Kendra has worked for the groundbreaking Native-owned business Eighth Generation, the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, held leadership roles in several local nonprofits, worked in childhood and higher education, and served in the Army as a watercraft engineer.
We are so happy to have Kendra on our Team! Learn more about the AMAZING group of FOCS running our Board on the FOCS website!
Did you know FOCS is Almost 10 years old?!
This photo, taken by our Executive Director, Christine Tang at a community event held at El Centro de La Raza earlier this month, reminded us of this huge milestone!
On the left is one of our founding Board Members, Elsa Batres, who helped us launch FOCS in 2013, and on the right is Alexia Clayborne, who joined the Board earlier this year and is already doing amazing work to take us to the next level!
FOCS Programs Updates
Fall Parent Groups have started!
We're excited to announce that our very first Pacific Islander Asian Parent Group has been scheduled to begin October 13th!
Thank you to everyone that filled out our Interest Survey in September to let us know what you want out of this important group!
If you're interested in attending one of the many affinity or age-specific groups that we offer, please fill out our registration form to indicate your interest!
This Summer we were so happy to meet all the new and seasoned FOCS from all over the Seattle and not-so-Seattle area as we hosted a total of SEVEN family events including:
4 (in-person!) Park Day gatherings at Parks all over the Seattle area including Judkins Park in the Central District, Carkeek Park in North Seattle, Genesee Park in South Seattle and Seahurst Park in Burien
A Family Basketball Night with Seattle Storm
A Virtual COVID Vaccine Teach-in with local medical experts who answered pertinent questions from FOCS families
A collaborative event in partnership with Taking B(l)ack Pride were we helped to create space for QTBIPOC families
A Special Thank You to our Community Partners who made these events possible and memorable!
Dr. Leslie Walker Harding (UWMC/Children's Hospital)
Dr. Helen Chu (UWMC)
Seattle Storm
Taking B(l)ack Pride
Mynique Adams (Seattle Public Library)
Taylor Brooks, MLIS (Seattle Public Library)
Orian Grant (Environmental Science Center)
Sam Picone-Louro (Face-Painter Extraordinaire)
FOCS Family Programs focus on centering joy and liberation to create meaningful connections amongst families. Our curated activities help build community and allyship amongst diverse families of color of all ages.
Family Programs help families stay connected in real time. Many of our families drive from long distances to attend an event so they can maintain that connection with families they have watched grow over the years.
Join our Facebook Community Pageto see updates, pictures, and get notified of future events!
FOCS Staff Spotlight
Meet FOCS' Hardest Working Part-Time Staff Member
Meet Hafidha!
My name is Hafidha Acuay. I'm the Events Manager and Program Coordinator for FOCS and I've been on staff since April of 2020.
How did you first get involved with FOCS?
My first event with FOCS was 6 years ago, when there were some Northend family gatherings. At the time I lived in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle, and spent most of my time North of the city. My son was 7 or 8 years old at the time and with his dad that weekend, but I went by myself just to meet other parents of color! I don't remember her name now but the woman hosting was so kind and friendly. There were at least 15 families, of so many ethnicities and configurations. There were children everywhere, LOL. So much food! It was great. I felt a real sense of fellowship, even without my kid with me. Later I moved to Bothell and attended wonderful FOCS potlucks hosted by FOCS families in Mill Park and Snohomish. I'm still connected with several families I met there. I also attended a great FOCS African music event at Wa Na Wari in Winter 2020, then the lockdown happened...
Why do you think FOCS is an important organization for families and children?
FOCS has been a space where I feel normalized and comfortable with my family in all its marginalized, yet rich, identities. I'm a Black Latina woman, and my ex-husband is biracial, of Mexican and Japanese descent. Our child is all of those and LGBTQ+. FOCS is where we can simply be all of those things, without explanation. We don't fit into any one or two boxes so finding other POC families who are culturally open and also progressive has been life-giving.
Through its parent groups in particular, FOCS plays a tremendous role in equipping parents to develop analysis and tools to support their children as kids of color in this city. In the process, FOCS is creating a community of parents who are learning and reflecting together.
Good things have already come out of this, such as skillful facilitators, leaders, and community workers; and also, healthier and better-supported children. I predict 20 years from now we'll be pointing at many beautiful things that have bloomed and flourished in this city, and we'll be able to say they were germinated or incubated at FOCS.
What’s your best advice to a new birth parent or partner of a birth parent?
Don't save the best for last. You have to prepare to be interrupted or for plans to change at any time, so do the most nourishing thing first. If it's a plate of food, eat the vegetables first, in case you can't finish the plate. If you're trying to decide whether to watch the sitcom or take a walk, take the walk first. Whatever the situation, just do the nourishing thing first - the thing that will give you sustenance and fuel - because time and energy aren't promised to you.
What is your kid doing right now?
Well he's a teenager now and when I left him a little bit ago he was downstairs in the kitchen frying up an entire can's worth of Spam. I was happy to see that he threw in some spinach! So I bet he's eating that now with rice from the rice cooker. And it's safe to say he's watching videos of cute cats and dogs on YouTube, cuz he pretty much always is.
FOCS Community Program Spotlight
The Mindfulness & Compassion Program
This month we want to highlight the The Mindfulness & Compassion Program, a program which centers and supports BIPOC Parents and Caregivers.
Mindfulness classes are a way for parents to both learn some tools for regulation and self-care, and a way to support parents with similar lived experiences connecting and supporting each other.
They are currently offering a FREE 6-week class specifically for parents and caregivers of kids with health conditions and disabilities, starting October 13.
UTOPIA WA- basic needs, support groups and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ community
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 the Puget Sound.
Young Women EmpoweredMentorship-based empowerment programs serving diverse young women ages 13-26
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.
Northwest Vipassana Center- Free 10-day Meditation Retreats for individuals. Affinity courses including Black Heritage Course, and Bilingual/Thai and Spanish courses.
Fall Community Events
Just Speak: Abortion Storytelling-Oct. 7 — 6 p.m., Free BIPOC only, QTBIPOC centered event.
Beacon Hill, Seattle, WA
From the host: Join us for Just Speak: Abortion Storytelling!
If you are a someone who has had an abortion and identify as transgender, non-binary, gender-expansive, and/or queer, we want to hear your story! These narratives are rarely discussed when we talk about navigating abortion access and care.
26th Annual SpiritWalk & Warrior Run-Oct. 15 — 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center, 5011 Bernie Whitebear Lane, Seattle, WA. From the host: Join Seattle Indian Health Board for the 26th Annual SpiritWalk & Warrior Run — an opportunity to gather and support our thriving cultures and healthy Native communities! Proceeds from the SpiritWalk & Warrior Run will fund projects that increase access to culturally attuned care, including a new residential substance use disorder treatment center and renovations to our International District Clinic.
King County Library Systems Events- Free online and in-person events for children of all ages including free summer meals, Story Times, Teen Talk Time, and Trivia events at various King County Libraries
