The Eastside Pathways Racial Equity Team (EPRET) functions as a resource and support for Eastside Pathways in viewing all our work through an “equity lens,” challenging institutional racism, and promoting racial equity throughout our community. The team is led by Tom Brewer, Shomari Jones, and Helena Stephens. Additional members are Luis Ortega, Kenia Jamison, Susan Sullivan, and Stephanie Cherrington.
EPRET is examining the impact of racism in systems that involve our children and youth. The team met recently at a retreat to complete a 2016 work plan, and set out three objectives:
- EPRET will work with Eastside Pathways Partners to raise each organization’s racial equity consciousness. The team will promote racial equity education by encouraging Courageous Conversationsamong Eastside Pathways Partners.
- EPRET will educate and align Eastside Pathways Partners through a range of internal and community initiatives regarding racial equity, cultural competency and diversity that are emerging on the Eastside.
- EPRET will continually support Eastside Pathways Partners in racial equity work through information, education, discussions, and conversations.
Additionally, EPRET will continue to apply a racial equity “lens” to the work of Eastside Pathways: collaboratives and initiatives, goals and data reporting, internal systems and more, which require oversight and diligence to uphold and ensure equity and fairness in all we do.
Some EPRET members are also involved in the Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition (ERLC). In late January when small business owner Leona Coakley-Spring and her son Shane – persons of color – experienced a hateful racist act against them, the ERLC promptly developed a community response. Ms. Coakley-Spring owns Rags to Riches, a clothing consignment shop in Redmond. While going through the bag of clothing sold to her by a young white male, Leona made a startling discovery– a white KKK robe, with hood and a rope. For many African-Americans merely the mention of the “KKK” brings an instant flashback of terror and lynching. Though often associated with the Southern region of our country, tragically incidents like this may be found anywhere. But Leona Coakley-Spring did not expect to experience this type of hatred in Redmond.
The ERLC, consisting of community leaders from Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, and other east King County communities, proposed to respond to this racist provocation with a series of community demonstrations. Producing a 30-minute presentation entitled “Rejecting the Rags of Racism and Living in the Riches of Diversity,” the coalition created a colorful art display and is presenting it in city halls on the Eastside. Participants are invited to take a stand against racism by writing an anti-racist commitment statement on a colorful swatch of cloth that is pinned on an archway and by pinning to their clothing a small patch symbolizing a rag to identify them with the cause.
Eastside Pathways is uniquely positioned to inspire and lead the Eastside in making strides toward authentic Racial Equity in our community. Several members of EPRET, the Partner Leadership Committee, and the Eastside Pathways Board of Directors stood in solidarity with ERLC at the event held at Bellevue City Hall on February 10. Bellevue’s Mayor, John Stokes, a recently retired EP Board member, spoke eloquently of his personal civil rights history and declared, “I am committed to standing up against racism whenever and however it exposes itself — ensuring that Bellevue is a welcoming and inclusive city for all.”
Article written by Tom Brewer, Director of Community Resources at Jubilee REACH, and Helena Stephens, Family, Youth & Teen Services Manager at City of Bellevue Parks & Community Services