Photos of FOCS Staff at the Kent Encampment with Asylum-Seeking Families in May, FOCS Kids and families at the Melanin Spectrum Celebration in May, and our June Park Day at Seahurst Park
In this Newsletter:
Mobilizing with FOCS
Summer Parent Groups are filling up fast!
Upcoming Summer Events!
Spread the Word: FOCS is Hiring!
Mobilizing with FOCS
FOCS Staff Christine, Jesse, Norma, and Sarah at the Kent Encampment.
When FOCS staff learned that approximately 200 Black and Latine asylum seekers, including families with young children from Angola, Congo, and Venezuela, had set up camp in a grassy field next to an unused motel owned by King County, we took immediate action. We visited the encampment to deliver donations and engage directly with the families and volunteers to assess their needs and offer support.
During our visit, we discovered that many children at the encampment were not receiving adequate schooling or structured activities, with some not having attended school for over a year. In response, FOCS organized a dedicated Brainstorming Session to plan programming for the 25+ children aged four months to 15 years residing at the encampment.
Here's what we achieved:
FOCS families generously donated hundreds of dollars worth of essential supplies to support the families.
Over 15 FOCS members, including current and former parent group facilitators, ELL teachers, organizers, and artists, participated in our Brainstorming Session to develop a comprehensive Summer Programming plan.
We are excited to announce that Weekly Summer Programming sessions will start soon!
Donations are still needed:
The asylum-seeking families are in URGENT need of the following items:
Socks of all sizes
Rice
Black hair care products
Clear storage totes with lids to keep rodents out of non-perishable food
5-gallon containers of water (like the ones used by water coolers, available in many stores)
Coolers to keep perishable groceries in (the larger, the better)
Blocks of ice for the coolers
Immediate needs for the children include:
First Aid Kits
Diapers (all sizes)
Overnight Pull-ups (all sizes)
Shoes (all sizes)
Plastic dolls of color
Sturdy books
Sturdy and age-appropriate toys (no small parts or legos)
You can drop off donations at the encampment. Park at the bowling alley, 1234 Central Ave N, Kent, WA 98032. The encampment is directly across the street from the bowling alley, and there is a tent where you can drop off donations.
Summer Parent Groups are Filling Up Fast!
Our last Parent Group Facilitator Training brought in a dynamic group of parents eager to start facilitating in-person parent groups! This dedicated cohort allowed us to expand and offer NINE parent groups this spring and summer, including:
In-person groups for Waddlers and Newborns
Black Moms
Expecting Birthing Parents
Dads of Color
Parents of Neurodivergent Children
We are also happy to report that six of our Parent Groups FILLED to capacity! Explore our current Parent Group offerings and register now at: focseattle.org
Summer Events!
Join us for these Family-Centered Family Events:
July 11- 15th-FAMILY EVENT: Samish Island Family Adventure Camp in partnership with The Bronze Chapter. Registration is closed.
July 14th- FAMILY EVENT: Summer Park Day at Carkeek Park in North Seattle. We will have Native and Indigenous activities, including a Native plant walk and drums.
August 11th- FAMILY EVENT: Summer Park Day at Meridian Park. Check our website for details soon.
Thank You!
Free programming is possible thanks to supporters like you! You can help us continue to offer safe spaces for families of color to come together and create meaningful connections by becoming a FOCS Monthly Donor!
Join us in connecting parents to build a loving community of families of color!
We are hiring for the following positions. Apply now or share these opportunities with other FOCS! Applicants must be based in the Seattle metro area.
Development Director:This highly relational individual will focus on building an individual giving program, cultivating relationships, and raising money to support our mission.
Project Coordinator:This position will assist with administrative and clerical tasks while working on various projects.
Summer Intern: As an intern, you will assist with administrative and clerical tasks while working on various projects and will work directly with all organizational departments, including family programs, communications, fundraising, and operations.
Board Members- We are seeking board members dedicated to enhancing women of color in leadership roles with a deep understanding of our FOCS community and its needs, passion for our mission, and willingness to commit 3-4 hours monthly to board meetings, committee meetings, and special events.
Positions are open until filled. You can learn more and apply HERE.
As we move back to in-person parent groups and offer more events for families to gather, we are currently searching for free or low-cost meeting spaces anywhere in the Seattle metro area. Preferably kid-friendly spaces!
If your organization or business is open to having FOCS families come to your space, contact us!
About Families of Color Seattle
(FOCS- pronounced "folks")
FOCS connects families, caregivers, and children of color through peer-led parent support groups; spaces to share culture, skills, and resources; and racial justice education and advocacy. Our vision is that children of color are born into a loving community that is racially and economically just. Visit focseattle.orgto learn more about our programs.
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