPERS SO THEY CAN
LEARN HOW COMMUNITY BUILDING,
RESOLVE CONMRIKT AND LEAD WITH
CARE. LAST WEEK IN OUR SKILLS
GROUP WITH 4th GRADERS STUDENTS
SHARED THEY LEARN I AM NOT MAD
NOT TO HIT PEOPLE, RESPECT EACH
OTHER, HOW TO CONTROL MY
EMOTIONS&DON'T HURT OTHER
PEOPLE'S HEARTS. THIS IS
STUDENT-LED, CULTURALLY ROOTED,
TRANSFORMATIVE WORK. MULTI-YEAR
PARTNERSHIP WITH OVER EIGHT-LEVY
FUNDED SCHOOLS INCLUDING LOCAL
ELEMENTARY, WHOSE PRINCIPAL
ASKED US TO SHARE THIS, LOWELL
GREATLY BENEFITED FROM THE
WEEKLY PRESENCE, THROUGH
COACHING, THEY ARE HELPING
STRONG FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNITY,
LATINA RELATIONSHIPS, SUPPORT
STUDENT WELL BEING AND ACADEMIC
ENGAGEMENT. IT CREATED TRUST,
CARING RELATIONSHIP STUDENTS
STUDENTS AND ADULT WHOSE RESPECT
THEIR IDENTITIES, STUDENTS
LEARNING TO RESOLVE CONFLICT,
OPENLY, AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEIR ACTIONS. ALL WITHIN A
SAFE AND NURTURING FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS RESTORATIVE PRACTICE,
HEALING WORK, AND HAS PROVEN TO
BE IMPACTFUL AND EFFECTIVE. WE
ARE ASKING YOU TO INSURE THIS
WORK IS EXPLICITLY NAMED IN THE
NEXT FEPP LEVY AND SAY YES TO
PUTTING IT BEFORE VOTERS THIS
NOVEMBER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NADIA, THEN ERICA, THEN LOIS.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NADIA AND I AM
THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
COORDINATOR. I HAVE HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF WORKING CLOSELY
WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW AND I SEE
EVERY DAY HOW PROGRAMS LIKE OURS
SUPPORTED BY THE FEPP LEVY ARE
CHANGING LIVES. OUR STUDENTS
GROW ACADEMICICALLY BUT IN
CONFIDENCE, PRIDE IN CULTURAL
ROOTS AND CONNECTION TO THEIR
COMMUNITY. ONE STORY IS ABOUT A
STUDENT WHO JOINED OUR PROGRAM
IN 5th GRADE, HIS OLDER SISTER
WAS IN 7 KT GRADE, SINCE THEN
SHE GRADUATED FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROGRAM AND CONTINUING WITH THE
HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM. WHEN HE
FIRST ARRIVED HE WAS VERY SHY
AND QUIET AND DEPENDING ON HIS
SISTER TO SPEAK FOR HIM BUT OVER
TIME WE WATCHED HIM COME INTO
HIS HOME. HE IS REALLY FUNNY AND
NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK HIS MIND AND
PART OF HIS GROUP, CARRIES
HIMSELF WITH CONFIDENCE. HE HAS
BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST
AMBASTERS BRINGING 50% OF 6th
GRADERS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WANTED
OTHERS TO HAVE THE SAME POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE HE DID. HE HAS GROWN
INTO AN INDEPENDENT YOUNG
LEADER. THAT IS THE KIND OF
IMPACT THE PROGRAM HAS AND
CREATES LEADERS AND INSPIRES
PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK
YOU TO THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THE FEPPP LEVY.
>> ERICA FOLLOWED BY LOIS MARTIN
FOLLOWED BY NANCY SHEEMEN.
ERICA, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> SEEING ERICA IS NOT PRESENT,
GOING OVER TO LOIS MARTIN,
NANCY, AND SAMANTHA. PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD
AFTERNOON. COUNCILMEMBERS, MAY
NAME IS LOIS MARTIN AND I AM A
PROUD RESIDENT AND HEALTHCARE
CENTER DIRECTOR LOCATED IN
COUNCILMEMBER HOLLINGSWORTH'S
DISTRICT. I HAVE ENJOYED WORKING
WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OVER
30 YEARS, AND OUR CENTER WAS
FOUNDED IN 1963. I WANT TO THANK
COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA FOR LEADING
THE COMMITTEE AND DIRECTOR DWANE
CHAPPELLE AND OTHER STAFF FOR
LISTENING TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK,
ESPECIALLY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS,
IN CRAFTING THE LEGISLATION. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
HOLLINGSWORTH FOR HAVING THE
VISION TO LOOK AT FINDING WAYS
TO HELP FAMILIES STAY IN PLACE
AS THE PROPERTY TAXES THIS LEVY
BRINGS MAY PLACE SOME COMMUNITY
MEMBERS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT.
ANTIDISPLACEMENT MEASURES
COUPLED WITH FUNDING EDUCATION
IS A DIRECT INVESTMENT IN
SUPPORTING STABLE HEALTHY
FAMILIES. INVESTING IN
SEATTLE'S NEXT GENERATION OF
VOTERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE
THE CHILDREN OF OUR FRONT LINE
WORKERS, IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES,
AND FAMILIES FURTHEST FROM
OPPORTUNITIES, SHOWS OUR CITY'S
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS IS AN AREA WHERE
SEATTLE CAN SHINE ABOVE OTHER
MAJOR CITIES. THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME THAT SEATTLE HAS INVESTED
IN INTENTIONAL FUNDING FOR
CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 12 WITH
LEVY AMOUNTS EAR MARKED TO
PROVIDE GRANTS TO MORE FAMILIES
WITH FUNDS ALONG WITH DIRECT
FINANCIAL INVESTMENT IN EARLY
LEARNING STAFF THE RUTENSION
GRANT. THIS LEVY SUPPORTS
DIRECTORS AND FAMILY-BASED SITES
AS WE STRIVE TO OFFER QUALITY
CARE TO OUR STUDENTS. SO I WOULD
LIKE TO URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
PASS THE FEPP LEVY AND CONTINUE
TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND
CHILDREN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> NANCY SHEEMEN, SAMANTHA
FLORISH. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, MY NAME IS NANCY AND I AM
THE PROGRAM MANAGER AT SOUTHWEST
YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES. I
HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE PROGRAM
19 YEARS AND SEEN THE IMPACT IT
MADE FOR SO MANY CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES. I JUST WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE CITY OSEATTLE
FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS YOU HAVE
FUNDED THE PROGRAM. THROUGH ALL
THESE YEARS YOU HAVE HELPED US
CHANGE THE LIVES AND OUTCOMES OF
SO MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. STARTING
WITH THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
YOU HELPED FUND BACK IN 2005.
YOU HAVE PLAYED A KEY PART
CHANGING THE LIVES OF LOW INCOME
CHILDREN THAT WENT THROUGH OUR
PROGRAM. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
DO NOT KNOW, THERE IS AN 84%
CHANCE OF GRADUATING FROM HIGH
SCHOOL IF A CHILD STAYS IN THE
PROGRAM FOR FULL 92 VISITS. THE
CITY OF SEATTLE MADE SUCH A HUGE
DIFFERENCE FOR THE COMMUNITY BY
SUPPORTING OUR PROGRAMS, I
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR
INCLUDING PARENT CHILD PLUS IN
FAMILY EDUCATION PRESCHOOL
PROMISE LEVY PROPOSAL AND FOR
ALL THE TIME YOU HAVE DEDICATED
TO OUR PROGRAM. WE COULD NOT
HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU, AND I
AM SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT HAVE
DONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE, WHICH IS MY
HOME TOWN. THANK YOU. PLEASE
PASS THE PROPOSAL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SAMANTHA AND THEN MAGGIE.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER,
MY NAME IS SAM, I AM HERE TO
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE FULL FUNDING
FOR THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE
FAMILY EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL AND
PROMISE LEVY. LOCAL LEADERS HAVE
A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE
DECISIONS THAT REFLECT THE
COMMUNITIES. EDUCATION IS NOT
LUXURY, CRITICAL INVESTMENT IN
THE HEALTH, WELL BEING&FUTURE OF
OUR CHILDREN AND CITY. THESE
PROGRAMS CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE TO
A NATURAL WORLD, PROMOTE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND
HANDS ON AND EXPERIENCE
LEARNING. IN A TIME CLIMATE
CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
ARE AT A JUNKSURE, YOU MUST
INSURE THE NEXT GENERATION IS
EQUIPPED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE,
SKILL, AND RESPONSIBILITY NEEDED
TO MAKE IT FORWARD. BY FULLY
FUNDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM, WE ARE NOT
ONLY SUPPORTING TOOURNT STUDENT
LEARNING, YOU ARE FOSTERING A
MORE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE FOR ALL SEATTLE
RESIDENTS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
>> MAGGIE, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> MY NAME IS MAGGIE AND I AM
URGING YOU TO VOTE YES. I WORK
AT BRIGHT SPARK EARLY LEARNING
SEATTLE HOMELESS CHILDCARE
PROGRAM, FUNDED THROUGH THE
LEVY, OUR PROGRAM GIVES FAMILIES
ACCESS CHILDCARE AND EARLY
LEARNING. WE OFFER FLEXIBLE
SUBSIDIES AND INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT
TO HELP FAMILIES FIND AND ENROLL
IN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS,
APPLY FOR LONG TERM ASSISTANCE
AND CONNECT WITH RESOURCES THAT
SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S
DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY
STABILITY. WHILE SEATTLE
PROVIDES STRONG EARLY LEARNING
RESOURCES, NAVIGATING THE
SYSTEMS CAN BE ESPECIALLY
OVERWHELMING FOR FAMILIES THAT
ARE FOCUSED ON MEETING THEIR
CHILDREN'S BASIC NEEDS AND FOR
FAMILIES NEW TO THE STATE OR
COUNTRY. OUR PROGRAM HELPS FILL
THE CRITICAL GAP WITH LOW
BARRIER, RAPID, AND
COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT WITH
UNDERSTANDING THAT QUALITY
CHILDCARE PROGRAM HELP FAMILIES
ACCESS AND SECURE OR MAINTAIN
EMPLOYMENT, STABILIZE HOUSING
AND THE EARLY LEARNING THEY
DESERVE. THE LEVY MAKES THIS
WORK POSSIBLE INVESTMENT IN
EQUITY, OPPORTUNITY, STRONGER
FUTURE FOR SEATTLE. PLEASE
ADVANCE THE LEVY ON THE BAL SXT
LET VOTERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT
OUR CITY'S CHILDREN AND FAMILY.
THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH BACK
TO IN PERSON. AMBER DONALDSON,
JILL COLSERTO, AND TRISH
HAGERTY, PLEASE COME UP TO ONE
OF THE THREE MICs.
>> HELLO, MAY MY NAME IS AMBER,
POSITION FUNDED BY THE LAST FEPP
LEVY, THE CITY RJ INVESTMENTX IN
THIS WORK I HAVE SEEN SO MANY
CHANGES IN THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUNG
PEOPLE, FROM PHYSICAL SAFETY,
ALL THE WAY TO THEIR MENTAL
HEALTH. PART OF THE WORK I DOT A
FRANKLIN IS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE
NAVIGATE CONFLICT, SELF
AWARENESS, AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND
EMOTIONAL WELLNESS. LAST YEAR MY
FIRST YEAR AT FRANKLIN I WORKED
IN TWO GIRLS CONSTANTLY
FIGHTING, EVERY TIME THERE WAS
ISSUE THEY WOULD FIGHT OR ALMOST
GET INTO A FIGHT. LEARNING TO
SIT IN CIRCLE, TALK THROUGH
EMOTIONS, EXPECTATIONS AND
TRIGGERS, NOW THEY ASK TO SIT IN
CIRCLE. THEY SAY WE NEED A
CIRCLE, I AM FEELING LIKE THIS,
OR MR. IS A STAFF I AM HAVING
CONFLICT WITH, CAN WE SIT IN
CIRCLE? BEING ABLE TO BE SEEN,
HEARD, VALUED IN A BUILDING THAT
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN EVERY
DAY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. NOT
JUST IN HOW THEY INTERACT WITH
EACH OTHER AND STAFF, BUT WHO
THEY WANT TO BE WHEN THEY LEAVE
THE BUILDING AND BECOME ADULTS.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES FOSTERS
SENSE OF VALUE, COMMUNITY, AS
WELL AS ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ADDRESSING HARM WHEN IT IS
CAUSED IN A NON-SHAMEFUL AND
EXCLUSIONARY WAY. WE, AS
RESTORATIVE PRACTITIONERS INSURE
STUDENTS VOICES ARE HEARD AND
THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY
ADD VALUE TO OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEMS. AS SOMEONE WHO WAS
EMPLOYED AT INGRAM HIGH SCHOOL
AT THE TIME OF THE UNFORTUNATE
SHOOTING TWO YEARS AGO, I HAVE
SEEN PARTICIPATED, AND
EXPERIENCED THE HEALING THAT
CAME WITH STUDENTS SITTING IN
CIRCLE AND RELEASING SOME OF THE
DARK TRAUMAS AND EXPERIENCES
THAT CAME WITH THAT DAY.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IS
NECESSARY, IT HEALS AND TRULY
DOES RESTORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME.
>> JILL, TRISH, AND MAGGIE,
PLEASE COME UP TO THE MIC. GO
AHEAD, JILL.
>> THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS
JILL. I AM ON THE RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES TEAM. THANK YOU FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE Y. AM A
LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER AND THIS
IS MY 9th YEAR AS SPS EMPLOYEE.
PRIOR TO THIS I WAS CHILD
WELFARE SOCIAL WORKER FOR 14
YEARS WHERE I SPENT A LOT OF
TIME IN SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE
COUNTY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND
THEIR FAMILIES ADVOCATING FOR
STUDENTS. WHAT I LEARNED WAS
THAT WHEN SCHOOL STAFF HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND
UNDERSTAND THEIR EXPERIENCE,
THEY ARE ABLE TO HOLD MORE
EMPATHY. THE OUTCOMES FOR THE
STUDENTS I SERVED WERE DIRECTLY
TIED TO THE RELATIONSHIP THEY
HAD WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS. ASIDE
FROM FAMILY SCHOOLS HAD THE
BIGGEST IMPACT ON HOW ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN ARE DOING. I HAVE SEEN
FIRST HAND HOW EVEN ONE
RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ADULT AT
SCHOOL WAS LIFE SAVING FOR THE
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I SERVED. A
FEW YEARS AGO, MY ROLE AND
POSITION CHANGED AS OUR TEAM AT
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TRANSITION TO RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES DISTRICT WIDE. WHEN I
LEFT CHILD WELFARE NINE YEARS
AGO I WANTED TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES AND
NEVER HAS MY WORK BEEN MORE
CONNECTED TO THE WORK THAT I
USED TO DO. RP, RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES IS HUMANIZING WORK,
THE PURPOSE IS BUILDING
COMMUNITY BETWEEN COLLEAGUES,
STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITIES.
FOUNDATIONALLY THIS IS WHAT WE
NEED, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME OF SO
MUCH VIOLENCE AND LOSS IN
COMMUNITIES. RP AT ITS HEART
CENTERS RELATIONSHIPS AND
CONNECTION, IT CREATES CAPACITY
AND PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO COME
TOGETHER WHEN HARD THINGS
HAPPEN. WE HAVE MADE GREAT GAINS
AS A DISTRICT AND MUCH OF THAT
HAS BEEN BECAUSE OF THE CAPACITY
THIS LEVY HAS PROVIDED US.
PLEASE SUPPORT AND HELP US
CONTINUE THIS WORK AS A DISTRICT
TEAM OF FOUR SERVING OVER A
HUNDRED SCHOOLS, WE NEED RP
COORDINATORS LIKE AMBER, AND OUR
COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU.
>> TRISH, MAGGIE, MELANIE,
PLEASE STEP UP.
>> I AM HEARTENED BY THE
COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO
PRIORITIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR
YOUTH, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
ALIGNS SEAMLESSLY WITH THIS
COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES AND NEEDS
OF COMMUNITY BY INVESTING IN
EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES THAT
IMPROVE SAFETY AND SUPPORT THE
WELL BEING OF OUR CHILDREN. GOOD
AFTERNOON, MY NAME IS TRISH, I
AM A LIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF
SEATTLE, MOTHER OF TWO GROWN
DAUGHTERS AND EDUCATOR WITH A
DEEP BELIEF IN THE COLLECTIVE
WISDOM OF STRONG COMMUNITY,
SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR
COMMUNITIES IS A NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY. OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH,
EDUCATORS, HAVE SIGNIFICANT
SAFETY CONCERNS AND HOW THE
IMPACT BEHAVIORAL NEED AND
VIOLENCE AMONG HIGHEST
PRIORITIES . OUR CHILDREN CANNOT
LEARN IF THEY DO NOT FEEL SAFE
OR CANNOT REGULATE EMOTIONS OR
LEARN HOW TO PROCESS DIFFICULT
AND TRAUMATIC EVENTS.
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES BRINGS
PEOPLE TOGETHER, BUILDS TRUST,
RELATIONSHIPS, AND CONNECTIONS.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH FEEL SAFER
WHEN CONNECTED WITHIN THEIR
CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES AND EVEN
WHEN CONNECTED TO ONE TRUSTED
ADULT. THROUGH RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES, STUDENTS ARE KNOWN,
VALUED, AND HEARD. WE ARE AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS JOURNEY, OUR
TEAM, SMALL NUMBER OF
RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
COORDINATORS AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS ARE SEEING A POSITIVE
AND MONUMENTAL SHIFT IN
CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITY, IN OUR
EFFORT TO DEVELOP DEEP SENSE OF
BELONGING, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES
ENGAGES PEOPLE IN WAYS THAT HAVE
BEEN EFFECTIVE IN MANY CITIES TO
REDUCE OR DETER INCIDENTS OF GUN
AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE AND
STRAT JZ . IT PROVIDES A PATHWAY
TO CONTINUE STRIDES TOWARDS
RACIAL EQUITY ADVANCEMENT AND
CRITICAL IN CREATING SAFE,
JOYFUL, CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE
TEACHING.
>> THANK YOU. MAGGIE JOHNSON,
MELANIE WINEKY, BREE REBORN,
PLEASE STEP UP TO A MIC.
>> HI, I AM MAGGIE JOHNSON, AND
I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH SEATTLE
PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.
WE ARE DELIGHTED AND GRATEFUL
THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS
TRYING TO SAVE PART OF SEATTLE
PARKS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION BY
INCLUDING FOUR OF THE NINE STAFF
POSITIONS IN THE LEVY. THE
PROPOSAL IS TO SAVE THE SLICE OF
OUR PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SCHOOL
FIELD TRIPS. HOWEVER, THE
PROPOSAL NEEDS A SMALL AMENDMENT
FOR EVEN THE LIMITED PIECE TO
WORK. IN 2024 OUR STAFF, ALONG
WITH CORE OF ABOUT 100
WELL-TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, LED 338
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS PROVIDING
NATURE, IMMERSION, AND SCIENCE
EDUCATION STUDENTS. THE MAYOR'S
PROPOSAL RESTORE S FOUR FULL AND
PART-TIME NATURALISTS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ED SPECIALISTS SO
WE CAN CONTINUE THE PROGRAMMING.
BUT THE FAILED FLAW IS THAT IT
DOES NOT RESTORE THE CRITICAL
ADMINISTRATION'S SPECIAL
POSITION. THIS IS THE PERSON WHO
MANAGES ALL OF THE SCHEDULING,
SCHEDULES THE SCHOOLS, THE
PROGRAMS, THE BUSES, HANDLES
FEES, COORDINATES VOLUNTEERS AND
THE STAFF. WE CAN'T DO THE
SCHOOL PROGRAMS OR SCHEDULE
VOLUNTEERS WITHOUT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. WHILE WE
WOULD LIKE OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM,
INCLUDING THE DISCOVERY PARK
VISITOR'S CENTER AND ASSOCIATED
PROGRAMMING TO BE RESTORED,
ALONG WITH ADEQUATE MANAGEMENT
AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AT
MINIMUM, PLEASE CONSIDER ADDING
FUNDING FOR ONE FULL-TIME
ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST TO
MAKE THE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
PROGRAM WORK.
>> MELANIE. BREE, AND CHANTEL,
PLEASE STEP UP TO A MIC. GO
AHEAD.
>> MY NAME IS MELANIE AND I AM A
SEATTLE URBAN NATURE GUIDE, I
VOLUNTEERED FOR THE CITY FOR 12
YEARS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
HAVE BEEN GIVEN VERBAL PROMISES
THAT THE CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS WILL BE
PARTIALLY FUND THROUGH THE FEPP
LEVY, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, THOUGH
NOT IN WRITING, THAT ONE
FULL-TIME AND THREE PART-TIME
POSITION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE
LEVY, WE ARE GRATEFUL THEY ARE
TRYING TO SERVE THESE BUT ONLY
FUNDING FOUR POSITIONS, WITH NO
ADMINISTRATIVE OR MANAGEMENT
STAFF OR BASE OF OPERATIONS IS
SUFFICIENT. THE ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED IN
SEATTLE. OUR WORK ALIGNS
DIRECTLY WITH THE CITY GOALS, WE
SUPPORT THE CITY'S CLIMATE
GOALS, THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
GOALS AND THE CITY'S GOALS OF
INCLUSEIVITY AND CARE FOR THE
MOST VULNERABLE AS WE INVITE
PEOPLE INTHE TO JOYFUL AND SAFE
EXPLORATION OF NATURAL WORLD,
PLACES THEY MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN
WELCOMED BEFORE. WE SERVE OVER
80,000 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
CITY EVERY YEAR, SCHOOLS,
PRESCHOOLS, DAY CAMPS, SCHOOL
AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS, BEACH
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM, AND OVER
50 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS SUCH
AS SEATTLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,
AND COMMUNITY COALITION AND PARK
VISITOR CENTER. THE
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IS
NEEDED, BUT ONLY FUNDING FOR
POSITIONWISE NO INFRASTRUCTURE
OR SUPPORT STAFF IS TOTALLY AND
SUFFICIENT. WITHOUT THAT
PROGRAMS CAN'T FUNCTION AS THEY
DO AND THE CITY WILL LOSE THE
VAST IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMS.
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
THIS PROGRAM SHOULD BE FUNDED
THROUGH FEPP OR ADJUSTMENT TO
CITY BUDGET. I ASK YOU TO
DELIBERATE ON THAT AND SAVE
THESE PROGRAMS. THEY ARE VITAL
FOR OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> WE DO HAVE PETITIONS FROM
CITIZENS.
>> YOU CAN LEAVE THEM IN THAT
BOX, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> BREE, SORRY IF I
MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.
>> GOOD EVENING, I AM BREE, A
SEATTLE RESIDENT AND LIFE LONG
WASHINGTONING TONEIAN WHO GREW
UP PLANTING TREES AND TESTING
WATER QUALITY FOR SALMON, I AM
HERE TO URGE YOU TO FULLY FUND
THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE FEPP
LEVY, THE PLAN CUTS TO
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMMING IN SEATTLE, GOES
AGAINST THE VERY MISSION OF
SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION. M
THEY WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO
COMMUNITIES, PARKS, AND YOUTH. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO FULLY FUND THE
CITY'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMS IN THE FEPP LEVY, THE
CITY AND STATE NEED THE FUTURE
ENVIRONMENT STEWARDS FOSTERED
THROUGH THE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, BREE.
>> SHANTELL, AMELIA, PLEASE COME
UP TO A MIC.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS.
I AM SHANTELL, FROM URBAN
FAMILY, AND FROM THE SEATTLE
COMMUNITY SAFETY INITIATIVE. WE
SUPPORT THE FEPP LEVY. ITS
VISION FOR SEATTLE'S YOUTH
ALIGNS WITH OUR MISSIONS. WE
URGE CONTINUE FUNDING, CRITICAL
INVESTMENT IN OUR CITY'S
FUTURE. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE SAFETY
IS ESSENTIALLY FOR LEARNING. THE
LEVY PRIORITIZES THIS. HELPING
STUDENTS FEEL SECURE, BEYOND
COMMUNITY SAFETY PROACTIVE
PREVENTION PROGRAM BUILDS LONG'
TERM SUCCESS, OUR FAMILY CARE
TEAM OFFER SERVICES PAID
INTERNSHIPS, MENTORSHIPS AND
LIFE SKILLS PROGRAMS THAT BUILD
RESILIENCE, AND PURPOSE. THIS
APPROACH IS KEY TO INSURING
STUDENTS CAN FULLY ENGAGE WITH
LEVY READY TO LEARN INITIATIVES.
ONE OF OUR YOUTH, JUSTIN
CREDIBLE, WHAT I CALL HIM, HAS
POWERFUL STORY. FACING
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OUR
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM HELPED
TRANSFORM HIM TO LEADER AND
MENTOR, HIS JOURNEY SHOWCASES
THE SUCCESS OF RESPONSIVE
SUPPORT, DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING
TO THE LEVY'S GOALS FOR
STUDENTS WELLBEING AND POSITIVE
FUTURES. TRUSTED CONNECTING
LINKING YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO
OPPORTUNITIES AND INSURING
RESOURCES REACH THOSE THAT NEED
IT MOST. OUR PROGRAMS DIRECTLY
AMPLIFY THE LEVY INVESTMENT AND
EXPANDED LEARNING, CONTINUING TO
FUND PARTNERS STRENGTHENS THE
LEVY BY INTEGRATING PROVEN
PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND
SAFETY PROGRAMS. WE LEVERAGE
DEEP COMMUNITY TRUST TO INSURE
EQUITABLE PS. WE ARE
DEDICATED TO PARTNERS AND
ACHIEVING THIS, THE LEVY'S
AMBITIOUS GOALS AND COMMITTED TO
INSURING ALL OF SEATTLE'S
CHILDREN ARE TRULY READY TO
LEARN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> PAUL, AMELIA, TYLER. THEN WE
WILL GO TO ONLINE PUBLIC
COMMENT.
>> THAT WAS PROFOUND, WHOEVER
THAT WOMAN WAS. BEAUTIFUL.
>> I WANT TO START BY THANKING
DWANE CHAPPELLE FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP AND THE TEAM YOU
ASSEMBLED, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
TO THE PROCESS, I KNOW WE ARE
NOT SUPPOSED TO. MINE IS SIMPLE,
READY TO START, READY TO LEARN,
READY TO LAUNCH. READY TO START,
READY TO LEARN, READY TO LAUNCH.
WE NEED ALL OF IT. YOU CAN'T
ACTUALLY INVEST IN ONE WITHOUT
INVESTING IN THE OTHERS. THAT
WAS GENIUS, WHOEVER PUT THIS
THING TOGETHER, BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T STOP THE INVESTMENT. WE
HAVE, THERE IS AN OLD SAYING
THAT SAYS YOU KNOW A TREE BY THE
FRUIT IT BEARS, THIS ROOM IS
FULL OF FRUIT. OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL TO THESE
PROGRAMS, SUCCESSFUL PARTNERING
ACROSS DIFFERENCES, IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU
WEIGH THIS OUT, WE NEED A
HOLISTIC APPROACH, AND THIS IS
IT. THIS HELPS US TO GET OUR
FEET GOING WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION, AND WHERE WE ARE AT,
URBAN FAMILY COMMUNITY
PASSAGEWAYS, YMCA, WE ARE IN THE
READY TO LEARN, KEY WORD IS
"READY." ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A
DECISION FOR THE PEOPLE OF OUR
COMMUNITY? WE BELIEVE YOU ARE,
WE BELIEVE YOU ARE UP FOR THE
TASK. YOU KNOW WHAT IS BEFORE
YOU, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
AMIDST CHAOTIC TIMES. GOD BLESS
YOU, WE KNOW WHAT YOU DO IS
DIFFICULT BUT YOU IN OUR PRAYERS
AND WE PRAY WE SUPPORT THE
HOLISTIC APPROACH OF THIS LEVY.
THANK YOU.
>> AMELIA, TYLER, THEN BACK TO
THE CALLS.
>> GOOD EVENING, IT IS IMPORTANT
FOR ME TO GET THE FUNDING, ONCE
I WAS AN AT-RISK YOUTH, WHEN
THEY FOUND ME I WAS IN THEIR
MIDDLE SCHOOL VHR SYSTEM. IT IS
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE WHEN I
MET MY MENTOR, JAYSHAUN, HE
HELPED ME THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND HIGH SCHOOL, I AM NOW IN
10th GRADE. EVER SINCE THEY MET
ME I IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY, I
WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH URBAN
FAMILY Y. AM IN THEIR AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM GIVING BACK TO
THE COMMUNITY AND SHARING MY
STORY. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO
BE IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS,
WORKING AS INTERN TO HELP
FAMILIES AND CONNECT WITH MORE
YOUTH AND LEARNING PROGRAM.
URBAN FAMILY MADE ME FEEL CARED
AND PROTECTED AND SAFE. THANK
YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU. AMEAL YOU. AM I
SAYING IT RIGHT?
>> AMELIA.
>> I SAID IT RIGHT THE FIRST
TIME. TYLER. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. I AM DATA
COORDINATOR AT URBAN FAMILY.
THEY WANTED ME TO TALK ON HOW
THE FEPP LEVY ALIGNS WITH URBAN
FAMILY WORK WE DO AND
SPECIFICALLY YOUTH PROGRAMMING
AND MENTORSHIP. AFTER LOOKING
OVER THE LEVY I FOUND IT
REASSURING THE LEVY ITSELF WAS
PUT THROUGH A THEORY OF CHANGE
MODEL, JUST LIKE OUR PROGRAMS
WERE, AND THROUGH THAT THEORY OF
CHANGE URBAN FAMILY DECIDED FIVE
PILLARS, FIVE PILLARS OF SUCCESS
FOR THE YOUTH. THOSE PILLARS ARE
SUPPORTING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
AND EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT,
POSITIVE MENTORSHIP, LIFE
COACHING THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS,
INSTILLING POSITIVE MINDSETS,
BILLING SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE
ENVIRONMENT AND INSPIRING SOCIAL
CHANGE. NOW, YOU MIGHT KNOW THIS
BUT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IS VERY
HARD TO QUANTIFY UNLESS
ACADEMIC. THROUGHOUT THIS
PROCESS WE ACTUALLY DECIDED THAT
THESE PILLARS WERE CRUCIAL FOR
THE SUCCESS OF YOUTH. SO, THESE
KIND OF LINK TO DOMAINS, I AM
NOT GETTING INTO THAT.
THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE
FOUND THAT NOT ONLY THE FUNDING
IS CRUCIAL TO OUR DEVELOPMENT OF
YOUTH BUT CRUCIAL FOR THE ENTIRE
COMMUNITY. LOOKING OVER THE LEVY
ITSELF, WE HAVE FOUND A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES, BUT THE MAIN THING
WE FOUND THAT WAS EXTREMELY
SIMILAR IS HOW IT IS
CONTRIBUTING TO THE HEALTHY
TRANSITIONS INTO YOUNG ADULTS.
THROUGH MENTORSHIP AND OUR YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, GOAL
SETTING CONTACT WORK, KIND OF
WHAT WE SAY AT URBAN FAMILY IS
WE DO FOR, WE DO WITH, AND WATCH
DO. SOME OF THESE KIDS DON'T
HAVE THAT DIRECTION NOR THE
SUPPORT THEY NEED AND THAT IS
WHERE URBAN FAMILY COMES IN TO
PROVIDE THE SUPPORT AND LEAD
THEM ALL ALONG THE WAY. I JUST
WANT TO SAY THAT AT URBAN FAMILY
WE ARE READY TO START, LEARN,
AND LAUNCH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THE NEXT REMOTE PUBLIC
SPEAKER IS DONELL, SUSAN, AND
MICHAEL. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES, THANKS
>> I WORK IN THE LIBRARY AT
SEATTLE CENTRAL COLLEGE, I CAN
ATTEST TO INCREDIBLE IMPACT
PROMISE HAS MADE ON OUR
STUDENTS, COLLEGE, AND
COMMUNITY, I AM SPEAKING TOON AS
THE PARENT OF A PROMISE STUDENT.
MY DAUGHTER GRADUATES IN FIVE
WEEKS FROM SEATTLE CENTRAL WITH
AA TECHNICAL THEATER AND
TRANSFERRING TO WESTERN
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN
SEPTEMBER. WHEN PEOPLE HEAR
SEATTLE PROMISE THE FIRST
COMMENT IS ALWAYS FREE TUITION,
GREAT. YES, IT S AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY AND FOR MANY
FAMILIES THE ONLY WAY THEY ARE
ABLE TO AFFORD COLLEGE. IT IS
LESS OF FREE RIDE AND MORE LIKE
BOOT CAMP. DISCIPLINE REQUIRED,
EVERY STUDENT IS AWARE THE
SCHOLARSHIP IS EARNED, NOT
GIVEN. IF YOU FAIL A CLASS, IT
IS DEADLINE, YOU LOSE YOUR
SCHOLARSHIP. MY DAUGHTER WOULD
BE THERE IN PERSON IF SHE
WEREN'T COMPLETING INTERNSHIP
HOURS TONIGHT. STUDENTS ARE
REQUIRED TO CHECK IN WITH
ADVISOR REGULARLY AND COMPLETE
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.
STUDENTS GET E MAILS AND
NOTIFICATIONS AT LEAST ONCE A
WEEK FROM PROMISE STAFF AND THEY
ARE ALSO THE KEY POUNTS OF
CONTACT FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED
HELP NAVIGATING THE CONFUSING
AND SOMETIMES MADDENING
BUREAUCRACY OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
MOST SEATTLE CENTRAL STUDENTS
ARE NOT PRIVILEGED WITH THE
GENERATIONAL EXPERTISE OF
NAVIGATING THE SYSTEMS, AND
PROMISE PROVIDES THE GUIDANCE.
PROMISE STAFF PROVIDES SAFETY
NET OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO
INSURE SUCCESS, THEY TEACH HIGH
SCHOOL KIDS HOW TO BECOME FULLY
FUNCTIONING WORKING ADULTS WHILE
SIMULTANEOUSLY REINFORCING THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BY PROVIDING
PATHS TO A LIVING WAGE. THOSE
PATHS ARE SHORTER THAN YOU
THINK, AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR IN
CENTRAL TECHNICAL THEATER AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, ZOLEA
HAD KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO PASS
THE TEST TO BECOME MEMBER OF THE
STATE CHANCE UNION. AT 19 SHE IS
WORKING IN SKILLED TRADES MAKING
$40 TO $80 AN HOUR, WHEN I WAS
19, I WAS BARELY PASSING
COLLEGES AND WORKING IN A MALL.
SHE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT
WHERE SHE WOULD LIKE TO BUY A
HOUSE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SUSAN THEN MICHAEL THEN
FLORE. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS
DR. SUSAN LEE, I AM THE SENIOR
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT REFUGEE
WOMAN'S ALLIANCE IN SEATTLE. WE
SERVE 450 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
ACROSS EARLY LEARNING K-12 POST
SECONDARY PROGRAMS. IN EARLY
LEARNING CENTERS ALONE, WE SERVE
217 CHILDREN ACROSS THREE
LOCATIONS WITH TWO ADDITIONAL
CENTERS SET TO OPEN BY SEPTEMBER
OF 2025. OUR TOTAL EARLY
LEARNERS OVER 400. SINCE JOINING
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IN
2019, WITNESSED FIRST HAND
COLLABORATION. I HAVE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE POWERFUL IMPACT
THE LEVY HAS IN CREATING
MEANINGFUL PATHWAYS FOR
STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND
EDUCATOR. SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM UNDER THE LEVY INSURES
EARLY ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY
EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR
IMMIGRANT REFUNALYS AND LOW
INCOME FAMILIES. 65% OF OUR
FAMILIES SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH, AND 74% OF OUR
STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE OR
REDUCED LUNCH, BECAUSE OF THE
LEVY, 90% OF OUR FAMILIES
RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND
100% BENEFIT FROM VITAL
RESOURCES, LIKE LEARNING
MATERIALS, MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES, AND ONE-ON-ONE CASE
MANAGEMENT. IT ALSO STRENGTHENS
YOUTH PROGRAM, STUDENTS GAIN
TOOLS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE. ONE
PARENT SHARED IT GAVE ME CHILD,
WHO HAS SPECIAL NEEDS, A SAFE
AND INCLUSIVE SPACE TO GROW.
THEY CELEBRATE HIM FOR WHO HE IS
AND HIS MANY TALENTS. ANOTHER
PARENT SHARED I NEVER IMAGINED
MY CHILD WOULD HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND COLLEGE,
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT.
SHE IS ATTEND ING UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> MICHAEL, STEPHANY. MICHAEL,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> HELLO.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I AM MICHAEL,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CISC, WE
HAVE BEEN SERVING IMMIGRANT
COMMUNITIES IN SEATTLE AND KING
COUNTY SINCE 1972. WE SEE THE
TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF THE LEVY
THROUGH OUR BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL
AND SOON WILL EXPAND TO TWO
CLASSROOMS SERVING CHILDREN WHO
LIVE IN THE CHINATOWN
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT AND
SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
STRONGLY SUPPORT EXPANSION TO
INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PRESCHOOL
ENROLLMENT. WE SEE ACADEMIC,
BILINGUAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL
GROWTH IN STUDENTS. LAST YEAR AT
OUR GRADUATION CEREMONY WE SAW
MANY SMILING FAMILY MEMBER WHOSE
WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. IN ADDITION
WE URGE INCLUSION OF EARLY
LEARNING HOME VISITING PROGRAM,
PARENT CHILD PLUS. CURRENT
PROVIDER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
CITY AND UNITED WAY, OUR EARLY
LEARNING SPECIALISTS SERVE
CHILDREN WHO ARE VIETNAMESE AND
CHINESE HERITAGE AND SERVED A
MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD,
FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SPEAK
VIETNAMESE AT HOME. WHEN THEIR
CHILD FIRST JOINED THE PROGRAM
THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT, TWO YEARS
LATER THE CHILD IS THRIVING AND
ENJOYING THE BOOKS PROVIDED
THROUGH THE PROGRAM. WE URGE
YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL
>> FLOR, THEN STEPHANY, THEN
EDDY. PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>>
[
[ SPEAKING IN A GLOBAL LANGUAGE
]
>> EDDY. THEN DAY. STEPHANY,
PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER,
I AM STEPHANY. I WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE
FOR THE INCREDIBLE SUPPORT I
HAVE RECEIVED THE PAST TWO
SCHOOL YEARS. AFTER RETURNING TO
SEATTLE FROM MEXICO DURING MY
SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I
WAS UNSURE OF MY EXACT COLLEGE
PATH, WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE
UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM,
IT OPENED DOORS FOR ME, PROVIDED
RESOURCES, MENTORSHIPS AND
STUDENTS THAT MADE ME A PROFOUND
IMPACT ON MY COLLEGE JOURNEY.
FROM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, THE
COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED
STUDENTS, IT EMPOWERED ME WITH
THE CONFIDENCE AND TOOLS
NECESSARY TO PURSUE MY GOALS AND
SUCCEED. THE GUIDANCE I RECEIVED
THROUGH THE PROGRAM HELPED ME
GROW BOTH AS A STUDENT AND
INDIVIDUAL. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL
FOR ALL OF THE DOORS IT HAS
OPENED AND I BELIEVE SEATTLE
PROMISE IS AN AMAZING PROGRAM
FOR ANY STUDENT LOOKING TO
CONTINUE EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH
SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
CONTINUING MY JOURNEY AND IN
COLLEGE WITH THE HELP OF SEATTLE
PROMISE AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEPHANY.
>> EDDY, THEN DAY, THENCELIA.
EDY AND PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER,
MAY NAME IS EDDY. I AM A
RESIDENT OF BEACON HILL AND A
PARENT OF A 10th GRADER AT
FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD
LIKE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE FEPP LEVY, AND
ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE NEW
PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR
CHILDCARE WORKERS,
APPRENTICESHIPS, AND SCHOOL
SAFETY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
ABOUT SCHOOL-BASED INVESTMENT
WHICH PROVIDE CRITICAL SUPPORT
TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE CITY, BUT
ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHEAST SEATTLE,
DISTRICT TWO, INCLUDING FRANKLIN
HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH RECEIVES
FUNDING FOR APPROXIMATELY SEVEN
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, POSITIONS
LIKE INTERVENTIONEST AND FAMILY
SUPPORT WORKERS. I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THOSE POSITIONS PROTECTED
AND FUNDED AS PART OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. I AM SUPER
EXCITED TO SEE SCHOOL SAFETY
INCLUDED IN THIS LEVY. YOUTH GUN
VIOLENCE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH
AND HAS TRAUMATIZED AND WE HAD
TRAGEDIES ACROSS THE CITY, AS
YOU ALL KNOW, PROVIDELING
DEDICATED FUNDING FOR THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING
TO INTERRUPT GUN VIOLENCE,
COMMUNITY PASSAGEWAYS AND URBAN
FAMILY, I THINK IS CRITICAL. ONE
CONCERN I HAVE IT THAT THERE HAS
BEEN SOME REPORTING OR CONCERNS
ABOUT WHETHER SOME OF THE
FUNDING COULD GO TO SROs, OR
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, AND
THAT IS A COMPLICATED TOPIC AND
SENSITIVE ONE AND SOMETHING THAT
I DON'T BELIEVE SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE FEPP LEVY. I
WOULD LIKE TO SEE CLAIRIFICATION
THAT THE LEVY IS NOT GOING TO
FUND SPD SALARIES.
FINALLY, REGARDINGTHER PLAN, I
WOULD STRONGLY URGE THAT LABOR
PARTNERS BE INCLUDED AND AS WELL
AS SCHOOLS THAT RECEIVE
SCHOOL-BASED INVESTMENTS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DAY, THEN CELIA ,. PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER,
I AM A PARENT AT THE COMMUNITY
CENTER OF WASHINGTON. I WORK, I
STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER 2021.
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE
ISOLATED AND THEY FEEL
DIFFERENT, THERE WAS A PARENT
CHILD PLUS PROGRAM THAT HELPED,
PROVIDING HELP, NAVIGATE, HAVE
THE FAMILIES NAVIGATE THE
SYSTEM. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE
THESE FAMILIES FEEL AT HOME,
CONNECT THEM. CONNECT THEM WITH
THEIR OWN CULTURE, THEIR OWN
NATIVE LANGUAGE, ON THE OTHER
SIDE WE ARE FOCUSING ON NATURAL
OTHER CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT AND
PREPARE THEM MENTALLY TO APPEAL
TO SAME AS THEIR PEERS WHEN THEY
ARE REACH SCHOOL AGE. THEY COULD
CALL SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, THEIR
HOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY. PLEASE PASS THE
PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, DAY.
>>CELIA, THEN SAMANTHA, THEN
ALLISON. CELIA, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6.
>> PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> THERE YOU GO.
I THINK YOU CAN START SPEAKING.
>> HI, HIGH NAME IS CELIA, I AM
IN 8th GRADE, I HAVE BEEN PART
OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM ONE
YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE
ABOUT THE PROGRAM IS GOING ON
FIELD TRIPS AND GOING TO
CULTURAL EVENTS. IT HAS HELPED
ME BY GETTING TO KNOW NEW PLACES
AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR
CULTURE. I THINK THIS PROGRAM IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPED ME A
LOT WITH STUFF LIKE GETTING
CULTURE TO PEOPLE, BEING ABLE TO
MANAGE MY ANXIETY. LASTLY, I
WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR SUPPORTING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SAMANTHA, THEN ALLISON, THEN
WE SWITCH TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
SAMANTHA, PLEASE PRESS STAR 6.
>> SAMANTHA, GO AHEAD.
TRY THAT AGAIN, LOOKED LIKE YOU
HAD PRESSED STAR 6, THEN
UNMUTED, NOW MUTED AGAIN. CAN
YOU TRY PRESSING STAR 6 AGAIN,
PLEASE?
THERE YOU GO. GO AHEAD, SPEAK
UP.
CAN YOU HEAR US, SAMANTHA? IF
YOU CAN, SPEAK UP.
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU,
SAMANTHA.
>> OH, GO AHEAD.
>> WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU,
SAMANTHA, WE WILL GIVE YOU A
MINUTE.
>> NEXT IS ALLISON NUNEZ, PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6.
>> HI, MY NAME IS ALLISON, I AM
IN 8th GRADE, I HAVE BEEN PART
OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR
ONE YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS I
LIKE ABOUT THE PROGRAM IS THE
FAMILY FUN CENTER FIELD TRIPS.
IT HELPED ME BY BEING AROUND
MORE PEOPLE, MOMENT THAT STOOD
OUT WAS WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH
A BAD TIME, I THINK THIS PROGRAM
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS A
SAFE SPACE, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO AN ADULT. I
WANT TO THANK AND CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR SUPPORTING THIS.
>> THANK YOU, ALLISON. SAMANTHA,
CAN YOU TRY PRESSING STAR 6 NOW?
>> LOOKS LIKE SHE HUNG UP. I
DON'T SEE HER.
>> YOU SEE HER?
>> GO AHEAD WHENEVER YOU ARE
READY.
>> GO AHEAD. I THINK YOU ARE
UNMUTED NOW.
>> OKAY.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> HELLO.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HELLO.
>> MY NAME IS SAMANTHA Y AMANE
EIGHT GRADE AND STUDENT IN THE
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. I HAVE
BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR TWO
YEARS AND IT TAUGHT ME A LOT Y.
GET HELP WITH MY HOMEWORK AND I
GET TO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS.
THE TEACHERS CARE ABOUT, AND I
LIKE WE DO FUN ACTIVITIES LIKE
GOING ON FIELD TRIPS AND LEARN
ABOUT OUR CULTURE. IT MAKES ME
FEEL PROUD AND CONNECTED TO MY
COMMUNITY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE, IT HAS MADE
A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
>> THANK YOU, SAMANTHA.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE GOING BACK
TO IN-PERSON. ANGELA, SUSETTE,
PAMELA, CAN YOU PLEASE STEP UP
TO THE MIC?
>> ANGELA.
GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBER,
MY NAME IS ANGELA. I AM PROPROUD
PRINCIPAL AT KIMBER, AND
REGISTERED VOTER Y. AM HERE TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF CONTINUED
AND EXPANDED SCHOOL LEVY
FUNDING. I HAVE WITNESSED FIRST
HAND AS A SCHOOL LEADER THE
POWERFUL AND LASTING IMPACT LEVY
DOLLARVISE HAD ON OUR SCHOOLS,
SPECIFICALLY DEARBORN PARK
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, WIN LUKE
ELEMENTARY, AND NOW KIMBLE. AT
DEARBORN PARK INTERNATIONAL,
LEVY FUNDING SUPPORTED DUAL
LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING AND HELPED
FUND A CENTRAL STAFFING POSITION
WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACTS STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT. THESE RESOURCES
ELEVATED STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND
ALLOWED TEACHERS TO
DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION IN
WAYS THAT SUPPORTED LEARNERS. AT
WING LUKE, I SAW HOW LEVY
FUNDING BENEFITED STUDENTS
THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS,
IN SCHOOL PROGRAMMING AND
ACADEMIC INTERVENTION, THESE
SERVICES WERE CRITICAL AS WE
HELPED STUDENTS RECOVER FROM THE
IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC. AT
KIMBLE I CONTINUE TO SEE
TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT OF LEVY
FUNDING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
SUPPORT INCLUSIVE LEARNING
ENVIRONMENTS, PROVIDED TARGETED
INTERVENTIONS AND BUILD STRONG
CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILIES
THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS,
ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY LEVY
DOLLARS. AS YOU HAVE HEARD FROM
MY TESTIMONY, EVERY SCHOOL IN
EVERY NEED IS INDIVIDUAL TO THE
SCHOOL AND ITS COMMUNITY. I HAVE
SEEN LEVY FUNDING TURN
POSSIBILITIES INTO REALTY,
SUPPORT ING THE WHOLE CHILD.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN OUR
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR CHILDREN,
AND OUR CITY'S FUTURE DEPEND ON
IT. THANK YOU.
>>. SUZETT E, PAMELA, AND
ANGELA.
GO AHEADS.
>> HI, I AM A PROUD PARENT OF
CHILD WHO BENEFITED FROM
SEATTLE'S EARLY LEARNING AND
ADVOCATE WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN
ACTION NETWORK. STANDS IN
SUPPORT OF SEATTLE'S READY TO
START READY TO LEARN AND READY
TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN BECAUSE WE
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HIGH QUALITY
EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE IS
FOR PREPARING CHILDREN FOR
SUCCESS. BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET
GAP THE LEGISLATURE WAS FORCED
TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS AND
DELAYS IN FUNDING FOR EARLY
CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS SUCH AS EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND CRITICAL
SUPPORTS FOR EARLY LEARNING
SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS COMING AT
A TIME WHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONSIDERING
CUTS TO PROGRAMS LIKE HEAD
START, LEAVING MANY FAMILIES IN
SEATTLE AND KIDS WITHOUT
OPTIONS. THESE CUTS AND DELAYS
WILL HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON
KIDS AND FAMILIES. KIDS GROW UP
FAST, AND WE CAN'T GET THOSE
LOST YEARS AND THOSE CHILD
LEARNING BACK: WHEN WE SUPPORT
SEATTLE'S CHILDCARE WORKERS, WE
SUPPORT SEATTLE'S WORKING
FAMILIES. SEATTLE CHILDCARE
WORKERS ARE THE BACK BONE OF A
HEALTHY ECONOMY. IN SEATTLE, WE
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FILL
GROWING GAPS IN CHILDCARE, AND
SUPPORT CHILDCARE WORKERS BY
CONTINUING TO FUND THE AWARD
WINNING PRESCHOOL PROGRAM AND
LEVY AND INSURING THE PROGRAM
MEETS THE NEEDS OF ALL FAMILIES.
IN CLOSING, AS YOU KNOW THE
LEGISLATION MOVES FORWARD, WE
HOPE YOU ENGAGE MORE FAMILIES
AND CHILD CARE WORKERS FURTHEST
FROM OPPORTUNITY SO READY TO
START WORKS FOR ALL. THANK YOU.
>> PAMELA, ANGELA, WHITNEY,
PLEASE COME UP TO A MIC. GO
AHEAD.
>> SORRY, PAMELA.
>> I WORK AT HEARING, SPEECH,
AND DEAF CENTER IN SEATTLE, AND
AM DIRECTOR OF THE ROSEN FAMILY
HESCHOOL. IT HAS BEEN PARTNERING
WITH DEAL AND HAD SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM CLASSROOM
SINCE 2016. WE STARTED OUT WITH
ONE CLASSROOM, ONE TEACHER THAT
WAS DEAF. NOW WE HAVE TWO
PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS AND THEATER
CLASSROOM AND 10-12 DEAF STAFF
MEMBERS, THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE
BECAUSE OF SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH SUPPORT.
THERE ARE SO MANY BARRIERS FOR
DEAF PEOPLE TO BECOME
EDUCATORSISM THERE ARE SO MANY
BARRIERS AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
HELPED ME TO HIRE DEAF TEACHERS
AND GET THEM THE TRAINING THEY
NEED. WHEN A DEAF PERSON IS BORN
IN SEATTLE IT IS 90% LIKELY
THEIR PARENT IS HEARING AND
NEVER MET A DEAF PERSON BEFORE
AND CERTAINLY DOESN'T KNOW SIGN
LANGUAGE. THE BEST PERSON TO
TEACH SIGN LANGUAGE TO A DEAF
CHILD A DEAF ADULT. OUR PROGRAM
IS ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF
THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED
THROUGH THE LEVY. WE ARE MODELED
PROGRAM, WE FEED INTO SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR CHILDREN GO
TO TOPS. WE HAVE WONDERFUL
PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. WE CAN'T DO THIS WORK
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT AND WITHOUT
LEVY SUPPORT. SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR MAKING THAT POSSIBLE.
WHITNEY, CATHERINE, HOPE I SAID
THAT OKAY. GO AHEAD, ANGELA.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS,
I AM REPRESENTING TINY TOTS
FAMILIES AND OUR 55-YEAR
HISTORY. THE FUNDING FOR THE SPP
SEATTLE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IS SO
VERY VITAL TO THE WORK WE DO
WITH FAMILIES. THE FUNDS THAT
SUPPORT FAMILY ABILITY TO WORK
WHILE PROVIDING A SAFE,
NURTURING, AND INCLUSIVE
ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN ARE
AT THE HEART OF WHAT SPP
SUPPORTS CREATING LIFE-LONG
LEARNERS. IN ADDITION TO THE
FUNDS THAT SUPPORT THE FAMILIES
ON SPP, THEY HAVE A STRONG FOCUS
ON PREPARING A CLASSROOM
INSTRUCTOR BY INVESTING IN THEIR
EDUCATION TO MAKE A FULL CIRCLE.
SO IN MANY WAYS I SEE SPP AS THE
VALUE THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING.
FINALLY, CHILDCARE IS THE WORK
THAT SUPPORTS ALL OTHER WORK,
THE CHILD CARE RETEND FUNDS ARE
VITAL IN CELEBRATING STAFF THAT
DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO CHILD CARE.
SINCE I HAVE 50 MORE SECONDS
WHAT I THINK I WILL SAY, LIKE
PAUL STATED EARLIER, THIS WORK
IS IN YOUR HANDS AND WE VERY
MUCH NEED YOU TO CONSIDER IT AS
VITAL WORK NECESSARY. LITTLE
LEARNERS ARE NOT A SECURE VOTING
BLOCK, SO IT TAKES US ADULTS TO
FIGHT EXTRA HARD FOR THEM AND
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT
TO SPEAK WHEN THEY CAN'T SPEAK.
WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY ONE MORE
TIME AND SAY IT AGAIN, CHILD
CARE IS THE WORK THAT SUPPORTS
EVERYBODY ELSE BEING ABLE TO GO
TO WORK. SO THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE
TO FIGHT THE FIGHT FOR PEOPLE T
ATTENTION. THANK YOU.
WHITNEY SMITH, CATHERINE .
>> I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT
PARTNERSHIP WITH DEEL AND THE
IMPACTS THEY HAD ON PRESCHOOL
FAMILIES.
SPECIFICALLY FAMILIES RECEIVING
IV.
>> THREE CLASSROOMS, IN 2015, TO
42 CLASSROOMS. AND PLANNED 45
CLASSROOMS IN 2025. THESE
CLASSROOMS SERVE 836 STUDENTS
INCLUDING 160 STUDENTS RECEIVING
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
THROUGH SEATTLE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM PLUS MODEL.
MORE STUDENTS MET TEACHING
STATAGY GOLD, OUR ASSESSMENT,
GROWTH TARGET AND EACH DOMAIN
AND CHILDREN COMPARISON
CLASSROOMS. AMONG CHILDREN WITH
IEP IN KINDERGARTEN IN 23/24
THOSE WHO ATTENDED SPP PLUS
CLASSROOM WHERE KINDERGARTEN
READY IN 4.6 OF SIX DOMAINS ON
THE WA KIDS ASSESSMENT COMPARED
TO 3.5 AMONG THOSE WHO DID NOT
ATTEND SPP CLASSROOM. CHILDREN
WITHOUT IEP WHO ATTENDED SPP
PLUS CLASSROOMS ALSO HAD HIGHER
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DOMAINS, 5.6
CONTRASTED 5.5. WE LOOK FORWARD
TO EXPANDING THE PROGRAM AND
HOPEFULLY MANY MORE IN THE
FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CATHERINE AND ANIA, PLEASE
COME UP TO THE MIC. CATHERINE.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST
NAME?
>> I AM SO SORRY. I AM A STUDENT
AT UW AND ORGANIZE WITH THE
SEATTLE STUDENT UNION, SO
SEATTLE STUDENT UNION HAS BEEN
ORGANIZING EMPOWERING STUDENT
LEADERS THE PAST FEW YEARS AND I
AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THOSE
STUDENTS, ACROSS NORTH AND SOUTH
PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SEATTLE WHO I
THINK ARE THE PEOPLE WE SHOULD
TREAT AS THE EXPERTS ON WHAT
THEY NEED IN THEIR SCHOOLS, AND
THOSE THINGS ARE FULL TIME
PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS WHO ARE
WORKING IN PERSON OUT OF SCHOOL
BASED HEALTH CENTERS FUNDED
THROUGH THE FEPP LEVY, STAFF,
WHO PREVENT VIOLENCE, NOT JUST
RESPOND TO IT, AND WE HAVE HEARD
FROM MANY AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS
AND GROUPS ALREADY DOING THAT
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICE.
BUT WE HAVE LOT OF CONCERNS
ABOUT WHETHER THOSE, THAT WORK
IS GETTING FUNDED THROUGH
RENEWAL OF THE LEVY. IT IS NOT
CLEAR WHETHER THEY DEDICATED
FUNDING IN THIS, HEALTH AND
SAFETY MONEY, THOSE SERVICES,
AND IN ADDITION I WANT TO GO,
FOLK WHOSE TALKED ABOUT THIS AS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOURCE
PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING CUT DUE
TO FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, RESEARCH
PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PROGRAM THAT
PUTS THERAPY INTO SCHOOL-BASED
HEALTH CENTERS TO PROVIDE
STUDENT AND CONTINUE SERVING THE
SCHOOLS TEN YEARS AFTER
GRADUATION, CARE TO STUDENTS AND
DEVELOPS WORKFORCE IN ADDITION
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE RESOURCEING
PROTECT STUDENTS NEEDS AND
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE TO PROTECT
OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> I AM ONE OF HUNDRED
VOLUNTEERS, FREE LABOR FOR
SEATTLE, WE HAD 500 FIELD TRIPS
FOR SEATTLE SCHOOLS AND PARKS
LAST YEAR. NINE MEMBERS, NINE
STAFF MEMBERS, THIS YEAR THE
MAYOR'S PROPOSAL PROPOSES ONE
FULL TIME AND THREE, THAT IS
FOUR, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
DISCOVERY CENTER OPEN, NEED ONE
MORE, SPHYOU WANT SOMEONE TO
SCHEDULE PROGRAM, NEED TO HAVE
ADMINISTRATIVE PERSON. BUT THEY
HAVE BEEN, THESE FIELD TRIPS
HAVE BECOME A MAIN STAY FOR
MANY, MANY TEACHERS TOLD US THEY
HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS IN SUPPORT
OF THIS. BUT EXACTLY WHAT DO WE
DO ON TYPICAL FIELD TRIP
AND THEY CAME OFF THE BUSES BUT
IT WAS UPON EXPIRATION PROGRAM
AND WE DO FOREST SEA SHORE
SPIDERS AND HE IS, STUDENTS WERE
IN GROUPS OF AROUND 16 EACH OF I
WITH ONE GUIDE AND WE STARTED ON
TWO HOUR PROGRAMS WE DISCUSSED
WHICHITIERS COULD NEST IN THE
HOLES. WHY ARE SOME PONDS FILLED
IN CAN CAT TALES AND DID THE
NATIVES USE IT TO DIET CLOTHING
AND THEY DID. WHO MADE THE HOLES
AND LIVES YOU SEE? THEN AT THE
POND, STUDENTS BEGAN TO COLLECT
POND WATER SAMPLES WITH A NET
AND MAGNIFYING GLASSES A SOMEONE
FINDS A POLYWOULD GO AND THREE
FTE, AND THREE PART-TIME TO KEEP
US.
>> THANK YOU, GENE. AND REBECCA
AND ANDREA ONELAS.
>> I AM A.
>> IA AND INTERIM EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR AT TOURISM IMPACTING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS KNOWN AS TIPS I
URGE YOU TO RENEW THE LEVY
ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO PARTNER WITH
NONPROPERTIES LIKE OURS TO
PROVIDE TRAINED CLASSROOM TUTORS
DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS YEAR
ALONE, WE PARTNERED WITH 37
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND
TUTOR SUPPORT OVER 9,000
STUDENTS AND WORKED SIDE BY SIDE
WITH OVER 700 EDUCATORS TO
IMPROVE OUTCOMES WHERE IT
MATTERS MOST. TUTORS BRING
CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SUPPORT TO
STUDENTS WHO OFTEN DON'T SEE
THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN SCHOOL.
AND THEY BUILD TRUST AND PROVIDE
CONSISTENCY FOR STUDENTS.
RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AT
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TIPS
TUTORS CUT THE NUMBER OF SECOND
GRADE STUDENTS MISSING
FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS,
FROM 64% TO 33% IN JUST ONE
YEAR. WITH BLACK STUDENTS
SHOWING A REMARKABLE 50%
IMPROVEMENT. THIS MODEL REALLY
WORKS. IT'S COST EFFECTIVE,
EVIDENCE BASED AND HELPS SCHOOLS
MAXIMIZE RESOURCES. WHILE
PROVIDING PERSONALITY ACADEMIC
SUPPORT WHEN STUDENT NEED IT THE
MOST, IN THE CLASSROOM. WITH
RENEWED FUNDING WE CAN EXPAND
MORE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS AND BUILD
A PACKWAY FOR TUTORS TO CREATE
CAREERS WITH EDUCATOR WORK
FORCE. RENEWING IS AN INVESTMENT
IN THE FUTURE AND COMMITMENT TO
EQUITY AND GIVES EVERY CHILD IN
SEATTLE THE RIGHT TO SUCCEED.
THANK YOU. THANK.
>> THANK YOU A.
>> IA. RY WEBBINGA AND ANDREA.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS
REBECCA. I AM IN A FEW FINAL
YEAR OF COLLEGE. I AM SUPPORTING
THE SEATTLE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT
HELPED ME TO GET WHERE I AM AND
TO GET THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.
WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAVE
ABOUT POSSIBLE. SEATTLE PROMISE
IS AN NOT ONLY A PROGRAM BUT
COMMUNITY. THE SEATTLE PROMISE
DIDN'T ONLY SUPPORT MY TUITION
BUT ALSO SUPPORTED MY COLLEGE
JOURNEY. SINCE DAY ONE. THAT'S
WHY I AM HERE TO SUPPORT THE
PROGRAM AND I DO KNOW MANY
PARENTS OUT THIS WANTS THEIR
CHILDREN TO GET HIGHER
EDUCATION. I AM FINISHING WITH
COLLEGE AND THANKFUL FOR THE
PROGRAM. THAT'S WHY EMHERE.
THANK YOU.
>> ANDREA ORNELAS AND WE WILL GO
REMOTE.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING I AM A
MEMBER OF LEVY. WITH THAT I ASK
THAT AS AN OPTION TO INCLUDE
STATE REGISTERED BUILDING
APPRENTICESHIPS AND LEVEE'S RUE
NEWLY AND I AM PROUD TO BE A
PRODUCT OF THE APPRENTICESHIPS
AND HAD THE CHANCE TO EARN WHILE
LEARN AND AVOID DEBT AND STEP
INTO MEANINGFUL FAMILIES
SUPPORTING CAREER. MY
APPRENTICESHIP WAS NOT ONLY
CHANGED MY LIFE, IT CREATEDED
STABILITY PRIDE AND FUTURE I CAN
BUILD ON. SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CHAMPION SUCCESS THROUGH THE
SKILLED SEATTLE SKILLED AND
CONSTRUCTION WORK FORCE
AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT GIVES
GRADUATES DIRECT ACCESS TO
CAREERS ON PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS, THANKS TO STRONG AND
ASSISTANT PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN
THE TRADES AND DISTRICTS. LET'S
STRENGTHEN AND COMMAND WHAT'S
WORKING INCLUDING REGISTERED
PREAPPRENTICESHIPS,
APPRENTICESHIPS AND LEVY IT'S
SMART INVESTMENT AND THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND LEADERSHIP.
>> THANK YOU ANDREA.
>> COLLEAGUES WE HAVE SIX REMOTE
SPEAKERS LEFT AND 35 IN PERSON.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> THE NEXT REMOTE SPEAKER IS
GOING TO BE NATASHA RODRIGUEZ
AND THEN WHITNEY AND THEN AARON
OCUGNO. NATASHA, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6.
>> HI HIM AN 8th GRADER AND HAVE
BEEN PART OF THE FOR EIGHT YEARS
ONE THING I LIKE ABOUT THE
PROGRAM IS IT'S FUN TO BE WITH
FRIENDS AND FIELD TRIPS. THEY
HELP ME WITH HOMEWORK AND I
THINK PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT BRINGS PEOPLE
TOGETHER. AND I WANT TO SAY
THANK YOU TO SANTO AND THE CITY
OF SEATTLE FOR SUPPORTING US.
>> THANK YOU NATASHA. WHITNEY
AND THEN AARON AND THEN
BENJAMIN. WHITNEY, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6. GO AHEAD WHITNEY.
>> HELLO, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> THANKS MY NAME IS WHITNEY,
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE EARLY LEARNING
INVESTMENT, CURRENT LEVY
PROPOSAL. I GREW UP HERE AND I
CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CITY OVER
THE YEARS, SUPPORTED MANY OF THE
RESIDENTS PRIMARILY CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES OF COLOR. AND THOSE
WITH LOW INCOMES. I HAVE
OBSERVED THE TRANSFORMATIVE
IMPACT OF LOCAL PROGRAMS THAT
WORK IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE
CHILD'S LIFE. SOMEONE FOCUS ON
EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES AT
UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY, I HAD
THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING THE LIFE
CHANGING IMPACT OF THE CHILD
PLUS PROGRAM. I AM HERE TO
EXPRESS MY ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
FOR THE CITY'S LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT IN PARENT CHILD PLUS.
MY GRATITUDE FOR DEAL STAFF AND
COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP AND
APPRECIATION FOR THE INCLUSION
OF THE PARENT-CHILD PLUS PROGRAM
AND LEVY PROPOSAL. PARENT CHILD
PLUS ENGAGES HARD TO REACH HOE
INCOME FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM
ARE NOT CONNECTED TO SERVICES OR
OTHER PROGRAMS. AS THEY
EXPERIENCE BARRIERS. LIKE
STABILITY LIMITED PROFICIENCY,
AND LONLINESS AND ISOLATION
BEING NEW TO THE AREA. THE
PROGRAM IS HIGH QUALITY,
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICCALLY
MATCHED [INAUDIBLE] ACCORDING TO
LONG-TERM LOCAL [INAUDIBLE]
PREPARED FOR KENDER GARDEN, HAVE
INCREASED ENGLISH KILLS AND
[INAUDIBLE] THIRD GRADE AND
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT
IN SEATTLE AND ESPECIALLY OUR
LOW INCOME FAMILIES. PART OF OUR
KEDCATION DEDICATION-INNOVATION.
[INAUDIBLE] IMPROVED HEALTH AND
CONTINUED SUCCESS OF-VITALITY.
>> THANK YOU WHITNEY.
>> AARON THEN BENJAMIN, AND THEN
DAVID. AARON, PRESS STAR 6.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON I AM ERIN
OCUGNO AND I AM A PARENT OF
STUDENTS IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WHO BENEFITED FROM THE
LEVY. MY YOUNGER CHILD WAS IN
THE FIRST COHER THE WHEN SHE
STARTED AT LUNCH AT AGE 8 AND
HAS BENEFITED GREATLY. SHE IS
NOW A THRIVING MIDDLE SCHOOLER
IN ANOTHER LEVY SUPPORTED
SCHOOL. I WILL KEEP THIS BRIEF.
I EMAILED THE REST OF MY
TESTIMONY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR THE
INVESTING IN OUR STUDENTS.
>> THANK YOU ERIN. BENJAMIN,
THEN DAVID HAYNES AND THEN
TERESA EVERRETTE BENJAMIN PRESS
STAR 6.
BENJAMIN PLEASE PRESS STAR 6. GO
AHEAD.
>> YOU CAN SPEAK.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS -- OH.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> I AM BENJAMIN AND I AM -- CAN
YOU HEAR ME?
>> YEP.
>> OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS BENJAMIN
AND I AM AN 8th GRADE AND
STUDENT AT THE PROGRAM AT
CENTRAL AND I'VE BEEN IN THE
PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS AND IT
HELPED ME A LOT. I GET HELP WITH
HOMEWORK AND I ALSO LIKE THAT WE
DO FIND ACTIVITIES LIKE
PAINTING, ART AND CRAFTS. AND
LEARN ABOUT CULTURE AND IT MAKES
ME FEEL PROUD AND CONNECTED TO
MY COMMUNITY, AND I JUST WANT TO
SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF
SEATTLE FOR SUPPORTING THE
PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, BENJAMIN.
>> DAVID HAYNES AND THEN TERESA
EVERRETTE. DAVID, PLEASE PRESS
STAR 6.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID HAYNES
NOTICE PEOPLE WANT TO BURNT THE
SIGNAL THEY MAKE MONEY AND POWER
OFF OF. WHY DID THEY IGNORE THE
ADULTS MESSING OFF THE KIDS
DERAILING THEIR PROGRESS IN
SOCIETY. HOW MUCH IS PAID TO
NONPROFIT EXECUTIVE AND
MISEDUCATING WITH JUDGMENTS ON
SKIN COLORS AND RUNNING
INTERFERING FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS
ACT LIKE COPS ARE THE THREAT.
WHILE DEVILS AVOW KIT INTIMIDATE
CROWN ALLOWING A RACE WAR. WE
NEED PROPER CHILD CARE WHICH
VETTED PROVIDEERS WITH
REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE KIDS
ARE NOT BEING USED BY SHADY
BUSINESSES GETTING RICH
SHORTCHANGING KIDS AND PARENTS
WHILE SLUM REESTATE OBSOLETE FOR
KIDS SHAKES DOWN THE QUALITY
DENIED. CHEATING KIDS AND
PARENTS. PLUS WE NEED REGULATION
FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO IN SOME OF
THE SCHOOLS IN THE PRESCHOOL AND
CHILD CARE TO SEE, LIKE, WHAT
GOING ON WITH OUR KIDS BECAUSE
SEATTLE IS THE EPITOME OF RACIST
MISINTERPRETATION OF EDUCATION
AND BIOLOGY CREATING A SUSPECT
INTRUSTWORTHY CRIM LUCK AND WE
NEED PROPER INTERPRETATION OF
CHILD WARE AND DON'T.
>> HE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
PEDOPHILE RACIST POLICIES
DUMPING EXPERIENCE ON INNOCENT
CHILD ABUSING BASED ON I GO THAN
THE RACIST IDEALS OF THE PAST
FILLING IN THE BANKS AND TAKING
IT ON OUT ON THE WRONG PEOPLE
BASED ON DIVERSITY EQUITY
INCLUSION OF THE WRONG IDEA.
PERVERTING CHILDREN'S MINDS AND
BODIES AND TRYING TO KEEP IT
FROM THE PARENTS AND LIKING
TRUST US WE KNOW WHAT'S BEST
FOR YOUR KIDS TRYING TO DUMB
DUMP IGNORANT MISEDUCATION AND
HATE ON INNOCENCE INSTEAD OF
DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS AND
THE PEOPLE THAT ABUSE THEM THEY
WANT TO BE PUT IN CHARGE
UNDERMINING A CHILD. THIS IS WHY
SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE PURGED OF
THE RACIST BOTTOM OF THE BARREL
DEMOCRATS AND YOUR CORRUPT--
>> TERESA EVERRETTE, PLEASE
PRESS STAR 6.
>> GO AHEAD TERESA.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WHEN YOU INVEST IN EDUCATION AND
MENTAL HEALTH YOU INVEST IN THE
WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD. AND WE
BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NOTHING
MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU DO
FOR A CHILD. MINE MY NAME IS
TERESA AND I HAVE BEEN WORK WITH
THE CENTER FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS,
AND I WHOLE HEARTEDLY BELIEVE IN
THE TAG LINE THERE IS NOTHING
MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU CAN
DO FOR CHILD AND THAT INDUSTRY
CENTER RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM THE
LEVY FOR EARLY LEARNING
PROGRAMS, WE WERE THE FIRST TO
DO IT IN WASHINGTON AND WE HAVE
A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM AND HAVE
A YOUTH EDUCATION AND SUPPORT
PROGRAMS. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK
LIKE? EDUCATIONAL. EXPERIENCAL
HANDS ON ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP.
COLLEGE EXPIRATION, AND FOR
STUDENTS IS AS YOUNG AS THIRD
GRADE, AND EL STUDENTS AND EL
EARLY LEARNING PREPARED FOR
KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. EXPLORE
EX ENVIRONMENTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD
AND LEADERSHIP AND FAMILIES. ALL
BEING SUPPORTED. CHILDREN YOUTH
AND FAMILIES. WHAT IS SUCCESS
LOOK LIKE? EARLY LEARNING
STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING COLLEGE,
THE FIRST COHORT GRADUATED
COLLEGE. FORMER PARTICIPANTS
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE SUM ARE
ACADEMY AND THE KIDS IN THE
SUMMER ACADEMY PROGRAM ARE
VOLUNTEERING. PARENTS ARE
EMPLOYED WITH MEANINGFUL JOBS SO
NOT ONLY ARE THE PARENTS GOING
THROUGH THE PROGRAM, THEY ARE
ALSO BEING HIRED AND GETTING
MEANINGFUL JOBS IN THE
COMMUNITY. PARTICIPANTS GRADUATE
COLLEGE. AND THEY ARE WORKING AT
JOBS LIKE MICROSOFT AND COMING
BACK AND TEACHING TECHNOLOGY.
THEY AREER IS SOMETHING ON THE
BOARD. AND THEY ARE DOING ALL
THESE THINGS AS A RESULT OF
BEING -- AS A RESULT OF BEING
FUND BY THE FBPP LEVY. SO WE ASK
YOU CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
LEVY, CONTINUE TO GIVE FUNDS TO
FEPP AND CONTINUE TO DO THIS
WORK WITH US.
>> THANK YOU TERESA. ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE BACK IN PERSON FOLKS. THE
NEXT THREE SPEAKERS ARE LISA
CHICK AND ALEX SCHIFF AND JEFF
LAMB. IF YOU WILL COME UP TO THE
MICS, PLEASE. OKAY. LISA, GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I AM LISA CHICK
PRESIDENT OF THE ALLIANCE FOR
EDUCATION AND PROUD PARENT OF
TWO SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
STUDENTS. FOR 30 YEARS ALLIANCE
LED COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO SUPPORT
SEATTLE STUDENTS BEEP SUPPORT
104SPS SCHOOLS FROM THE RAINIER
VALLEY TO NORTHGATE TO BREAST
SEE THE AND 50,000 SPS STUDENTS
AND 7,000 STAFF. WE BELIEVE AN
EXCELLENT AND EQUITABLE
EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO
EQUITABLE CITY AND SUPPORTING
STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IS ALL
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND WOO KNOW
SCHOOL DISTRICTS THRIVE WHEN THE
COMMUNITY STANDS ALONGSIDE THEM
AS COMMITTED AND ACTIVE
PARTNERS. THAT'S WHY I AM SO
DELIGHTED TO VOICE OUR STRONG
SUPPORT IS FOR THE 2025 FAMILIES
EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE
LEVY. AT THE ALLIANCE WE PARTNER
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
EARLY LEARNING AT CITY,
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS,
AND PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS AND
EDUCATION STUDENT AND COMMUNITY
LEADERS ACROSS THE SIT
GENTLEMEN. WOO SEEK TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HE A WORKING IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND
WHAT'S NOT AND COLLABORATE TO
BRING SOLUTIONS.
>> THE SYSTEM THAT DRIVE EQUITY
AND EXCELLENCE. WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR THE WAYS THE CURRENT LEVY
AND CITY SUPPORTED OUR PROGRAMS
AND PARTNERED WITH US IN
COMPLIMENTARY WAYS FOR OUR WORK
LIKE THE RIGHT NOW NEEDS FUN AND
SEATTLE TEACHER RESIDENCY. THE
RIGHT NOW NEEDS FUND FREE VIEDED
MORE THAN 90,000 WRAP AROUND
STUDENT SUPPORTS TO STUDENTS IN
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE
2019. SUPPORTING THEM WITH FOOD,
HOUSING, CLOTHING AND
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT. AND WE ARE
PROUD OF THE SEATTLE TEACHER
RESIDENCY SUPPORTED WITH THE
FUNDS THAT BROUGHT MORE THAN 250
HIGHLY TRAINED AND COMMITTED
EDUCATORS INTO SPF TITLE ONE
SCHOOLS REFLICKING DIVERSITY OF
THE STUDENTS THEYER IS. PROGRAMS
LIKE OURS EXIST BECAUSE OF
COLLABORATIVE STRATEGY AND
SUPPORT AND DELIVER ON THE FEPP
LEVY. THANKS FOR ADVANCING
CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR SEATTLE.
WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH YOU
TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE READY
IS TO START, LEARN AND LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU LISA. ALEX SCHIFF,
JEFF LAMB, REQUEST I HEAD ALEX.
>> I AM ALEX SCHIFF AND I AM A
RETENTION SPECIALIST FOR SEATTLE
PROMISE. I WORK WITH STUDENTS
WHO HAVE BEEN' MITED TO THE
PROGRAM. WE HAVE HEARD A BIT
FROM SOME STUDENTS AS WELL AS
FROM PARENTS, AND I AM HERE TO
TESTIFY AS TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE
POWER OF OUR PROGRAM. MANY
STUDENTS COME IN. THEY HAD NEVER
CONSIDERED THEM THEMSELF AS
POTENTIAL COLLEGE STUDENTS.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE
SEWING THEMSELVES AS POTENTIAL
STUDENTS IN COLLEGE AND ENG ABLE
TO ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION BUT
TYPES OF JOBS THAT WILL BE
FULFILLING TO THEM AND ENABLE
THEM TO BE PRODUCTIVE PART OF
SEATTLE AND THE GREATER KING
COUNTY AREA. MANY OF MY STUDENTS
COME IN FROM BACKGROUNDS THAT
ARE VERY CHALLENGED. THEY ARE
FIRST GENERATION. THEY COME FROM
SITUATIONS OF POVERTY AS YOU MAY
HAVE HEARD, WE ARE NOT JUST A
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. WE ARE A
HIGH TOUCH PROGRAM. THESE
STUDENTS COME IN AND WE SUPPORT
THEM NOT ONLY IN ACADEMIC
ADVISING BUT IN CONNECTING THEM
RESOURCES, MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES, FINDING THEM
INTERNSHIPS, SOME WITHIN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE. WE HAVE AMAZING
PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROJECT
BALDWIN, TO SUPPORT OUR MEN OF
COLOR. WE HOPE WE WILL BE ABLE
TO EXPAND THE PARTNERSHIPS AS
WELL AS EXPANDING SOME OF THE
RESOURCES FOR THE STUDENTS. I
ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT NOT ONLY
DOES SEATTLE PROMISE ADDRESS
NEEDS OF STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT
HAVE SEEN THEMSELVES AS
POTENTIAL COLLEGE STUDENTS BUT A
TIME WHEN EDUCATION IS BECOMING
VERY HIGH PRICED, STUDENTS FROM
BACKGROUNDS WHERE FAMILIES
EXPECT THEM TO GO TO SCHOOL EGG
ARE FINDING THEMSELVES PRICED
OUT. SEATTLE PROMISE IS A WAY
FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO
ACCESS EDUCATION. REGARDLESS OF
THEIR BACKGROUND.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THATCHING YOU.
>> JEFF LAMB AND RORY NUNEZ.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM JEFF LAMB I AM THE PROUD
PRINCIPAL OF CLEVELAND S.T.E.M.
HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHEAST
SEATTLE. AND I AM A PROUD
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT OF
THREE STUDENTS ATTENDING TWO
LEVY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE
POSITIVE IMPACT OF THE LEVY ON
CLEVELAND HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY.
CLEVELAND SERVES A REMARKABLE
STUDENT BODY. 86% STUDENTS OF
COLOR, HALF FROM LOW INCOME
BACKGROUNDS WITH A 98%
GRADUATION RATE. LAST YEAR 57%
OF APPLICANTS WERE EMITTEDED TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
SEATTLE. FAR EXCEEDING THE CITY
WIDE AVERAGE. OUR RESTORATIVE
PRACTICES WORK HAS REDUCED
INFORMAL DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS
DROPPING TO TOTAL OF 10 THIS
SCHOOL CAREER. WITH ONLY ONE
STUDENT WITH MULTIPLE INCIDENTS
AND MULTIPLE MEANS TWO. THESE
SUCCESSES ARE DUE TO YEARS,
YEARS OF INTENTIONAL INVESTMENT
THIN VATION AND PARTNERSHIP
THROUGH THELIY AND SCHOOL
COMMUNITY OWNING THE STRATEGIC
PLANNING PROCESS. SCHOOL BASED
LEVY DOLLARS FUND SEVEN SUPPORT
STAFF MILLION PROVIDING SOCIAL
WORK, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
COORDINATION, COUNSELING FAMILY
ADVOCACY AND CASE MANAGEMENT.
THIS ENSURES STUDENTS WHO NEED
EXTRA SUPPORT CAN THRIVE. OUR
LEVY FUNDED COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS HELPED EXPERIENCE
BREAKTHROUGHS IN THE PARTNERSHIP
THIS YEAR WITH THE EAST AFRICAN
COMMUNITY RESULTING IN
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED GRADES
AND ATTENDANCE. BUT BEYOND
CRUCIAL PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTS,
IT GIVES EDUCATORS A CHANCE TO
DREAM AND BOOST MORALE AND
INSPIRES US TO FOCUS ON
POSSIBILITIES. INSTEAD OF
MEETING ABOUT EMERGENCIES, AND
PUTTING OUT FIRES, WE DISCUSS
CREATING A THRIVING JUST AND
JOYFUL LEARNING COMMUNITY. AND
OUR CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE OF
FEAR AND ANXIETY OF LEVY IS A
SOURCE OF HOPE. CLEVELAND IS
PROOF OF CONSIST WHAT THE LEVY
CAN BE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
SUPPORT THE WILL HAVEY AND
ENSURE SCHOOL BASED LEVY FUNDING
CONTINUES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. RORY NUNEZ AND
LORI ROSS. PLEASE STEP UP TO THE
MIC. ODALEO.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU CITY
COUNCIL FOR THE TIME. AND MY
NAME IS -- I AM AN SPECIALIST
FOR THE SEATTLE PROMISE PROGRAM
MAKING SURE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
ACROSS SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
ESPECIALLY FROM LINCOLN, AND
NATHAN HILL HAVE GUARANTEED
FIRST DAY OF HIREDCATION AT
SEATTLE COLLEGE. LIKE MOST OF US
IN THE ROOM, I TOO WAS A PUBLIC
SCHOOL STUDENT AND EVERY DAY I
STEP INTO WORK AS MENTOR THAT
TELLS MANY OF THE SPS STUDENTS
THEY ARE CAPABLE OF NOT ONLY
ATTENDING COLLEGE, BUT
COMPLETING FIRST DEGREE AS WELL.
THIS STATEMENT IS HEARD FOR THE
VERY FIRST TIME FOR MANY OF THE
KID THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
ELIMINATING THE ACCESS OF FOR
STUDENTS IS SOMETHING I PRIDE
MYSELF IN DOING AND MADE
POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EDUCATION
LEVY. AND THROUGH OUR
DEPARTMENT'S TALENT AND
PROGRESS OUR OUTREACH APPROACH
HAS IN EACH OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS
ALL OVER SEATTLE. THIS IS WHY I
AM VOICING NEED TO CONTINUE FUND
FUNDING THE SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM MAKING SURE THAT HIGH
SCHOOL STEEN JURORS CONTINUE TO
ASPIRE TO BECOME THE FIRST
MEMBER OF THE FAMILY TO GRADUATE
HIGH SCHOOL, AND ATTEND COLLEGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. LORI ROSS AND
MANUEL PLEASE COME UP TO THE
MIC. GO AHEAD.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING,
COUNCIL MEMBERS. ABOUT EIGHT
YEARS AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU AS
A 13 YEAR STUDENT. I SAW SEATTLE
COLLEGE. SHARED MY STORY ABOUT
BEING A SMALL KID AT AN ISLAND
OF GUATEMALA. THE SUPPORTER OF
MRS. SHAPELL AS A GRADUATION
FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL. AND HOW
THE 13-YEAR PROGRAM HELPED ME
SUPPORT TRANSITION FROM HIGH
SCHOOL TO COLLEGE. I AM HERE
TODAY TO SHARE THE 2.0 VERSION
OF MY STORY. POST 13 YEAR, I
TRANSFERRED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON. GRADUATED WITH A
MARKETING DEGREE AND MINORS IN
NONPROFIT, TUITION FREE. ALL
THANKS TO TEAM WHO BELIEVED IN
ME AND TOLD ME IF YOU WANT TO GO
FAR, GO ALONE IF YOU WANT TO GO
FAR GO TOGETHER. AND I CHOSE TO
GO TOGETHER. TODAY, HI, I AM
TELLING YOU MY NAME IS RONNIE
NUNEZ AND I AM AN OUTREACH
SPECIALIST WITH SEATTLE PROMISE.
I WORK WITH STUDENTS AT SEATTLE
WAR SCHOOL THE CENTER SCHOOL,
AND THE ENER SAY AND LIKE ME
MOST STUDENTS NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT COLLEGE UNTIL WE TALKED TO
THEM ABOUT SEATTLE PROMISE. I AM
SO HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE
SEATTLE PROMISE TEAM, AND OUR
STUDENT JOURNEY. I AM ENCOURAGE
YOU TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE
CITY AND EDUCATION LEVY AND
SEATTLE PROMISE. THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU LORI ROSS MANUELA
AND CJ IT LORI, GO AHEAD.
>> I AM LORI ROSS. I REWROTE
THIS SO I WILL BE PEERING LOW
LIST. LORI ROSS AND I ECHO WHAT
MAGGIE AND MELANIE SAID THANK
YOU VERY MUCH THOSE OFOUS WHO
SPOKE WITH US AND HEARD US ABOUT
PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION IN SEATTLE. IT WAS
VERY GRATIFYING TO HAVE BEEN
HEARD. I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION AND THAT THOUGHT BY
ASKING THAT THE ONGOING
DISCUSSION RECOGNIZE HOW TIGHTLY
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SCHOOL
PROGRAMS ARE TIED TO EDUCATION
AND SERVICES FOR THE GENERAL
PUBLIC. AS VOLUNTEER GUIDES ARE
ROOTED IN THE INTERPRETIVE
CENTER AT DISCOVERY PARK. WE
SHARE RESOURCES AND STAFF
EXPERTISE WITH THE PEOPLE WHO
ADMINISTER AND COORDINATE
PROGRAMS SUCH AS NATURE CAMPS IN
PRESCHOOL AND ACCESSIBILITY
SHUTTLE AS DISCOVERY PARK THAT
GO DOWN TO THE BEACH AND
PROGRAMS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO
COMMUNITY CENTERS SUCH AS THE
GARFIELD COMMUNITY CENTER FAMILY
GARDEN. OUR TRAINING INCLUDES
STAFFING TABLES AT CITY EVENTS
SUCH AS DAYBREAK STAR POWWOW AND
BIG DAVE PLAY. AND MAINTAINING
PARK PRESENCE WITH A TABLE
DURING HIGH USE SEASON AND
ANSWERING NONSTOP STREAM OF
QUESTIONS THAT ALSO COME TO THE
ELC, THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT
SENTENCE. SORRY. I AM ASKING
THAT ANY FUNDING STRUCTURE TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE HEIGHTENED
VALUE OF OUR PROGRAMS AS
SYNERGISTIC OFFERINGS AND THAT
THE ISSUE OF FUNDING THE
OPERATION OF THE DISCOVERY PARK
INTERPRETIVE FACILITY BE BROUGHT
FORWARD SOONER RATHER THAN LATER
AND CONSIDER WHILE FINALIZING
THE LEVY PROPOSAL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU LORI. MANUELA, CJ
AND DR. MONIKA BROWN PLEASE COME
UP TO THE MIC. MANUELA GO AHEAD.
>> I AM MANUELA AND I AM A
MOTHER EDUCATOR AND SEATTLE
COUNCIL PTSA BOARD MEMBER AND I
LIVE IN SEATTLE. I AM MEMBER OF
THE LEVY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND
HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THE WHOLE FAMILIES EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY
PACKAGE. THE WHOLE THING. I KNOW
THIS LEVY WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
SEATTLE CHILDREN ESPECIALLY
THOSE WITH HIGHEST NEEDS COMING
FROM FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL
ACCESS AND LANGUAGE BARRIERS. AS
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR I
UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR HIGH
QUALITY LEARNING PROGRAMS IN THE
FOR THE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THIS
GREAT CITY. IN THE FORMATIVE
YEARS, WE MUST FOCUS ON STRONG
FOUNDATION TORE KIDS TO DEVELOP
THE SKILLS THAT WILL SERVE THEM
FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE
INCLUDING SMOKE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
LEARNING ACROSS ALL PRESCHOOL
PROGRAMS. I WITNESSED THE
SUCCESS OF THE SEATTLE PROMISE
OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES. AND AS A PARENT, I AM
PROUD TO SHARE MY OLDEST
DAUGHTER FOUND HER PART TO
SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFER TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON AND NOW
READY TO RECEIVE HER BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN ENGLISH WITH MINOR IN
WOMEN'S STUDIES. TO SAY HER
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY
ARE PROUD OF HER, IS AN
UNDERSTATEMENT. THANKS TO -- SHE
JOINED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS
WITH ACCESS TO COLLEGE DEGREE
THANKS TO SEATTLE PROMISE AND
THE SUPPORT OF SEATTLE RESIDENTS
THAT BELIEVE IN EDUCATION AS A
WAY TO SUCCEED IN LIFE. IN
CLOSING I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL
TO BELIEVE IN OUR STUDENTS AND
TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ALL THE
COMPONENTS OF THE LEVY. I ALSO
WANT TO THANK MY FELLOW SEATTLE
VOTERS FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO
RENEW THE FAMILIES EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY AND
EVERY CHILD READY INITIATIVE WE
MUST WORK TOGETHER FOR PUBLIC
EDUCATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. CJ DANCER, DR.
MONICA BROWN AND LULU HERON COME
UP TO THE MIC. CJ GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS
AND COMMITTEE CHAIR. AS WELL AS
FORMER BOSS, DR -- AND MY FORMER
COWORKERS. THANKS SO MUCH FOR
THIS OPPORTUNITY. I AM CLARENCE
DANCER JR. I AM THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ACE ACADEMY. AND I
AM SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE
LEVY. THE WHOLE LEVY, BUT
SPECIFICALLY IN THE 12 POST
SECONDARY SPACE AS ONE OF THE
FORMER TEAM MEMBERS WHO HELPED
TO DEVELOP SEATTLE PROMISE, I AM
EXCITE AND MY HEART IS WARM TO
HEAR ABOUT ALL THE SUCCESSS THAT
SEATTLE PROMISE HAS HAD. BUT
THERE'S LOT OF OTHER SUCCESS IN
THE K12 SPACE AND PARTICULAR THE
WORK WE DO WITH ACE THROUGH OUR
BREAK CAMPS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
YOUNG MEN BOTH INCLUDING THE
SPRING BREAK AND MID WINTER
BREAK AND SUMMER CAMPS. WE
SUPPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUNG MEN
AND HELP THEM DEVELOP AND BE
PREPARED GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
THROUGH THAT PROGRAM WE ALSO ARE
ABLE TO OFFER HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS INTERNSHIPS AND
FOR SOME OF THEM THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME HAVING A JOB. NOT
ONLY ARE WE CREATING JOB
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH, WE ARE
ALSO CREATING A NEAR PEER
SUPPORT MECHANISM IN MENTORSHIP
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEIR
SUCCESS. THE OTHER AREA THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THE
WORK THAT WE DO WITH BLACK
EDUCATORS THAT ARE SUPPORTED
THROUGH THE FUNDING. WE ARE ABLE
TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR A
BLACK MALE EDUCATORS WITHIN THE
CITY. AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FEW
AND FAR BETWEEN WITHIN OUR
SCHOOLS. AND EVEN WITHIN THE
SCHOOLS, THEY ARE OFTEN ISOLATED
IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO. SO WE
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE SPACE
FOR THEM TO COME AND RECEIVE
MENTORING, RECEIVE SUPPORTS, AND
TO BE IN THE PLACE TO WORK WITH
ONE ANOTHER. SO, I AM IN SUPPORT
OF THE LEVY FOR MANY REASONS.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS
OPPORTUNITY.
>> THANK YOU, CJ.
>>> DR. MONICA BROWN. LULU HERON
AND SHAREY.
>> I AM MONICA BROWN AND I HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE
PRESIDENT OF SOUTH SEATTLE
COLLEGE. AND I AM HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF EVERY CHILD
READY INITIATIVE, AND
SPECIFICALLY THE SEATTLE PROMISE
PROGRAM. AND I AM THANKFUL FOR
YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. I AM
RELATIVELY NEW TO WASHINGTON.
AND TO THE SEATTLE AREA. HAVING
JOINED SEATTLE COLLEGES IN
AUGUST, 2024, FROM THE OTHER
WASHINGTON, THAT IS WASHINGTON,
D.C. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
DREW ME HERE IS THE FOCUS AND
THE ATTENTION THAT IS GIVEN TO
EDUCATION AND THE INCREDIBLE
GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT
FOR IT. HAVING JOINED SEATTLE
COLLEGES IN AUGUST 2024, I THINK
ABOUT WHAT I'VE SEEN IN SUCH A
SHORT TIME. I'VE BEEN HERE NOW
FOR JUST A LITTLE OVER NINE
MONTHS. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM SEATTLE
PROMISE STUDENTS AND YOU HEARD
FROM A FORMER STUDENT THIS
EVENING WHO IS NOW WORKING IN
THE SEATTLE PROMISE PROGRAM, AND
THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS MADE ON
HIS LIFE, AND THE IMPACT THAT HE
IS MAYBE ON THE LIVES OF OTHERS,
IT IS A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON
GIVING. SO I HAVE BEEN DEDICATED
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MORE THAN
THREE DECADES, AND I AM DRIVEN
BY A BELIEF OF THAT WE CREATE
GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
AND PROSPERITY IN OUR
COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY. AND THIS
IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SEATTLE
PROMISE PROGRAM DOES. IT IS A
CORNERSTONE OF THIS MISSION, AND
I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S PARTNERSHIP
AND SUPPORT IN OPENING DOORS FOR
OUR GRADUATING SENIORS FROM THE
SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, THIS
EVENING, AND FOR YOUR STEADFAST
SUPPORT OF EDUCATION IN SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DR. BROWN. WE HAVE
LULU AND I AM GOING TO TRY THIS
AGAIN HOPEFULLY I SAID THAT
CORRECTLY. SHAYLA BROWN. CAN YOU
STEP UP TO THE MIC. IF YOU ARE
STILL HERE.
>> LULU IS NOT HERE? SHAYLA
BROWN? ARE YOU SHAYLA?
>> I AM.
>> TERRIFIC. COME ON UP. THANK
YOU FOR BEING HERE. GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL
MEMBERS, I HUMBLY STAND BEFORE
YOU AS A MEMBER OF MY COMMUNITY
AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADUATE AND
MOST DEDICATED JOB AS A MOTHER
OF OF A SECOND YEAR COLLEGE
STUDENT WHO IS A SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOL GRADUATE. I CURRENTLY AM
A SITE DIRECTOR FOR SCHOOL THEY
CAN WASHINGTON. AS SITE DIRECTOR
WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE
LASTING MODEL, THAT WE HAVE ALL
HEARD IS A MIND IS A TERRIBLE
THING TO WASTE. THE MIND OF OUR
STEWED ENDS IS CHALLENGED BY
INDIVIDUALS WHO UNDERSTAND THE
MISFORTUNES AND IMBALANCES IN
SEVERAL COMMUNITIES. SCHOOL
CONNECT WASHINGTON WE STRIVE TO
CLOSE GAPS AND EMPOWER MINDS AND
FOUR PILLARS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
ACADEMICS ENSURING WE CLOSE
ACADEMICS AND SOCIAL GAPS.
SCHOOL WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
STAFF AND SUPPORTIVE STAFF AND
ENSURING REENFORCEMENT FOR BEING
A DET DEMIC SUPPORT FOR OUR
STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
PARENTS, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH
PARENTS TO ENSURE THEY KNOW WHAT
THEIR CHILDREN ARE DOING, WHERE
THEIR CHILDREN ARE AND THAT THEY
ARE SAFE. AND THIS INCLUDES WRAP
AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FROM
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO AN ACADEMIC
AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
LEVEL. COMMUNITY. WORKING
CLOSELY WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS WHO
DEDICATE ENDLESS HOURS AND TIME
TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ALSO
SUCCEEDING NOT ONLY THEM OUR
STAFF STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY BUT
ALSO THE STAFF OF SCHOOL
CONNECT. THIS LEVY FUND
SOMETHING NOT ONLY A NEED. IT'S
A MUST. TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
THE FUTURE LEADERS THAT WE CALL
OUR FUTURES THINKERS AND DOERS.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL
EVENING.
>> THANK YOU. ANNIE WILSON,
JORDAN GOLDWARG AND HUGH LAMB.
COME UP TO THE MIC. ANNIE GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING. I AM A PROGRAM
ASSISTANT AT SCHOOL CONNECT
WASHINGTON. AND A RADDING
INTERVENTION AT STEVENS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM PASSIONATE
ABOUT TEACHING THE MAGIC OF
READING TO ALL STUDENTS. BUT
ESPECIALLY THOSE FARTHEST FROM
EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE. TO THE ONES
THAT ARE OFTEN LEFT BEHIND BY
OUR SYSTEM. I JOINED SCHOOL
CONNECT WASHINGTON BECAUSE WE
STEPPED INTO THE GAP. AS A
READING INTERVENTIONIST I SPEND
EVERY DAY MEETING STUDENTS WHERE
THEY ARE AND HELPING THEM TAKE
OWNERSHIP OF THEIR READING. WE
USE STRATEGIC RESEARCH BASED
INSTRUCTION THAT SYSTEMATIC
EXPLICIT AND CONSISTENT.
GROUNDED IN THE SCIENCE OF
READING. WE BUILD COMPETENCE SO
OUR STUDENTS CAN BUILD THEIR
CONFIDENCE. BUT HERE'S THE
TRUTH. THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TIME
IN OUR SCHOOL DAY. TO GIVE THE
STUDENTS EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
ESPECIALLY THOSE NAVIGATING
POVERTY, HOME INSECURITY AND
LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE.
TEACHERS LIKE ME ARE CONSTANTLY
SEARCHING FOR EQUITY ACADEMIC
AFTER SCHOOL OPTIONS. BUT THE
BARRIERS ARE REAL, AND COSTS,
TRANSPORTATION, AND TRUST. AT
OUR BETHANY COMMUNITY BOSTON WE
SERVE OVER 20 MCKINNEY AND
MULTILANG WALL LEARNS FROM
BAGLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FIVE
DAYS A WEEK. STUDENTS ARRIVE
EXHAUSTED. BALANCING LANG
ACQUISITION AND BEING A DEM HE
CAN DEVELOPMENT ALL DAY. WE
CELEBRATE THEM WE DON'T JUST
TUTOR. WE NURTURE. SAFETY JOY
AND BELONGING COMES FIRST
BECAUSE THAT'S THE FOUNDATION
OF LEARNING. AS MULTI-YEAR LEVY
RECIPIENT SCHOOL CONNECT
WASHINGTON REMOVES THE BARRIERS
AND GIVES STUDENTS THE TIME,
SPACE AND RELATIONSHIPS THEY
NEED TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY AND
EMOTIONALLY. AND IT WORKS. IN
JUST SIX MONTHS SCHOLARS HAVE
GROWN MORE THAN A FULL GRADE
LEVEL IN READING. THIS SUMMER
WILL CONTINUE THAT MOMENTUM ELEM
NEATING THE SUMMER SLIDE AND --
>> THANK YOU ANNIE. JORDAN HUVEN
AND.
>> I AM JORDAN AND I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 4 AND I AM EXBEINGTIVE
DIRECTOR OF ONE WORLD NOW. A
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT
LOCATED IN DISTRICT 2 AND
SERVING PRIMARILY LOW INCOME
STUDENTS ACROSS SOUTH SEATTLE. I
AM HERE TO EXPRESS MY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE RENEWAL OF THE
LEVY AND TO URGE CONTINUED
FUNDING IN THE LEVY FOR PROGRAMS
OFFERING ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND
CULTURAL RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH. PROGRAMS
LIKE ONE WORLD NOW HELP TO CLOSE
THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FOR STUDENT
IN OUR CITY, WORK WE COULDN'T
DO WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE
FUNDS. SIMPLY PUT, THE FUND HAVE
BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR OUR
ORGANIZATION AND THE STUDENTS WE
SERVE. WITH THE FUNDING WE
RECEIVED WE ARE ABLE TO EXPAND
AND HIRE NEW POSITIONS THAT ARE
CRITICAL TO ALLOWING US TO
PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE OUR
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DESERVE.
WE HIRED A NEW POSITION FOCUS ON
STUDENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
WHICH IS PROVIDING A RANGE OF
SUPPORTS TO ENSURE STUDENTS
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE
PROGRAM AND EARN THE ACADEMIC
CREDIT WE OFFER WHICH EXPANDS
POST SECOND A AN AREY OPTIONS.
IN THE YEARS WE RECEIVE THE
FUNDS WE RECEIVE THE COMPLETION
RATE INCREASE DRAMATICALLY.
FUNDS HAVE ALLOW US TO DEEPEN
ORGANIZATIONAL EQUITY THROUGH
THINGS LIKE TRANSLATING WRITTEN
MATERIALS INTO A RANGE OF
LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY OUR
FAMILIES. TO CONCLUDE I WANT TO
SHARE WORDS OF A GRADUATE WHO
EXPRESSES THE VALUE OF THE
PROGRAM BETTER THAT I I EVER
COULD. SHE SAID HE FEEL IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO KEEP
PERHAPS LIKE ONE WORLD NOW ALIVE
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES THE
PROGRAM PROMOTE GROWTH OF
INDIVIDUALS, BUT SERVES AS
IMPORTANT RESOURCE WITHIN THE
COMMUNITIES AND EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEMS CLOSING THE GAPS WITHIN
OUR EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURES AND
PRICELESS WAYS. ONE WORLD NOW
STAFF HELPED ME BECOME THE
LEADER AND RISK TAKER I AM TODAY
AND I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR
THAT. AGAIN, I URGE YOU TO
INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR OUT OF
SCHOOL ACADEMIC SOCIAL EMOTIONAL
LEARNING AND CULTURAL RESPONSIVE
LEADERSHIP READY.
>> THANK YOU, JORDAN. HUEN AND
JENNIFER AND LORI PLEASE COME TO
THE MIC AND I AM SORRY IF I
MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAME.
>> YOU DIDN'T BUT GOOD EVENING
CITY COUNCIL I AM HERE PRINCIPAL
AT RISING STAR. AND MY AP
JENNIFER JENNIFER WE ARE HERE
TODAY TO PRETTY MUCH ARE YOU
GUYS UP FOR CLOSING THE GAP
HELPING STUDENTS IN POVERTY, AND
HELPING STUDENTS WHO HAVE
ANOTHER LANGUAGE, WHO YOU HAVE
SEEN FROM COVID ARE STRUGGLING
AND NOT MAKING GAINS.
NATIONWIDE, RIGHT. WE ARE ABLE
TO DO THIS AT RISING STAR HERE
EVIDENCED TODAY AS YOU HAVE
HEARD FROM MANY SCHOOLS HERE. SO
WE APPRECIATE WHERE YOU ARE
TAKING THE TIME TO HEAR THE
PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND STAFF
WHO ARE DOING THE WORK AND
SHOWING YOU THE RESULTS WHAT
LEVY FUNDING CAN DO. WHEN I
STARTED AT RISING STAR SEVEN
YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO 11Y
FUNDING AND GUESS WHAT, RISING
STAR WAS CONSIDERED A SCHOOL
FOLKS DON'T WANT TO ATTEND,
BEHAVIORS PROBLEM, STUDENT WERE
NOT MAKE ACHIEVEMENT LESS THAN
30% OF STUDENT, GUESS WHAT IT'S
NOT BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT
BRILLIANT OR TEACHERS ARE NOT
CAPABLE. BUT THERE IS A LACK OF
FUNDING WHERE THERE IS MORE
NEEDS THAN WE COULD HANDLE WITH
THE FUNDINGS WE HAVE. WITH LEVY,
THAT'S WHERE THE GAP IS CLOSED.
WE WERE ABLE TO USE THAT FUNDING
TO PROVIDE SEL WHERE YOU HEARD
ALREADY. I DON'T NEED TO SHOW
YOU BUT MY AP AND I WANT TO SHOW
YOU THE RESULTS WE ARE WE HAVE
CHANGED THE STORY AND TRAJECTORY
FOR MANY OF THE KID. AND I
SHARED A STORY WHERE I CAME FROM
POVERTY. AND MY SIBLINGS WENT
THROUGH THE PIPELINE PRISON TO
PIPELINE AND I WANT TO SEE
CHANGES. AND I KNOW YOUR
DECISION MAKES A BIG IMPACT FOR
THE KIDS AND I HOPE YOU HERE
TODAY A WILL HAVEY THAT GOES TO
SCHOOL, THAT KNOWS WHAT THEIR
SCHOOL NEEDS AND WILL PROVIDE
THE RESOURCES TO ATTACK STUDENTS
WITH LANGUAGE STUDENTS WITH IEP
AND STUDENTS HOMELESS, WE WILL
MAKE IT HAPPEN. SO I WANT TO
SHARE WITH YOU MY AP WILL SHARE
THE RESULTS YOU CAN SEE HERE THE
DATA AND TRAJECTORY OF THAT LEVY
HAS MADE THE CHANGE.
>> THANK YOU. I AM GOING TO WAIT
UNTIL THE TIME STARTS.
>> I AM JENNIFER AND I AM THE
ASSIST ANTIPYRINES PALING AT
RISING STAR BUT UNLIKE MISS
LAMB, I HAVE BEEN AT RISING STAR
FOR 14 YEARS. SO I HAVE TRULY
BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BEFORE LEVY AND AFTER
LEVY. AND THE LEVY GIVES RISING
STAR APPROXIMATELY $300,000 A
YEAR. WHAT DOES THE MONEY BUY?
IT FILLS IN EVERY LITTLE GAP
THAT WE HAVE SO WE CAN HAVE
MANY, MANY MORE FULL-TIME ADULTS
WORKING WITH STUDENTS AND AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAMMING WE USED CITY
YEAR FOR OUR AFTER SCHOOL
PROGRAMMING, AND WE HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO BUY CURRICULUM THAT WE
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUY
BEFORE. AND THE RESULTS ARE
THIS. WE DON'T HAVE DATA FOR
THE SMARTER BALANCE ASSESSMENT
IN '20 BECAUSE OF COVID OR '21
BECAUSE OF COVID. BUT IN 2022 WE
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE RESULTS
WHICH MAY BE WE WILL GET
BROADCAST I DON'T THINK ANYONE
CAN READ BUT WE BROUGHT THEM TO
LEAVE WITH YOU. BLACK STUDENTS
IN 2022, THIRD AND FOURTH AND
FIFTH GRADERS AVERAGED TOGETHER
WE ARE SCORING AT 24%
PROFICIENCY. AND IN 2023, THEY
WERE AT 24% PROFICIENCY AGAIN
24IN TO 537 BUT.
>>> 2024 LAST YEAR, 49% OF THE
BLACK STUDENTS ARE PROFICIENT ON
THIS SMARTER BALANCE ASSESSMENT.
OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS STARTED IN
2022 AT 19%. WITH A SMALL SAMPLE
SET OF LESS THAN 10 SO WE CAN'T
COUNT THAT BUT IN 2023 THEY WERE
AT 36.6 AND LAST YEAR 42.9%.
STUDENTS WITH IEP STARTED AT
11%. AND MOVED UP TO 18.5%, AND
LAST YEAR PASSED WITH A RATE OF
27.8%. OUR MULTI-LANG WALL
LEARNERS 40% OF STUDENT AT
FRANKLIN STARTED AT 14%
PROFICIENCY AND MOVED TO 18 --
22.7% AND ENDED AT 40.3% AND ALL
STUDENT ALTOGETHER AT RISING
STAR STARTED.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. THANK YOU.
YOU CAN LEAVE THE MATERIALS IN
THE BOX AND WE WILL MAKE SURE
THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GET
THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LAURA
NICKOLSON, MARK RIVERS, AND ALAN
TEMPEE, COME UP TO THE MIC IF
YOU ARE HERE. AND THEN FOLLOWED
BY MADISON AND RYAN TRAN AND
ASHLEY MILLER.
>> YOU LAURA NICKOLSON? NO OR
MARK RIVERS? GO AHEAD, MARK.
THANK YOU.
>> [INAUDIBLE]
>> IS THE MIC ON? [INAUDIBLE]
>> OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG AND
VERY YOUNG [INAUDIBLE]
>> STABILITY IS EVERYTHING FOR A
CHILD. AS WE ALL KNOW AND ONCE
WERE CHILDREN. AND SO THIS IS
CHANCE FOR YOU TO GET THAT RIGHT
FOR THEM. FOR YOU TO PROVIDE
SOMETHING THEY KNOW WHEN THEY
SHOW UP, THIS THING IS HERE.
THIS GAP IS FILLED. FOR ME, THE
LITTLE NICHE I AM IN IS SAFETY.
IN 3WAYS WEEKS WE ARE 30 FOR 30
WITH NO CHILDREN BEING SHOT. IF
THAT DOESN'T TELL YOU WHAT WE
ARE DOING WE KNOW A LITTLE
SOMETHING ABOUT, THEN DON'T
KNOW WHAT DOES. AND SO, THE
STABILITY OF THAT FOR THE NEXT
HOW MANY EVER YEARS I THINK
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING FOR
HERE. WE WANT OUR KIDS AND OUR
PARENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN
SHOW UP, AND THEY CAN GO HOME
SAFE. RIGHT NOW, WE THE DATA TO
PROVE THAT. I WOULD JUST HOPE
THAT YOU GUYS LEGACY YOU GET
THIS ONE RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, MARK. LET'S SEE.
IT'S EITHER ALAN OR ALONEY IS
THAT YOU.
>> ALOPPA TEMPLE.
>> I AM SORRY.
>> PROBABLY MY HANDWRITING.
>> ALONA, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
>> HELLO, MY NAME SAY LONNA
TEMPLE, I AM COLLEGE AND CAREER
FACILITATOR AT CHIEF SELF
INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. A
SCHOOL THAT HAS ONE OF THE
LEADING NUMBERS OF CULTURAL
DIVERSITY A SCHOOL WITH ONE OF
THE HIGHEST NUMBERS OF STUDENTS
WITH IEPs AND MULTILANGUAGE
LEARNERS AND THOSE ELIGIBLE TORE
FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH AND FIRST
GENERATION STUDENT AS WELL. MANY
OF YOUR STUDENTS BELONG TO ONE
OR MORE OF THE GROUPS I LIST,
AND THAT INTERSECTIONALITY
CREATES PLETHORA OF UNIQUE NEEDS
THAT ARE NOT SIMILAR TO OUR
OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS WHO HAVE A
SIMILAR BACKGROUND AS US, NEEDS
THAT CAN'T BE UNDERSTOOD FROM
THE WEBSITE, TEST SCORES OR ANY
OTHER GENERIC DATA. IT IS
UNDERSTOOD BY THE PEOPLE WHO
CHOOSE TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY. AND
SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND
NAVIGATING THE ARRAY OF BARRIERS
THAT ARE SYSTEMIC THEY MUST
MANEUVER. SORRY. THE SCHOOL BASE
LEVY FUNDING HAS BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN ALLOWING US TO
PROVIDE ADEQUATE STAFFING TO
CREATE AND SUSTAIN THE SYSTEMS
THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. ONE OF
THESE EXAMPLES IS MY POSITION
WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT CHIEF
SELF, OUR FINANCIAL AIDE
COMPLETION NUMBERS WERE ONE OF
THE LOWEST IN THE DISTRICT IN A
MATTER OF A YEAR, WE JUMPED UP
TO BEING ONE OF THE TOP THREE
HIGHEST. AND OUR ONE OF THE
DISTRICT LEADERS. RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE
TO USE THEIR LEVY FUNDING, AND I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO REMEMBER OUR
UNIQUE VOICES AND OUR
UNDERSTANDING OF OUR NEEDS. AND
TO ALLOW OUR VOICES TO NOT JUST
BE HEARD, BUT ALSO HONORED
VALUED AND NOT DISMISSED SO THAT
THE SYSTEMS WE WORKED SO HARD TO
CREATE WILL BE UPHELD AND NOT
UNNECESSARILY DISMANTLED.
>> THANK YOU ALANNA.
>> MADISON. RYAN, AND ASHLEY IF
YOU ARE HERE, PLEASE COME UP.
>> RYAN AND MADISON WERE
STUDENTS FROM CHIEF SELF BUT
THEY HAD TO GO.
>> THANK YOU ALANNA. CLARENCE CJ
NGUYEN. SAM MUHAMMAD. AND SEGAL.
>> THOSE BEHIND.
>> HE ARE SUPPORT AND.
>> YEP.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GO
AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL.
COUNCIL MEMBERS MY NAME I AM CE.
OFF VOICE OF TOMORROW SEATTLE
PRESCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDER SERVE
IMMIGRANTS AND IN THE
COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH SEATTLE. A
VOICE OF TOMORROW WE ARE PROUDLY
OPERATE ONE OF THE ONLY SOMALI
ENGLISH PRESCHOOL PROGRAM IN THE
NATION. AND THANKS TO THE LEVY
WE SERVE CHILDREN DIRECTLY
THROUGH OUR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
BUT IN-HOME FAMILY CHILD CARHOP
HUB AND NETWORK OF SOMALI AND
HOME BASED PROVIDERS WHO OPERATE
A FORMAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
THROUGH COACHING, CURRICULUM AND
SUPPORT, THIS PROVIDERS ARE
COMMUNITY ROOTED MULTI-LANG
WALL. ONE OF THEM WAS RECENTLY
HONORED WITH A GOLD MEDAL AND AS
WELL AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR BY
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING FOR
SCORING THE HIGHEST CITY TEACHER
ASSESSMENT THAT LEVEL OF
EXCELLENCE IS SOMALI SPEAKING
CLASSROOM PROVIDES WHAT'S THE
NEED FOR DUAL LANGUAGE
PROGRAMMING IS CLEAR. TODAY OVER
153,000 SEATTLE RESIDENTS
THAT'S LIKE 22%, OF THE
POPULATION ARE AGE 5 AND UP
SPEAK LANGUAGES OTHER THAN
ENGLISH AT HOME. THAT INCLUDES
LARGE POPULATION OF YOUNG
CHILDREN GROWING UP BILANG WALL
AND THOSE WHO DESERVE CLASSROOMS
MAYORS EVERY CHILD HE POSAL
INVESTMENT IS A BOLD STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION AND WILL
EXTANNED THE PROGRAM LIKE VOICES
OF DUAL LANGUAGE PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM. THAT'S SEATTLE
DESERVES AND COMMUNITY AND
CHILDREN WE SERVE. WE HOPE YOU
EXTEND THE LEVY. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU. SO I HAVE ANOTHER
SEGAL IS THAT -- ALSO
SUPPORTING. OKAY. PERFECT. AND
THEN, LET ME GO BACK TO -- SORRY
ASHLEY MILLER AS WELL? OKAY. SO
NOW WE ARE AT WE HAVE ABOUT SIX
MORE FOLKS RACHEL EVANS, TARA
MITCHELL AND JENNIFER. OH AND
JENNIFER SPOKE, I THINK. ARE YOU
RACHEL?
>> I AM.
>> PERFECT. GO AHEAD.
>> HELLO, I FEEL LIKE I AM
GETTING YOU GUYS ON FRIDAY 6th
PERIOD BEFORE SPRING BREAK. HERE
WE GO.
>> NO.
>> I RACHEL EVANS AND HIM IN MY
16th YEAR IN SEATTLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS. AS A TEACHER, I HAVE
TWO SONS ONE IS A JUNIOR AND AND
EMTHE LEVY COORDINATOR. SHOUT
OUT GOOD TO SEE YOU. IN SCHOOLS
WE JOKE SOMETIMES ABOUT OTHER
DUTIES AS ASSIGNED THAT ARE
TAGGED INTO OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS
BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS OPERATING
AT A GREATER THAN 1.0 CAPACITY
EVERY DAY. BUT, WHEN I THINK
ABOUT THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE
FUNDED THROUGH THE SCHOOL BASED
INVESTMENT, IT'S NO
EXAGGERATION TO SAY THERE IS NO
WAY WE COULD ABSORB THE WORK OF
THE PEOPLE. THERE'S NO WAY THAT
THIS WORK CAN BE ABSORBED. AND
SO, WHILE I KNOW THAT THE
FUNDING FOR THE K12 INVESTMENT
HAS BEEN APPROVED ON SOME LEVEL,
I KNOW THE DETAILS ARE GOING TO
BE WORKED OUT, AND I AM HERE TO
REALLY URGE YOU A AS YOU HEARD
FROM A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE MOST
RECENTLY PRINCIPLE LIAM
INVESTING IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
LEVY. GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY
TO GET WHAT WE NEED FOR THE KIDS
THAT WE KNOW AND THAT WE WORK
WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. TO HAVE
CONTINUITY OF SERVICE THROUGHOUT
THE DAY, AND TO HAVE PEOPLE
COMING TO OUR MTSS MEETINGS,
AVAILABLE IN A CRISIS, AVAILABLE
AFTER SCHOOL, AT OUR STAFF
MEETINGS, IT IS CRITICAL THAT
WHEN THE KIDS NEED SERVICES,
THERE'S A PERSON THERE TO
PROVIDE THE SERVICES. WORKING
WITH CBOs IS AWESOME THERE'S
GREAT ONES AND WE LOVE THAT AS
WELL. BUT AT THAT POINT, WHEN
YOU ARE ONLY SUPPORTING THROUGH
A CBO, THE KID HAS TO BE READY
WHEN THE CBO PARTNER IS THERE.
AND INSTEAD OF US BEING THERE TO
SUPPORT THEM WHENEVER THEY NEED
US. SO I URGE YOU TO CONTINUE
THAT FUNDING.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU RACHEL.
TARA MITCHELL, JENNIFER AND I
THINK SHE SPOKE AND CLAIRE
CAMPBELL. TARA.
>> HI, I AM DR. TARA MITCHELL.
AND IF SHE GOT YOU SIXTH PERIOD
I AM THE FACULTY MEETING ON THE
SAME DAY. SO I AM GOING TO TRY
TO KEEP IT SHORT. I CURRENTLY
SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FOR CITY SEATTLE AND I AM GOING
TO SPEAK FROM THAT SPACE BUT I
WANT TO SHARE THAT I HAVE
EXPERIENCE WITH PREVIOUS LEVIES
AS A PRINCIPAL AT ROXVILLE
ELEMENTARY AND SEEN WHAT IT DOES
ON THE PRINCIPAL SIDE AND NOW
SEE WHAT IT DOES ON NONPROFIT
SIDE. OUR ORGANIZATION UTILIZES
AMAYOR CORE MEMBERS TOER IS
INFORM SCHOOLS TO INCREASE
CAPACITY BY SUPPORTING SMALL
GROUP INTERVENTIONS FOR READING
AND MATH AND WHOLE SCHOOL
SUPPORT AT REARS IS AND AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM ASPIRINS PEL LAMB
SHARED. THIS YEAR ALONE OUR
TEAMS COLLECTIVELY PROVIDE OVER
26,000 HOURS OF SERVICE TO MORE
THAN 2000 STUDENT WITHIN SEATTLE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. CITY YEAR AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE CITY
YEAR, INCREASE THE CAPACITY AND
ALLOW FOR MORE STUDENTS AND
SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE TARGETED
SCHOOL INTERVENTION OR
INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTS. WITH THE
INCREASED FUNDING CHALLENGES
SCHOOLS ARE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE
THESE ESSENTIAL PARTNERSHIPS
WITHOUT THE FAMILY EDUCATION
PRESCHOOL AND PROMISE LEVY AND
SO I STAND HERE IN SUPPORT
SAYING SCHOOL -- WE STAND READY
TO SERVE IN COMMUNITY WITH
COMMUNITY, AND SCHOOLS NOW NEED
THE SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO STAND
ALONGSIDE WITH US. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TARA. JENNIFER,
JUST MAKING SURE SHE IS -- OKAY.
SHE ALREADY SPOKE. CLAIRE
CAMPBELL DOMINIQUE DAVIS AND
JONATHAN MADUDAL. SORRY. HI.
BUTCHERED THAT. CLAIRE GO AHEAD.
>> GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK ABOUT THE INCLUSION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FUNDING
IN THE LEVY. I WORKED FOR NEARLY
A DECADE IN NONPROFIT
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. DURING
MY TENURE AS EDUCATOR I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TO
FACILITATE EXPERIENCES FOR MANY
HUNDREDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. TO
EXPERIENCE CONNECTION WITH EACH
OTHER. AND WITH THE NATURAL
SPACES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND I
AM PRETTY SURE THERE'S NOTHING
MORE MAGICAL THAN WITNESSING
PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WONDER AND
EXCITEMENT IN THE GREEN SPACES
IN THEIR COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY
WHEN THE SAME SPACES USED TO
FEEL INACCESSIBLE OR UNSAFE. FOR
DECADE, OUR CITIES ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN
PROVIDING SAFE AND WELCOMING
PROGRAMMING TO THOUSANDS OF
YOUTH AND ADULTS EVERY SINGLE
YEAR. MORE THAN 40% OF THEIR
SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN 2024 WERE
FUNDED BY SCHOLARSHIPS. STAFFING
A CONTRACTED AND PROGRAM'S
CAPACITY IS REDUCED PEOPLE WHO
LOSE OUT IS YOUTH AND LOW INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS. WHILE SCHOOLS
WITH MORE RESOURCES MAY BE ABLE
TO AFFORD PRIVATE PROGRAMS,
UNDER RESOURCE COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS WILL
NOT. I URGE YOU TO NORMALLY
COMMIT TO NOT ONLY PRESERVING
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
PROGRAMMING AS IT CURRENTLY
EXIST, BUT ALSO TO COMMIT TO
CREATING A PLAN TO EXPAND IT,
AND CENTER VOICES OF THOSE MOST
IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE IN THE
COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT, AND DEDICATION TO THE
YOUTH AS YOU NAVIGATE THE
CHALLENGING FUNDING DECISIONS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CLAIRE. ALL RIGHT.
I AM GOING TO JUST SAY THE NAMES
AND I DON'T THINK THEY ARE HERE
BUT DOMINIQUE OR JONATHAN GOING
ONCE, GOING TWICE. AND CLERK ANY
OTHERS SIGNED -- SPEAKERS.
>> NO THAT'S THE LAST.
>> GREAT, EVERYONE WHO WANTED TO
SPEAK GOT AN OPPORTUNITY.
COLLEAGUES, I CANNOT THANK YOU
ENOUGH FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH
ME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE
GOT THEIR TIME AND EVERYONE WHO
WANTED TO WEIGH IN HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. THIS IS
THE ONLY HEARING WE ARE HAVING
FOR THE LEVY FOR PASSAGE OF
GUESTING THE LEVY ON THE BALLOT.
AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYONE WHO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK CAN -- COULD DO SO SO
THANK YOU FOR HANGING IN WITH ME
PAST THE 7:00 HOUR. SO, ALL
RIGHT. THIS CONCLUDES THE MAY
12TH, 20 -- OOPS. COUNCILMEMBER
STROUSE.
>> THANK YOU I WANTED TO TAKE
THE MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE
TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION EARLY LEARNING FOR
STICKING WITH US THROUGH THE
ENTIRE PRESENTATION. I KNOW THAT
CHAIR HOLLANDSWORTH WILL GET US
OUT BYP:30 AND OCPD WILL BE WITH
US THAT ENTIRE PUBLIC HEARING. I
DON'T SEE A DEPARTMENT STICK
WITH US THROUGH THE END OF A
PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING A
HEAVILY THAT AFFECTS THEIR
DEPARTMENT. I AM SURE SDOT WAS
HERE AND WE PASSED LOTS OF
LEVIES BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO YOUR
DEPARTMENT AND THANK YOU FOR
BEING OUT HERE. THANK YOU,
CHAIR.
>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER
STRAS YOU STOLE MY THUNDER I WAS
GOING TO GET TO THAT PART ON THE
NEXT THING. BUT, THIS:CLOUDS THE
MAY 12TH, 2025 MEETING ON
FAMILIES EDUCATION PRESCHOOL AND
PROMISE LEVY AND HERE'S WHAT I
WAS GOING TO SAY COLLEAGUES
THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH ME
AND A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO
DIRECTOR SHAPELL AND MARISA AND
AMANDA AND WHO DO I SEE BACK
THERE. ALANDO CHRIS IS BACK
THERE AND LEILONI IS BACK THERE
AND GEMINI AND AM I MISSING TWO
THE ONLY TWO OR THREE THAT I AM
-- THAT I NEVER MET. BUT, THANKS
FOR BEING HERE ALL OF YOU, AND
STICKING WITH US TO HEAR OUR
PRESENTERS AND I KNOW THAT YOU
ALL CARE AS MUCH AS WE DO UP
HERE ABOUT HEARING PUBLIC
COMMENTS SO THANK YOU FOR STICK
SOMETHING AROUND. OUR NEXT
COMMITTEE MEET SOMETHING
SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY MAY 15th.
THIS THURSDAY AT 9:30 A.M. AND
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS
THIS MEETING WILL ADJOURN
HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
IT'S 7:42. AND THIS MEET
SOMETHING ADJOURNED.