July 2023 Newsletter

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View this email in your browser   FOCS Newsletter July 2023 Time to sit back and unwind... Upcoming programs and events (scroll below for more details) FOCS Summer Park Day, 7/16 at Carkeek Park, 11am - 2pm  Summer Parent Groups to Begin in July We're Hiring! Program Manager (Interviews in August) Low Cost / Free Summer Activities (from Seattle's Child Magazine) 66 Days of Free Summer Fun! Seattle-Area Spray Parks: Splash and Cool Off! FOCS Updates Upcoming Programs and Events This Month's Park Day: July 16 Register Now THIS SUNDAY! PARK DAY JULY 16TH 11AM - 2PM Carkeek Park, 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd., Seattle, WA 98177 **We will be at Area 1: See photos below for map and directions.** 🤸‍♀️⛹️‍♂️🤹‍♀️ All families of color and all ages welcome! Register here: https://focs.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/focs/event.jsp?event=323& Thanks to all the families who came out for June Park Day! Join us for more food and games at our July Park Day. This event is open to all FOCS families. Come meet other families, play games, and chat with FOCS Staff about future programming. FOCS will provide light refreshment, pizza, and cold beverages. Masks and hand sanitizer will also be on hand. For the safety of our community and its most vulnerable members, please stay home if you or your family members are ill or not feeling well, and observe respectful hygiene practices, e.g. clean hands, covered mouths when coughing, etc. Those of you who have joined us before know: there's nothing better than summer in the PNW, connecting with with other families of color, making new friends and seeing long-time friends. ⛱ See you there! p.s. Other Summer 2023 Park Days: * August 20, Judkins Park, 11am - 2pm * September 24, Jefferson Park (10th Anniversary Celebration), 10am - 2pm We hope to see you there! Stay connected through our Facebook Community Page and Instagram to get notified of all FOCS family events! FOCS Programs Updates Summer Parent Groups to Begin in July! Register Now In many ways, FOCS Parent Groups are the heart of our community, often the way that families connect and stay connected. As people have shared, "It takes a village. This is my village." Parent groups are facilitated gatherings to increase parenting skills and provide a space to discuss identity and race. Gatherings are eight to ten weekly, two-hour sessions. FOCS curriculum includes dialogue on racism, identity, and the tools to best support raising strong and compassionate children of color. Facilitators are parents themselves with lived experience specific to the group. Connect with your village!   Register Now Interviews in August! FOCS is seeking a Program Manager who is passionate about community-based services, social justice, and supporting BIPOC families. As a Program Manager, you oversee and manage our core program, Parent Groups (PGs). We highly encourage applicants from the communities we serve, including working parents of color, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with multiple intersectional identities.   Learn More and Apply 66 Days of Free Summer Fun! "You don't need to spend much—or any—money to have a great summer day! There are activity options for every day of summer — many of them free (not counting gas or bus fare)."   Check out the ideas at: www.seattleschild.com/seattle-summer-free-activities/ Seattle-Area Spray Parks: Splash and Cool Off! "Spray parks all around the Seattle area are opening for the season on May 27, 2023 (with some already open) with plans to remain open through September 4, 2023. Wading pools will open on June 24, 2023. Most city-run spray parks are open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., unless there’s a chance of thunder and lightning, but it’s always a good idea to double-check that a park is open before heading out. And check back for additional park openings throughout the summer. ▸ South Lake Union Park, Open May 27, 2023 – September 4, 2023, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle ▸ International Fountain at Seattle Center, Open for the summer, 305 Harrison St., Seattle ▸ Northacres Park, Opening on May 27, 12718 1st Ave. NE, Seattle ▸ Willis Tucker Spray Park, Open daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., May 27-Sept. 4, 2023. After Sept 4, 2023, the park opens on weekends until we enter cooler weather. 6705 Puget Park Drive, Snohomish ▸ Forest Park Open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 27 to September 2023 (Sept date TBD). 802 E. Mukilteo Blvd., Everett ▸ Jefferson Park (Beacon Mountain) – No opening date determined. Check back for updated information. 3801 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle ▸ Yesler Terrace Park, Open May 27, 2023. 835 Yesler Way, Seattle ▸ Georgetown Playfield, Open May 27, 2023. 750 S. Homer St., Seattle ▸ Highland Park Playground, Opens May 27, 2023. 1100 SW Cloverdale St., Seattle ▸ Ballard Commons, Opens May 27, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 5701 22nd Ave. N.W. ▸ Judkins Park, opens May 27, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., 2150 S. Norman St. ▸ Miller Community Center/Playfield, opens May 27, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 330 19th Ave. E. ▸ John C. Little Park, opens May 27, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 6961 37th Ave. S. ▸ Pratt Playground Spray Park, opens on May 27 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 201 20th Ave. S. ▸ Angle Lake Park, Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day., 19408 International Blvd., SeaTac Splash away! Visit SeattlesChild.com to read more about these splash parks and more! Pictured: Jefferson Park, courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation" Thank you to our Donors! Your donation helps foster community amongst BIPOC Parents in the Seattle area and ensures that we can continue to offer parent groups and family programming free of charge to families of color.   Thank you for supporting BIPOC family connections and community building! Become a Monthly FOCS Donor Resources   Resources for Parents B.I.PoC. Provider Directory- developed and maintained by Deconstructing The Mental Health System (DMHS), a group for Mental Health Professionals who are actively increasing access to mental health & wellness services for the BIPOC community. Global Perinatal Services- Birth Doulas services are free to low-income, immigrant, and refugee families living in King County. Services are available in various languages including Somali, Arabic, Hindi, and more. 4 Tomorrow- Latino and Youth-focused organization offering support & coordination to households in King County. Services include Mental Health Services (Coordination, Referrals, Education, Events & Gap Therapy) as well as Life Services (resource navigation, Financial assistance, Goal Planning, Racism, hate and bias reporting, Systems navigation) and Basic Needs Services (housing stability, basic needs, education, public benefits, immigration, healthcare, life obstacles and more).  UTOPIA WA- basic needs, support groups, and advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community Y-WE (Young Women Empowered)- Mentorship-based empowerment programs serving diverse young women ages 13-26 DMHS: Deconstructing the Mental Health System- 250+ Mental Health & Cultural Wellness Professionals who are Black, Black Indigenous, Indigenous, People of Color, and QTPOC & LGBTQIA+ & Affirming Providers serving our communities   Community Resources Alternatives to calling 911 Seattle Green Book- Seattle’s Black business directory. Free and open to Black-owned and co-owned businesses and people holding space for the Black community around Puget Sound. Northwest Vipassana Center- Free 10-day Meditation Retreats for individuals. Affinity courses including Black Heritage Course, and Bilingual/Thai and Spanish courses.  COVID & Monkeypox Resources Current COVID Guidance in King County Current Information about Monkeypox Resources for Families Impacted by COVID Eviction Assistance  City, County, State & Federal Resources Small Business Support Free Internet Access and Hotspots  Free and low cost internet access for low-income families More Ways to Stay Connected! Become a Monthly Donor! Host a Race Equity Workshop Join the Facebook Community Group Follow us on Facebook! Find us on Instagram! Stay connected on LinkedIn! Learn more on our Website! Copyright © 2023, Families of Color Seattle, All rights reserved. Our email address is: info@focseattle.org  Want to change how you receive these emails? 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