RARE Newsletter September 2022
King County Awards Grant to Promote RARE’s Documentary Film
The film Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White has already been the subject of showings and discussions at numerous schools, places of worship, and community groups, mostly in north Seattle. However, we have only scratched the surface of dissemination. King County’s 4Culture grant will help fund RARE’s work to get the film seen by thousands more people through dozens of institutions across a broader geographical area.
KCTS 9 To Feature Documentary Film Again in September
KCTS 9 has again scheduled RARE’s documentary film Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White for Sep 11, 6:30pm and Sep 13, 7pm. More than 12,000 households were reached in the first KCTS showings in June. Many schools, civic organizations, and places of worship are viewing and discussing the film. Please consider doing so for your group!
Connections Makes Spring ‘23 Plans After Successful Pilot
Connections successfully launched its Summer Focus Group, a pilot program held at Garfield HS from July 11-22. Using a racial equity curriculum, engaging activities, collaboration and leadership development, the summer program was co-developed in a partnership with Connections and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. 90% of the 10 students, who came from such high schools as Roosevelt, Garfield, Chief Sealth, and Franklin, reported that both the program content and the outside activities were “good” to excellent.” The students provided valuable feedback and input, which Connections is using to evaluate and design future Connections programming. RARE is exploring a roll-out of Connections programs at Roosevelt, Garfield and Franklin in Spring 2023.
RARE Launches Restorative Justice Coalition to Rethink School Discipline
Today’s disciplinary measures, such as classroom exclusions, suspensions, and expulsions, more often than not fall on the backs of Black and brown children, leaving them in the shadows with disproportionate results, poor outcomes and inequity in education. It is time to rethink school discipline. RARE is working to form a coalition of Seattle-area professionals and organizations to address this issue and find solutions, emphasizing the concepts of Restorative Practice and Restorative Justice. Further information and updates will be available in coming months.
RARE Welcomes Alumni to RHS
Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity offered two new experiences on Saturday, August 20 when RARE’s board of directors welcomed alumni from all classes – and some future alumni – to tour the campus and view the documentary, Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black & White.
What’s In a Name? Remembering Cassius Marcellus Clay
The name Cassius Marcellus Clay has held a prominent place in America’s political and cultural history for nearly two centuries. Grand and Romanesque, it was a name worn by two renegade Kentuckians of spirit and courage whose lives advanced freedom and equity.