Greetings YDEKC Members and Friends:
The 2020 school year is coming to a close, with drive-through graduation parties, virtual celebrations, and opportunities to march and protest in caps and gowns for a more just world. Last week, the King County Executive and Public Health – Seattle & King County declared that Racism is a Public Health Crisis, laying a foundation for more significant anti-racist policy change, including a commitment to “drive resources toward where they are needed most as indicated by those in that community.” This will be critical to truly reach a future where Black, Indigenous, and children of color thrive.
At YDEKC, we are gearing up for our annual Symposium and are excited to give you a preview of some of our presenters this year. Our symposium is focused on creating equity-based learning environments that support the whole child, supporting the heart, mind, and body. As the Reopening Washington Schools 2020 guidance has now been issued, we believe that youth development organizations — and a focus on the whole child — must be part of the scenarios, and we look forward to partnering with districts to ensure plans include whole day, whole child efforts.
Read on for more resources focused on summer and fall reopening, anti-racism in the nonprofit sector, funding, and well-being supports. At the beginning of COVID-19 closures in March, we shifted to a weekly newsletter format to ensure we could provide timely and useful information to you. Now, three months in, we will be shifting to an every other week format as we go into the summer, and we are eager to hear from you about what you find most useful in our communications. Let us know.
With gratitude and commitment,
Jessica
Executive Director
Youth Development Executives of King County
ydekc.org | jwerner@ydekc.org | 206.336.6912 |