While summer is slowly winding down, RVC is prepping and working hard on our programmatic work. This month, we are excited to announce and welcome two sets of cohorts in upcoming fellowship programs!
Read on to find out the great work that our partner organizations are doing. And don’t forget to check out our latest blogs so you can get a sense of the cool stuff that’s been happening at RVC!
Let’s Welcome RVC’s New Community Impact Fellows
Last month, we celebrated the graduation of RVC’s Community Impact Fellows at The Brightest Stars event. This means that RVC is already underway working with its next cohort for the Community Impact Fellowship Program! The program places talented leaders of color in a two-year fellowship program with host grassroots organizations led by communities of color.
The program provides them training, support, and mentorship to further develop their leadership skills and knowledge in nonprofit management, capacity-building, civic engagement, working with diverse and dynamic communities, and more!
“We’re very excited to announce the third cohort of RVC Fellows,” said Abesha Shiferaw, RVC’s Fellowship Programs Director. “It’s a cohort full of incredibly energetic leaders ready to get to work, build capacity, and shake things up. They come with a wealth of work and lived experience and are sure to make meaningful impacts at their host organization. We look forward to supporting and being alongside them over these two years.”
RVC’s new cohort of the Community Impact Fellowship Program include: Bilen Eshetu, Francoise Milinganyo, Fundisha Tibebe, Tracey Wong, Wanjikū Wainaina, Noelle Evangelista, Thao Uyen Vu, Débora da Silva Oliveira, Arianne Lozano, Ashley Escobar, Justin Jones, Naima Shaltu, and E.N. West.
Say hello to the Green Pathways Fellows
RVC has officially launched the Green Pathways Fellowship Program! The program creates a pathway for future leaders of color in living wage entry-level jobs in the green sector. With RVC partner organization Got Green, the program has placed a cohort of 10 fellows into host environmental justice-focused organizations for two-year fellowships.
For too long, communities of color that are most impacted by environmental challenges have had little input in the environmental movement. There needs to be a commitment for POCs to undergo leadership development so that communities of color have a substantive voice at the table. RVC and Got Green are working and setting the example to do just that.
“I can’t believe our inaugural cohort for the Green Pathways Fellowship Program will be kicking off in September!” said Florence Sum, RVC’s Green Pathways Program Manager. “It’s been quite a journey to launch this program with our partner, Got Green, and now we can’t wait to introduce you to the next cohort of leaders of color entering the environmental justice movement.”
The first ever cohort of our Green Pathways Program include: Ashley Arhin, Clyzzel Samson, Johanna Wasse, Rheana Dale, Sharon Huerta, Shaylea Pilarski, Tuvshinzaya Tumurkhuyag, Venice Wong, Yolanda Altamirano, and Magadalena Angel Cano.
RVC Partner Updates
RVC strengthens the power of communities of color in order to create a more equitable society through capacity-building, leadership development, and operations support. We accomplish this through our core programs and services as well as through leading partnerships with community members and organizations of color. These members and organizations provide support services tailored to the strengths and needs of the communities they serve.
Here are this month’s highlights of some of our partners’ amazing work!
Puget Sound Sage has moved into a new office, will hold open house
RVC’s partner organization Puget Sound Sage recently moved into a new office in the International District. They are excited to have you stop by and see their new space! They are holding an Open House on Thursday, Sept. 5, between 4–7 p.m. There will be food, light refreshments, and an opportunity to learn more about Puget Sound Sage’s work and meet the staff. The Open House is a free, family-friendly event.
Puget Sound Sage is an organization that believes in deep partnerships to build equity in the Puget Sound region. Their new office is located on the 2nd floor of a residential building. The front entrance to the stairs is located at 414 Maynard Avenue South (to the left of New Century Tea Gallery). The wheelchair accessible elevator is located at the entrance of 420 Maynard Avenue South (to the right of Mike’s Noodle House). Visit the event page to RSVP!
Voices of Tomorrow announces Family Leadership Pedagogy Program
Voices of Tomorrow, an RVC partner organization, recently announced a Family Leadership Pedagogy Program, coming September 2019! The program offers free parent education courses, in which you can learn more about positive parenting and earn college credit classes taught in both English and Somali. The course topics include culturally responsive childhood development, parent/child mental health and perinatal health, parent advocacy, and peer-to-peer support. Space is limited, so register now! For more information, please call 206-466-1229 or email them at [email protected].
AGE UP summer interns address social issues through projects
AGE UP, an RVC partner organization, recently had 35 of their summer interns work on and produce projects that address social issues that affect communities of color in South Seattle and beyond. AGE UP featured one of the projects on their website which focuses on media and gentrification, led by alumni Ronnie Estoque.
The project features Chevas “Chev” Gary, a Cleveland High School staff member, who was interviewed about his experiences with gentrification and how it has affected South Seattle. Check out the video project, along with a transcript of the interview.
Other projects addressed issues surrounding undoing anti-Black racism, mental health and counseling, food and climate change, and local Seattle musicians.
We announced last month that Miko joined RVC as our Operations Support Program Manager. He has penned a good-bye letter to AGE UP, where he was a Community Impact Fellow from 2017 to 2019. He shared his experiences and growing as a social justice organizer and the amazing work the organization has accomplished and continues to do.
Powerful Voices part of group supporting Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account
Powerful Voices, an RVC partner that creates spaces for girls of color to take charge as leaders to build community and act against injustices affecting their lives, has been part of a fight to support the Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA). If passed, an investment of $315 million over 15 years will be dedicated to educating vulnerable students and to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, and postsecondary education. Powerful Voices is one of 15 nonprofits led by communities of color that are supporting the PSTAA, an exciting opportunity for change recently created by the Legislature.
The organization recently posted a message on their social media page, accompanied by an opinion piece by the Seattle Times, that talks about this very issue and their involvement: “When young folks are seen, truly understood, and supported in their cultures within the education system, it is evident how much they are able to thrive. That can be alleviated institutionally with funding. Let’s put our collective money where it matters.”
Have you joined our Champion Unicorn Giving Club yet? Becoming a Unicorn member today supports our Community Impact Fellowship Program and our Operations Support Program.
For $25 a month, you can become a Unicorn Member, and it comes with a bunch of perks. Unicorn membership includes:
Tickets to our Board Reception
Your name being recognized in our Annual Report
A letter of appreciation from our board chair
RVC designed T-shirt
RVC unicorn stickers
RVC phone stand ring
RVC logo pens
Become a Unicorn member and support the community you know and love. Join us today!
Job Opportunities In Our Network
RVC is hiring an Organizational Learning Coordinator and an Operations Support Program Manager and Capacity Building Lead.
Bike Works is hiring a Program Coordinator.
Washington Nonprofits is hiring an Administrative Assistant.
The Mockingbird Society is hiring a Director of Youth Programs.
United Way of King County is hiring for multiple positions.
Spark Northwest is hiring an Executive Director.
Ethiopian Community in Seattle is hiring an Executive Director.
Puget Sound Sage is hiring an Equitable Development Manager.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound is hiring for multiple positions.
Voices of Tomorrow is hiring for multiple positions.
Rainier Beach Action Coalition is hiring for multiple positions.
Seattle Opera is hiring an Institutional Giving Associate.
The Giving Practice is hiring a Senior Analyst.
Solid Ground is hiring for multiple positions.
Literary Source is hiring an ESOL Lead Instructor and Case Manager.
Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence is hiring for multiple positions.
Community Events
Aug. 29: Powerful Voices’ Post It Up Celebration
Sept. 3: RBAC and EACS hosts Activate Your Rainier Beach Neighborhood Planting Party
Sept. 5: Puget Sound Sage’s Open House
Sept. 11: Got Green’s Farmer’s Market Tour & Cooking Demonstration
Sept. 28: Thrive! EACS’ 2nd Annual Gala & Youth Achievement Celebration
Oct. 11: Beyond the Canvas: Powerful Voices Luncheon
Oct. 18: Somos Seattle presents Joteria, a queer version of the Loteria game
Oct. 19: ECS Annual Gala
RVC Stuff To Read
RVC report provides solutions to lack of diversity in environmental justice movement. Written by Rainier Valley Corps
Can you imagine a world run by influential leaders of color. I can. This is what it looks like. Written by Former RVC Fellow, Mohamed Shidane
Introducing RVC’s new Operations Support Partners! Written by Rainier Valley Corps
We celebrated “The Brightest Stars” on July 18 with Community Impact Fellowship graduation.Written by Rainier Valley Corps
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