July, 2021

[Image description: Artwork by @itsmonicatrinidad courtesy of forthepeoplecollective.org - Handwritten words, "We Keep Each Other Safe" over a dark purple and aqua background. There are 4 individuals represented, one with a computer, one carrying groceries and one hanging a sign that reads Decarceration.] Summer Reading and Viewing - Young People and Families as Sources of Strength TeamChild believes that young people hold power and should experience unconditional belonging at school, at home, and in their communities. This summer we are closely following news about Washington State's child welfare system as well as broader calls nationwide for reimagining harmful systems that separate young people, disproportionately youth of color, from their families and other community supports. One Crosscut Op-Ed outlines steps, already in progress, for "shrinking" foster care in our state, while this article from The Imprint suggests the most immediate need is reframing the court's view of "families as sources of strength, rather than collections of deficiencies." In advocating for needed change on behalf of the clients we work with daily, we also follow the lead of community partners like Mockingbird Society, Choose 180 and Community Passageways, working more closely with young policy makers to recommend changes and hold accountable the child welfare system in our state. Stay tuned for more updates and actions as we follow this work! For inspiration from some of our community partners, learn more HERE about the movement to build the Youth Achievement Center which will provide affordable, supportive housing for the young people of South Seattle. [Image description: Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu (center) meeting with the 2021 Seattle U Calhoun Family Fellows.] Calhoun Family Fellows Partnership The Juvenile Rehabilitation (JR) Institutions and Reentry Project team is collaborating with the Calhoun Family Fellowship program at Seattle University School of Law to work with clients who have requested assistance with resentencing. Six law students will be reviewing client sentencing records and digesting those for advice letters and evaluation of their cases for direct advocacy. We’re really excited about this collaboration!

[Image description (from Legal Foundation of Washington): Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Laurie Jinkins stands on some steps, speaking to a crowd. There is a tree on the hill behind her.] Tacoma Legal Aid Community TeamChild's work in Pierce County was briefly spotlighted at the first in-person event of the Campaign for Equal Justice in 2021, Tacoma Wine & Justice. Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Laurie Jinkins (pictured above) shared why she supports legal aid. Tacomaprobono Community Lawyers also highlighted the work they do in Pierce County. [Image description: On the left is a photo of Grace, wearing a black shirt and staring into the camera. There are purple highlights in Grace's long brown hair. On the right are the words Welcome Grace!] Welcome Grace! Grace Kimm joined TeamChild's Pierce County office as a staff attorney this month - read Grace's bio below: "I am a proud child of Korean-American immigrants with a family legacy of choosing professions that serve the greater community. But growing up, I wanted to become an Olympic-level ice skater, among other various not-approved-by-immigrant-parent professions. Eventually, I came to realize that I did want a profession that serves the greater community and ended up at law school. This realization was largely informed by my undergraduate studies at the University of Washington, where I majored in American Ethnic Studies. It was during my studies that I learned about systemic and structural racism, how these systems of racism affect communities of color, and how youth and children of color are targeted. This inspired me to become a lawyer, eventually leading me to TeamChild. I look forward to working with youth and young adults to help them achieve their goals."

Resources

Check out these statewide youth leadership summer opportunities and summits! Alianza Youth Leadership Program is a youth-led movement of collective voices connecting leaders to unlock their leadership potential and bring change to their communities. Through community organizing and training, Alianza aims to build the leadership of Latinx youth by providing them with a platform and resources to do so. Don't miss their Listening Summit August 5-7 for Latinx youth ages 14-24! The Mockingbird Society's 2021 Youth Leadership Virtual Summit on August 4th is an inspiring, youth-led event where youth from across Washington state come together to present their advocacy recommendations to legislators and policymakers, rooted in their lived experiences of homelessness, foster care, and other systems. Click HERE to register.  Do you know of additional summer opportunities or resources for youth? Please contact us at: communications@teamchild.org

Your support is critical to upholding the rights of young people. TeamChild provides free legal representation for youth struggling to navigate complex challenges with school, court, housing, and healthcare. Join us in pursuing a vision of power and unconditional belonging for Washington’s youth.

INVEST

Feeling really inspired? Create your own Facebook fundraiser for TeamChild and share the opportunity to invest with your community!

Connect with us ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌