We are keeping in short and sweet so keep reading for updates on Junior Circle Keeper Academy programming, Giving Tuesday, and some community events. Stay safe and warm, y’all!

In this newsletter:

• Junior Circle Keeper Academy 

• 6 Days until Giving Tuesday! 

• Community Events & Resources:

Junior Circle Keeper Academy happens at a magical intersection of WA-BLOC’s core passions and expertise: community building, restorative collaboration, and student leadership/empowerment.

We wanted to give you a glimpse at the moments that make up JCKA through the eyes of our RJ coordinators and the incredible growth they’re witnessing with students…

In this newsletter:

• Re-introducing Beth 

• Diverse Healers now accepting applications

• Giving Tuesday

• King County Employee Giving Program

• Community Events & Resources

Beth Girma is our newest Restorative Justice Coordinator! Beth is an invaluable two summer member of WA-BLOC’s Freedom Schools and a dear friend to many in the organization. They bring a vibrant and wholehearted approach to youth and liberatory work and truly leave a trail of joy wherever they go. This school year we are lucky to have Beth at John Muir Elementary (as well as a couple other partner schools). This month she has begun building community with students (read: throwing down in games of kindergarten tag at recess), supporting teachers in circle keeping, and facilitating Junior Circle Keeper Academy.

In this newsletter you will find:

• Introducing our 2025-26 School Partnerships 

• Announcing Diverse Healers Initiative and Important Dates!

• Staff Updates

• King County Employee Giving Program Kicks Off

• Community Events and Resources

In this newsletter you will find:

• 10 years of WA-BLOC Freedom Schools: Yobach’s story 

• Literature that Liberates!  

• Reminder to visit SPL for WA-BLOC’s Oral History exhibit “Circle Up!”

• ICYMI: Meet our summer Freedom Schools team and support scholar transportation!

• Community Events & Resources

This summer marks 10 years of WA-BLOC Freedom Schools Summer Program!

Check out this beautiful reflection by Yobachinia (Yobach!), who was part of Freedom Schools at Rainier Beach High School in 2015-16 and has been with the program ever since.

In this newsletter you will find:

• Circle Up Event Recap and Invitation to SPL exhibit!

• Meet our Freedom Schools Educators!

• Spring Campaign - Help us continue raising funds for bus transportation this summer!

In this newsletter you will find:

• You’re Invited! Oral History Event and Exhibition April 26th at El Centro de la Raza!

• Protecting In-School Supports for Queer and Trans Youth

• Call to Action

• Literature that Liberates

• Community Events and Resources

We have some announcements this month that we are excited to share.

• Diverse Healers Grant Award announcement!

• Summer Freedom Schools position applications open February 3rd!

• Website Update: Restorative Justice Educational Materials now available

As we near the end of 2024, our team will be taking a brief break between Dec 23rd-Jan 3rd to prioritize our wellness and rest and to prepare for the year ahead. We wish you a restful and restorative end of the year with your loved ones!

 In this newsletter you will find:

• Giving Tuesday Gratitudes + End of Year Giving Updates!

• Circle Keeper Training Reflection by Mari Ramirez

• Circle Prompts for New Year Reflections

• WA-BLOC Office Closure Dec 23-Jan 3

• Community Events and Resources

Last month, Anab shared her reflections about her experience at the annual Circle Keeper Gathering with Kay Pranis and The Circle Center in Nashville TN earlier this Fall. 

This month, check out Mari’s vlog about his big takeaways and lessons learned!

Happy back to school season to all of our scholars, families, educators, and school communities!

This month’s newsletter includes:

• Back to school! A peek into our school partnerships and programming this school year!

• ICYMI: Joy Manual: Free Community Building Resource! + Donor Survey!

• Community Events and Resources

We are keeping this newsletter short and sweet because it’s summer and that means Freedom Schools for our team :) We are having a blast so far and excited to share some fun updates with you. We hope you are staying safe and staying cool. Grab some soft serve from @thepastryproject and catch up with us! In this newsletter you’ll find:

• Freedom Schools - Our first two weeks recap

• Special Projects Sneak Peak!

• Community and Educational Resources

Here are some highlights and learnings we’ve curated for this month’s newsletter:

• Nothing and everything matters

• Freedom Schools Campaign Updates and Gratitudes

• Estelita’s Library X WA-BLOC book drive partnership

• Blog Feature: What Madrona elementary students have taught me about circle

• WA-BLOC in Chicago: Staff Retreat!

• Community and Educational Resources

In a moment of frustration and overwhelm the other day, I was strangely comforted by something my colleague said: Nothing and everything matters. "Nothing and everything matters" to me encapsulates the paradoxical nature of this moment where significance seems both amplified and diminished simultaneously. While our individual actions may feel inconsequential or overwhelming in isolation, I trust we are collectively contributing to a larger reality that supports and loves children.

Last month, thanks to a capacity building grant from Inatai Foundation, our entire staff had the opportunity to travel to Chicago for our Spring Staff retreat. Since we provide year-round, school-based programming, it’s not often we have a chance to rest, reflect, play, and learn together. Why Chicago? Not only does one of our beloved staff have deep roots in Chicago, but we also wanted to learn from several incredible organizations that are doing transformative, systems change work in their communities outside of Seattle. During our trip, we visited two organizations: Alternatives, Inc and Chicago Freedom Schools, both of whom are values aligned and supporting youth and school communities through Restorative Justice programming and youth organizing.