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

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

WA-BLOC Celebrates 8 Years of Transformative Education

And just like that, WA-BLOC turns 8 years old! :) Happy Birthday, WA-BLOC!

Our beginnings were small but mighty. We were born of youth activists: a collective of students and young adults in Rainier Beach advocating for free public transportation for students to get to school and hustling to save our Freedom Schools. In 2016, this beloved summer program was nearly discontinued after its original funder abruptly withdrew support; the community quickly raised $30,000 to ensure that this source of joyful learning and conduit for student organizing could live on. We believed then, as we do now, that schools and youth are powerful agents of social change.

Ramadan Mubarak to all of our colleagues, friends, families and students who are observing! We wish you a peaceful and blessed Ramadan. 

March is here - and with it - the hopeful signs of Spring. On hard days - and good days too- we turn to our natural world around us, budding with life and wonder and allow ourselves to be gently reminded to trust the process and yield to the seasons of this work. Read ahead for some exciting announcements and beautiful reflection by our staff of digging in and helping restorative practices take deep root in our schools.

There can be so much pressure to make big, quick changes at the start of a new year.

White supremacy and capitalism tell us that we have to learn and produce very quickly, and this can feel especially true during the new year season. We believe it is critical- as an organization supporting our school communities in often crisis/urgent situations - to remind ourselves and each other that we get to slow down, build in reflection, and support each other well.

It is a new year, and we find ourselves greeting it the way many others are: holding both heaviness and hope.

We grieve and rage at the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people (a siege that has now surpassed 100 days) and we ground ourselves in the acts of solidarity that have been building across the world.

Journalist Bisan Owda has called for a global strike January 21-28, so our regular newsletter will make its appearance next month.

Read the latest updates from our December 2023 newsletter. School Partner Spotlight: Restorative Justice at John Muir Elementary School, Giving Tuesday Thank You & Update, WA-BLOC Holiday Pause!

Read the latest updates from our November 2023 newsletter. Building restorative school communities in Seattle Public Schools, check out our new site, we’re hiring a part-time Development Manager!, and Giving Tuesday!