Tag: Centering Culture

East African Community Services creates by-and-for summer fun

By Lex Gavin

When I ask Fardowsa Ali, the Program Director for East African Community Services (EACS), what kids are most excited about this summer, she pauses. “Well, everything! They get to design it. When the program starts, we survey the kids to determine what they want to do.” This summer, kids are going to places like the Microsoft campus, Cougar Mountain, the Pacific Science Center, and the Woodland Park Zoo for field trips. They’re also having field days in the park and learning from the community partners that drop in to their program space in Seattle’s NewHolly Housing Community. Fellow Best Starts for Kids Out-of-School-Time grantee Geeking … [ ]

BSK Grantee Spotlight—Iraqi Community Center of Washington

By Lex Gavin

Lensé Esheté is struck by the love that is the foundation of her organization. “We make our constituents feel like they have a home, where they can go and be understood.” For the Iraqi Community Center of Washington (IRCCW), this is not a hyperbole. Serving immigrant and refugees from Iraq, IRCCW is an organization that was formed by community members in order to meet the needs of their peers and continues to be steered by immigrant and refugee participants. IRCCW often pays for the US accreditation for newly arrived Iraqis whose degrees and licenses don’t easily transfer. The data systems … [ ]