Breathe in…… breathe out……
Greetings YDEKC Members and Friends:
Here in Washington State, some counties have moved on to Phase 2 of reopening plans, but that’s not yet the case in King County, where options for summer programming for kids remain up in the air. Regardless of whether more youth programs are able to open for in-person programming, we know that the social, emotional, and mental health needs of our young people are critical to support — now and in the coming months and years. To this end, we are happy to announce that registration is open for our Whole Child, Whole Day: Heart, Mind, & Body virtual symposium. This 3-day event will focus on creating equity-based learning environments that support the whole child, with a focus on shifting adult practices and systems to better serve youth of color in the Road Map region. Check out our Symposium web page for more details or register for the Symposium here.
A sense of belonging is one of the essential social-emotional assets that can support each of us. As Asian Pacific Islander Month comes to a close, we must continue to elevate awareness and actions that lead to racial equity. This recent article offers us some actions we can take towards anti-racism and supporting belonging: Wash your hands, not your integrity: 8 ways you can support the AAPI and CID community during this pandemic. For young people of color, the pandemic is leaving them with few job prospects, limited access to relief funds, and increased racism in many forms. This New York Times Opinion video from a youth perspective makes this very clear. Here at home, local 13-24 year old social media ambassadors will soon be sharing their stories on Facebook, and we will be amplifying them, too.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in touch,
The YDEKC team
Youth Development Executives of King County
ydekc.org | jwerner@ydekc.org | 206.336.6912 |