Seattle Schools Community Forum

From the Facebook page of Racial Justice in Seattle Schools (I am happy to print any response from the current officers or Garfield parents who may know more - sss.westbrook@gmail.com.)

From SPS Communications: SEATTLE–As part of the Seattle Police Department’s Safe Place strategy , Chief O’Toole, Superintendent Nyland and Mayor Murray will officially announce Seattle school buildings as designated Safe Places. Mayor Murray first mentioned the district’s participation during his State of the City address in February. All of the district’s 98 schools will support safe and secure places for victims of crime and discrimination directed towards the City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community. Seattle Police Department launched the strategy through partnerships with businesses throughout Capitol Hill and the City to promote awareness of hate crimes and provide safe places for victims of harassment until officers arrive. Where:             Garfield High School (Outside Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center)            ...

From the GLSEN Washington State Chapter : GLSEN Washington State is excited to announce that this year's Puget Sound LGBT Youth Conference will be held Saturday, February 6th at Miller Community Center in Seattle from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our keynote speaker this year is Conner Mertens and Aidan Key. In 2014, Conner Mertens became the first active college football player to ever come out publicly about his sexuality. Since then, he has been involved with groups like GLSEN, PFLAG, The Trevor Project, HRC and many more. Recently, Mertens started his own non-profit called Out on the Streets to help homeless LGBTQ youth across the United States. Mertens grew up in Kennewick in Tri-Cities, Washington, where he was the youngest of four boys in his family. His main areas of focus are anti-bullying and suicide prevention as well as LGBTQ athletics. We are excited to have him at our conference! Aidan is the founder and director of Gender Diversity, an organization that provides edu...

Kevin Bacon, who is in town yesterday for the Seattle International Film Festival, asked to visit a high school theatre class and Garfield was chosen. He came and spoke with theatre, film, newspaper and LA students.  (Coincidentally, I saw Bacon last night at SIIF where he gave a very funny interview and saw his new film Cop Car.  It's kind of a Stand by Me on speed - very effective.) Garfield Theatre Department Presents RENT! Garfield High School is proud to present Jonathan Larson’s groundbreaking rock-opera Rent. Set in New York City during the HIV crisis of the 1990s, Rent follows a year in the lives of Alphabet City’s bohemian residents as they struggle with issues of AIDS, sexuality, homelessness, and economic hardship. Although Rent deals with weighty and often controversial subject matter, its overall message is one of love, hope, and the triumph of the human spirit.