Our first EVER cohort of Fellows started this month and they’re quickly immersing themselves in partner school communities!

We know the work of building restorative practices in schools is to be led by many hands and hearts, and this year WA-BLOC is overjoyed to expand our network of RJ practitioners through the Restorative Justice Fellowship Program!

We are in a new year and there is beauty in starting anew. But if you’re struggling to generate a sense of newness when the horrors we are witnessing are painfully not new, please know you are not alone. I read a poem this week (I turn to poems most often when the days are still short and when the world doesn’t make enough sense) and it was about tending to something, or each other, over many seasons, and the truth we can find in repetition, returning to something over and over again. How we can know and love one another more deeply, in a way that is very powerful and threatens forces of oppression. By tending to one another repeatedly, seeing each other through the daily and yearly struggles, we can find a calm amidst the horrors. And I think there is a sense of renewal in that. Thank you for returning alongside us. 

In this newsletter:

• Support the General Strike

• Restorative Justice Fellowship +Meet the Fellows! 

• Nashville Circle Keeper Reflection

• Giving Tuesday Update 

• Community Events & Resources 

This collection of work preserves the oral histories from Black Restorative Justice practitioners and Circle-keepers in Seattle—leaders who have fought to create healing-centered schools instead of punitive discipline systems.

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:

My colleagues who were able to participate in this gathering last year shared that the experience was transformative to who they were as keepers, practitioners, and humans. They shared that they learned to truly embody what it means to “sit in your own chair/process.” I wondered what that would mean or look like for me: would I come out of this stronger in my convictions and ability to speak my mind? I wanted to see who I could become!

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