February 2017 Newsletter

February 2017

Newsletter

In this issue:

Spotlights

Eastside Pathways News

Community Happenings

Spotlights

Why Focusing on Equity Is Good for Everyone

Does equity mean ignoring the needs of our more advantaged learners? NO. We build on Angela Glover Blackwell's recent article "The Curb-Cut Effect" to look at how an explicit focus on equity can improve outcomes for all children.

A Partner at Work, Ensuring Success

With a mission "to prepare students for today's careers and tomorrow's opportunities," Lake Washington Institute of Technology is providing students skills relevant to today's workplace. This ensures that students are prepared for a successful career and life.

Partner Testimonial: Transforming Communities

The King County Housing Authority is working to not only provide affordable housing to families but also contributing to the communities these families live in by helping them with their children's education. They provide a helping hand with academic support services and in collaboration with local organizations.

Eastside Pathways News

Eastside Pathways' leadership (Partnership and Backbone) approved the below resolution of solidarity. To build systems that support all children, cradle to career, we encourage the Bellevue community to show support for the lives of marginalized students in the community.

UPDATE:

Eastside Pathways will be accepting grant applications

for the Bill H. Fund for Children through Friday, March 24th!

Visit here to view the grant guidelines and application process.

Please submit your LOI to [email protected] .

All-Partner Meeting: The Partnership Hones In for 2017

At the January All-Partner Meeting, we had the chance to "dig in" to the efforts that Eastside Pathways will be focusing on this year. Take a look at the two areas that the Partnership decided on.

Collaborative Updates

Eastside Pat hways' collaboratives meet monthly. Find out what happened at the last meeting and when the next one is! If you are interested in attending a collaborative meeting and are new to the group, please email the facilitator to let them know you will be attending to receive information in advance.

Community Happenings

Congratulations Helena Stephens!

Last we ek Hele na became th e City of Bellevue's first recipient of the Bellevue City Manager's MLK Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has served under the capacity of manager for Family, Youth & Teen Services for over 15 years. Helena's passion for understanding & connecting youth and all others in the greater community is evident in her wisdom and personal experiences.

This recognition is for her advocacy work for people who are not always at the table or invited to be at the table when decisions are made. Helena's ability to leverage the work that creates safe places for conversation, including not shying away from controversial topics is a cornerstone of her collaborative ease in building bridges and opportunities for all.

United Way Early Learning Funding Announcements

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Support for Parents - Application due Feb. 24, 2017

This funding supports education services provided through a culturally relevant parent-focused curriculum or service model. These parent services are designed to promote/strengthen positive and effective parenting that enhances young children's physical, cognitive, emotional and social development and support early learning.

Early Care and Education - Application due Feb. 24, 2017

This funding support direct service early care and education providers in their work to foster young children's development across the kindergarten readiness domains.

For more Information visit the United Way website

or contact Hannah Locke via email or at (206) 461-5021.

The Bellevue School Board will be presenting Superintendent Finalists to the community on

March 8, 9, and 10. Each day will introduce a different finalist and the district will host morning

a nd evening forums to meet that day's candidate. You are invited to any and all forums.

Find more info here.

When kids are hungry, they can't learn.

That's the guiding principle behind Bellevue LifeSpring's holistic approach to serving the 3,700+ Bellevue children and their families living in poverty.

Jake, a homeless fifth-grader, often falls asleep in class. He comes from a low-income family, has limited language and struggles in the classroom. His teacher and the school's Human Services Specialist signed him up for Bellevue LifeSpring's Breaktime-Mealtime™ program so he doesn't miss out on vital nutrition during breaks when he lacks access to free and reduced-price meals at school. After break, he told his teacher: "I feel much better now. The food helped me and I love the cereal."

Bellevue LifeSpring's programs address basic needs, ensuring that a child is fed, clothed and sheltered, providing kids like Jake with a strong foundation for a brighter future.

Join John Stanton, wireless pioneer and Seattle Mariners' Chariman, and Dr. Tim Mills , Bellevue School District Superintendent for Bellevue LifeSpring's Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon.