SOUTHEAST SEATTLE EDUCATION COALITION
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Mission Statement
SESEC's mission is to convene and resource communities of color to advocate for an equitable education system.
About This Cause
Advocates for Justice in Education SESEC is a coalition of more than 50 community-based organizations, schools and parents/caregivers working together to advocate for educational justice in Southeast Seattle. We believe that a just and equitable education system will only be achieved through a collective voice – one that centers BIPOC communities and those who are most often missing from these conversations. SESEC was founded in 2012 in response to a study showing Southeast Seattle schools’ low performance. Not willing to let students miss the opportunities they deserve, SESEC members fight everyday for equitable educational policies for our children, families, and the Southeast Seattle community. SESEC's focus is laser-sharp, concentrated within the boundaries of Southeast Seattle, encompassing Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill. This region stands out as one of Seattle's most diverse, both economically and culturally, with a population of 104,344 residents, 61% of whom identify as non-white. The median income ranges from $74,985 to $94,790, yet a significant portion of families, between 7% and 15.5%, live below the Federal Poverty Level. Immigrant and refugee communities thrive here, comprising 32% of the population, with 35% of residents speaking a language other than English. Sadly, Southeast Seattle's schools face numerous challenges, evident in low test scores and graduation rates. Nearly half of Seattle's Title I (high-poverty) schools reside in this area, with a staggering 82% of schools being Title I. Additionally, while representing only 21% of all schools in the district, Southeast Seattle schools account for 55% of schools with Free and Reduced Lunch rates and have significantly higher English Language Learner rates compared to the district average. Our coalition, composed of representatives from various community sectors, works collaboratively to promote educational equity and secure additional resources for Southeast Seattle. We concentrate on early childhood and K-12 education, fostering relationships, and advocating for changes that advance the needs of students of color. However, SESEC cannot accomplish this alone. True progress requires the collective efforts of entire communities. Many underrepresented communities in Southeast Seattle lack the resources and expertise to advocate effectively for necessary changes. Without broad community advocacy, the status quo persists, perpetuating racialized achievement and opportunity gaps. SESEC strives to bridge this gap by bringing together community leaders, parents, educators, and scholars from diverse backgrounds. Our coalition centers on fostering solidarity and co-designing transformative pathways toward community-defined well-being and educational justice. Our programs aim to empower and engage community voices, develop leadership skills, and promote advocacy among members, including: • SESEC hosts monthly coalition meetings where participants build relationships, foster collaboration, and learn about and provide input on policy and funding issues within Seattle Public Schools. • As a member of the National SEED Project, SESEC’s SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity), hosts cohorts of community leaders to participate in the examination of root causes of "isms" (i.e., racism, sexism, ageism) to better understand equity and develop their skills in storytelling as a leadership practice and advocacy tool. Participants consider their own experiences and those of their students, children, and colleagues to enhance their personal and/or professional work (for example, curriculum, programs, etc.) to help make communities and workplaces more inclusive. • Advocacy and Policy Cohorts (APC) immerses community leaders and parents/guardians through a speakers series to demystify the education policy landscape, prepares them to be more effective advocates and develops leadership skills to heighten participation in and build capacity and power towards equity focused advocacy around education in the community. Participants learn about the various areas of advocacy and ways to get involved with working towards educational equity, increasing meaningful participation in shaping policies that directly impact the communities’ educational experiences and outcomes. • Data Cohorts Project partners with community-based organizations in a series of workshops on how to access, engage with, and analyze data, developing improved strategies for data usage, and working to use data in policy advocacy efforts. Improving data literacy is critical for community engagement as it provides context in working with diverse constituents, it highlights the great work that is being done, and it serves as a point of entry for developing partnerships with community organizations, data and advocacy entities, and school districts. • Youth Participatory Grantmaking Project engages youth in a co-design effort for youth-led community grant making. Students are often the target for funding decisions but rarely have a democratic say in how funding allocations or decisions are made. YPGM seeks to flip these power dynamics by creating a framework for students, and especially students of color in SE Seattle, to make funding decisions and support their leadership in this arena. As they become more confident in understanding their role in shaping their environment, they will ultimately strengthen their self-advocacy skills and their ability to disrupt current practices that exclude them from school-based and community-based decision-making altogether. • The Family Navigators Project will organize and facilitate 5 separate groups from Seattle’s Multi-generational Black community and language specific Spanish, Somali, Ethiopian and Cantonese communities. Each group will engage in discussions of their experiences in SPS and identify issues about which they want to know more. Sessions will be led by a SESEC-trained Educational Liaison recruited from each community group. SESEC will work with SPS District staff to obtain answers to the groups’ questions, and, when possible, coordinate direct District interaction with the groups. The discussion series will culminate in projects (e.g., videos, brochures, opinion pieces) to disseminate information (including areas identified for continuing advocacy) with the larger communities. The project will also prepare more families of color for their participation in school leadership opportunities (e.g., Building Leadership Teams) and the development of a cadre of Education Liaisons to assist new parents - particularly parents of color and immigrant parents - in understanding and effectively engaging in education advocacy at all levels. • Fiscal Sponsorships: SESEC assumed the fiduciary responsibilities for managing: o Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (SESSFA) to work on equitable fundraising for Title I schools. o National SEED Project to promote and facilitate SEED Seminars at various locations throughout the United States. Through these initiatives, SESEC has cultivated trust and relationships within Southeast Seattle, positioning us as catalysts for change. We believe that by empowering families as leaders and navigators, we can effect meaningful progress towards educational equity and justice in our schools and communities.