We begin by affirming Black lives matter and acknowledging the pain of this moment. We want to share our recent statement of solidarity with Black communities.
We also want to send a BIG thanks to our donors for making GiveBIG 2020 a massive success for RVC and our partner organizations. We are sharing a personal reflection on Ramadan by RVC Capacity Building Lead Anbar Sheik from our RVC blog and finally highlighting a few of our partner organizations and their important work during these tough times.
In solidarity with Black communities: continuing centuries of Black resistance and resilience
Through centuries of black resistance and protest, we have helped the country live up to its founding ideals. And not only for ourselves — black rights struggles paved the way for every other rights struggle, including women’s and gay rights, immigrant and disability rights.”
Nikole Hannah-Jones essay from ‘The 1619 Project’
We at RVC firmly stand in solidarity with our Black communities. We grieve with you, we stand with you, and we believe in you. We stand with you today to say ENOUGH! We cannot change the past, but the future must be free from white supremacy, police brutality, systemic racism, and anti-Blackness.
In the face of centuries of injustice and oppression, African American resistance and resilience won tremendous progress for Black people and for the world; this history must be remembered, celebrated, and used as a powerful reminder that this too must and shall be overcome.
Read RVC’s full solidarity statement with calls to action on our blog here
Thank you for Giving BIG to RVC and our partner organizations
Thank you to all of our donors! This includes folks who gave outside of the GiveBIG online platform. Thank you for helping us exceed our matched goal of $6000. Because of donors like you, RVC and all of our partner organizations who participated in GiveBIG did better this year than 2019 totals.
This is not only amazing but incredibly validating—when we work together as a community, we can create a more just world and serve those who are the most impacted.
Thank you so much for your continued commitment to RVC and our partner organizations. And shoutout to GiveBIG, 501 Commons, GivingTuesday and all of those sponsors! Great work, everyone.
Reflection on Ramadan during quarantine
As Ramadan came to a close, I couldn’t help but reflect on the different things it means to me throughout the years. It is the month where Muslims fast from the break of dawn to sunset from both food and water. I can imagine many think that means stuffing your face with as much food as possible during the night. That isn’t the case. (Though, temporarily, that was my case as embarrassing as it is to admit.)
I grew up in a time when the internet was slowly entering people’s homes, and we weren’t surrounded by too many Muslims. So we were on our own to figure out how to do things. As a result, I would eat almost two meals at once during the morning meal, and it was so unappetizing to eat so early in the morning. I’m pretty confident that it did not help with my energy or quenching my thirst throughout the day.
Eventually, kids at my junior high found out about this. One classmate, Brian Wilson, would ask me every day what I ate for breakfast because he was so fascinated by how much this little, petite girl could eat in the morning. Looking back at this incident, I always wonder what Brian knows about Ramadan now. Does he know that Ramadan isn’t about stuffing your face, but about much more than that?
Read full Ramadan reflection post on our blog here
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.
Below are this month’s highlights of some of our partners’ amazing work.
Nurturing Roots has veggie grow kits for all growers
RVC Operations Support Partner Organization Nurturing Roots is food justice, community farming program focused on educating the community on healthy food choices and sustainable agriculture.
Nurturing Roots is among the few people of color, womxn, and nonbinary led organizations working in the sustainable agriculture movement with holistic racial justice lenses.
Read a recent article in the Seattle Emerald on local black womxn farmers, including Founder and Director of Nurturing Roots Nyema Clark: https://bit.ly/3gv7yaz.
Nurturing Roots recently launched Grow at Home Veggie Box program for Seattle area growers. Whatever the space limitations, Nurturing Roots has got a box for everyone. Check out their grow box order form at the following link and support their impactful food justice work: https://bit.ly/2BbyRGJ
Visit their Facebook page at the link below for more on the Grow Box and the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/NurturingRoots206/
Somali Health Board leads culturally responsive COVID-19 response
Founded and led by Somali health professionals and volunteers, Somali Health Board is a local grassroots organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities that affect new immigrants in King County.
Somali Health Board (SHB) has been leading the COVID-19 response in the community. In a recent Facebook post, SHB described their swift response to the community’s needs in the wake of COVID-19: “Somali Health Board has adapted our work to focus on the unique needs of our community in ensuring that they receive accurate and timely information. On its first day, our staff and volunteers have continued answering calls and producing short videos, interpretations.”
In addition to their culturally responsive efforts to address health inequities, SHB recently launched several COVID-19 response initiatives: a series of community conversation webinars on mental health in Somali and English; virtual events on Ramadan during COVID-19 pandemic featuring speakers from the community; recently hosted a free COVID-19 screening and testing event in partnership with Swedish Community Response Clinic and Abubakar Islamic Center of WA, and SHB also has up-to-date COVID-19 HUB with resources in Somali and English.
Check out their Facebook page at the link below for the latest on their community-centered services: https://www.facebook.com/SomaliHealthBoard/.
AGE UP COVID-19 response: cash assistance to community members who are experiencing income loss
RVC Operations Support Partner Organization All Girl Everything Ultimate Program (AGE UP) is a grassroots youth leadership program. AGE UP empowers youth to develop a positive identity and build personal and collective strength.
“{AGE UP} Is all about community building, youth leadership, adult allies, collective learning, social justice, healing, anti-oppression work, home-cooked meals, and lots of Ultimate Frisbee. We run winter leadership programs focused on undoing sexism, summer camps, hat tournaments, and support coaching at various elementary, middle and high schools in Seattle’s Southend.” – AGE UP via GiveBIG profile.
With a small team, leaders at Age Up secured over $90,000 in donations during GiveBIG. This is a testament to the Age Up team’s fun but determined spirit and commitment to their work and to serving the community. Congrats, AGE UP!
To support community members who are experiencing significant income loss, AGE UP launched a cash assistance program and is requesting support. Visit the link below to contribute and help this youth founded and led grassroots organization continue to do their vital work in service to our communities: https://bit.ly/2zDKIwN. (Those who need to access AGE UP’s COVID-19 Relief Services may also complete the form linked above).
Visit AGE UP’s Facebook page linked below for the latest information: https://www.facebook.com/AllGirlEverythingUltimateProgram
Be a Changemaker
RVC Changemakers are folks who believe that leadership development and capacity building in communities of color should be spearheaded by the individuals working within these communities. By committing to giving $80 or more a month, you will be making a pivotal impact in communities of color in the Greater Seattle area.
Changemakers will get a shoutout in our annual report, be invited to our special events, be invited to further engage in other ways, such as through volunteering, lunch and learns, or maybe even mentoring. Our Changemakers will also just be lavished with so much appreciation for their commitment to social justice at the grassroots level!
Job Opportunities In Our Network
Casa Latina is hiring a Director of Development.
Children’s Alliance is hiring an Executive Director.
Child Care Resources is hiring an Accounting Specialist.
Communities Rise is hiring a Deputy Director
Fuse Washington is hiring a Multimedia Designer
Global Perinatal Services is hiring an Office Administrator
Mujer al Volante is hiring a Program Coordinator
Philanthropy Northwest is partnering with Bezos Family Foundation and hiring a Program Associate
Rainier Beach Action Coalition is hiring for multiple positions.
Solid Ground is hiring for multiple positions.
Stolte Family Foundation is hiring an Education Program Officer.
TeamChild is hiring a Director of Investments and Partnerships
Ventures is hiring a Director of Development
Voices of Tomorrow is hiring for multiple positions.
Washington Nonprofits is hiring a Communications Manager & Program Director
Washington Trails Association is hiring a Development Director.
Community Events & Important Dates
United Way of King County, Food Lifeline, the City of Seattle, and Metro Access are offering home delivery of emergency food boxes across Seattle, North King County, and East King County during COVID-19. To order a food box, fill out this online form, or call Toll-Free at 833-540-0800, Mondays to Fridays from 11am-4pm.
June 13 & 14: Somali Health Board’s free Covid-19 Testing+Care Packages Distributions
Communities Rise is offering COVID-19 Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic
WA-BLOC’s Feed the Beach campaign continues. WA-BLOC is leading this campaign in partnership with other local organizations and restaurants to provide free to-go meals for students and families in the Rainier Beach community. Check out WA-BLOC’s Facebook page for event schedule and updates
RVC Stuff To Read
Reflection on Ramadan During Quarantine, by Anbar Mahar Sheikh, RVC Capacity Building Lead
How do we support ourselves and our communities during COVID-19?, written by Tracey Wong, 2019-2021 RVC Community Impact Fellow
RVC Fellow has renewed sense to build and connect communities through music education after enduring hardship, written by RVC
Reflections on dismantling racism in Seattle Works, a nonprofit organization, written by Ben Reuler, Executive Director of Seattle Works
Update! RVC is in the middle of a leadership transition AND an organizational transition, written by Ananda Valenzuela, Interim Executive Director of RVC
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If you have job postings or events that you would like mentioned in our newsletter, please email the details to Saida. We do our best to fit everything in, but we may not always be able to.
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