Alright! And it's town hall time. #AceReporting watching the Converge Town Hall and commenting live!

Live link here:
https://www.facebook.com/WWConverge/live_videos/?ref=page_internal

As always, tips are appreciated!

venmo: houstonace
CashApp: $Archstar

Let's do it!

#SeattleProtests

Also there are three hours of this, so Jesus take the wheel.

There are three hours total:

First hour (I missed the topic but it's just informative)

Last two hours are community for one hour and Mayor Durkan talking about their vision

"The purpose of this town hall is first and foremost educating Seattleites" (they don't want heckling)

Marcus Harrison Green and Besa from KUBE are moderating with Omari.

Starting with the District 7 School Board Director Brandon Hersey and D2 KC Council Member Girmay Zahilay.

(Also, all this melanin is poppin'!)

Girmay currently chatting about his experiences growing up in the District he know represents and being the only county councilmember in the state.

Breaking down the systemic racism in Skyway and how it's the area with the highest proportion of Black people.

Now with the latest budget, there are going to be concerted and thoughtful investments in Skyway (an unincorporated part of King County) that is being led by the community that organized.

Besa asks Girmay if this would've happened if he wasn't in office.

He's unsure but he knows that the role of elected officials is to lift up the demands of community who have been doing the work and so it is prescient with the moment.

Marcus asking: how are you able to work with folks who may be indifferent or against these efforts to invest in Skyway?

Brandon starts: I think about choices as if they improve the outcomes for the most marginalized or does this perpetuate systemic racism?

He says SPS has a good program but it's also about implementing it.

Saying it's not just about inviting people to the table but giving up your seat at the head of the table.

Believes that the Board is extremely nimble and helpful in making quick change happen.

He talks about the dual pandemics of racism and COVID.

"This timing we have in this moment is incredibly important." To not just help the most marginalized but explicity Black students.

Marcus asks what this looks like.

Director Brandon talking about wins like removing the Student Reforce Officers (boo SPD)

Also a creation of a Student Community Workforce Agreement. It allows students, families, and people within that neighborhood to be given priority hire on those projects. (v cool)

Also a 1:1 plan that gets a digital device into each student's hands.

He thinks the Board is extremely responsive right now and can make change from community that is proposed happen quickly.

Besa is now asking about Economic Integration to Girmay.

We need to invest as much as we can in affordable housing and community ownership of land in Skyway.

He's worried about the tsunami of development that is coming from the CD to Skyway.

Also talking about moving to push commercial tenants to own their own buildings.

(they are talking SO FAST)

Another related Q from Marcus - it seems like the tsunami is now. What things can we immediately do?

Girmay: we need to hold our electeds accountable. Make sure you know your electeds at every single level.

Girmay 'There is no elected alone that can do the changes they run on, but an elected alone can stand in the way of progress.' (paraphrasing) It's about collaboration and community pushing.

Now Q related to online engagement of Black students related to online access:

What tools can we put in place to create equitable development right now to improve access?

Brandon: need to understand as a system what is within our control and change it and then still affect and express opinion on things that are out of our control.

Providing resources not only during the school day and in different languages, but also outside of the school day. Meeting parents where they at.

Saying policy is good, but if it isn't getting down to grassroots then it's all for naught.

Brandon now effectively describing the Seattle Process but for schools. (lip service!)

Brandon is happy to continue a legacy of young educators of color on the School Board.

Brandon: saying that it's important to also recognize the struggles teachers are going this time to also understand how to implement the systems set up and "if we don't honor that, we are failing our students."

Community question - seems like a lot of student have outdated laptops. What can we do about this right now?

Brandon: we need to assess and reprioritize where exactly the money is being spent. Also talking about making broadband a public utility. ( @sharethecities!)

Even with the coupon for internet access isn't being honored for the value we are saying it is worth.

Needs:

- Updated Technology
- Access To Broadband
- Reduce The Barriers To Sign Up For Service

(PREACH BRANDON!!)

He's talking about the improved connection between himself and Girmay and how that improves moving in lockstep to make the changes happens. Says it needs an "unyielding solidarity" that hasn't been seen before.

Now discussing the need to directly to parents, particularly those from marginalized communications, and ensure that the communication is two ways.

Besa now asking Girmay about providing things for low-income students to do. (opportunities / hobbies / access)

He's discussing the stark difference between living in south Seattle and Skyway and how even the lower end of Seattle had more access.

People ask him where his parents were, and his single parent was working three jobs. (I feel this, I was raised by my mom who is a teacher and me and my siblings had to take care of ourselves)

Noting how kids needs more thing to do. "We need to walk the walk" and support community organizations already doing the work on a shoestring budget.

Girmay talking about Marcus' article on his experiences with the police. (available on South Seattle Emerald tomorrow!)

He's saying we need to move Public Safety functions away from the King County Sheriff's office. (We need people to Vote yes on Proposition 6!)

(trying to keep this thread quality but they are talking SO fast)

Brandon chatting about the difficulty in connecting and engaging with students through a screen but what gives him hope is the youth organizing happening right now.