South End Life: Rainier Beach High School Grads with 3.5 GPA Get Good News; Skyway Opens New Resource Center

Students Graduating Rainier Beach Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School With Cumulative GPA of 3.5 Assured Admission to Seattle University With All Needed Costs Paid

Rainier Beach is home to a new school that opened last August, with 60 ninth grade students, and ends its inaugural year on June 6. Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle (CRJS) is part of a network of 40 schools across the country that serves only students from the lowest economic quartile. At CRJS in Rainier Beach, the average family income is nearly $59,000, with an average of four children in the home. Students generally hail from the Rainier Valley, White Center, SeaTac, Kent, Renton, Federal Way, and the Central District.

In April, Seattle University (SU) signed an agreement with the high school to automatically admit CRJS graduates with a cumulative 3.5 GPA and to meet 100% of their demonstrated need. "Demonstrated need" covers all tuition, housing, and food, as well as estimated expenses, such as books, transportation, and personal miscellaneous costs above any financial aid programs. SU Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Admission James Miller praised the university's level of financial commitment to students who otherwise wouldn't be able to access SU. 

"The focused distribution of funds can lead to [more] retention and increased student happiness and success," Miller said.

The funds for this agreement supplement other SU financial aid programs.

CRJS President Paul Hogan says the average family at the school pays $1,400 a year in tuition, but private education costs run higher than that. Hogan says one way to cover costs is for students to work one day a week throughout the school year at internships at partner businesses, including Costco, Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Paccar, and over 30 others. 

The businesses pay an annual service fee of $46,800 to pay for one full-time employee (FTE). This FTE position is shared by four students. They're assigned to work one day of the week with the company. The students trade off days on the fifth day of the week. Students may work in fields ranging from finance and accounting, to legal work, to information technology and other work areas.

CRJS student Kaneka says her corporate work study at Alaska Airlines expanded her career outlook. "I've gained so much confidence and so much exposure into a workplace that I wouldn't have imagined myself working at [before]," said Kaneka.

The corporate work study program is what drew Dereck, a CRJS student, to the school. "The [idea] that we get to work a day [of the week] impressed me and convinced me to go here," he said. Dereck works at Paccar through CRJS.

Dr. Nadia Guy, CRJS's principal, saw the stark disparity in schools, having taught science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at a wealthy Calabasas, California, high school. There, she says, the school offered "every AP chemistry class you could imagine, taught by people with Ph.D.s in chemistry who considered themselves scientists first." But in south L.A., Guy recalls, the students didn't have access to the courses available at Calabasas. They weren't allowed to do labs, they worked from textbooks, and "the expectations weren't the same for Black and Brown kids. [The students] wanted to do labs, so I worked with the department there. We created labs. We cleaned the classroom down and took them on field trips."

Black people make up about 9% of people in all STEM fields, and Latino people make up 8%. These are percentages Guy would like to see increase.

Spurred on by teaching, Guy became an instructional coach, principal, and superintendent. Her work led her to turn an underachieving school around. When she took on the position, the school's math proficiency was at 10%. When she left, she says, math proficiency was at 70% to 80%. After her experiences, Guy thought, "What if I could get [a school going] right the first time?" Hogan says this is how Guy arrived at CRJS.

Guy describes her own experience with the lift education offered her: "I came from an underserved background [raised by] a single parent. I know that in gaining economic wealth, and getting a college degree, you can create your own conditions to empower yourself versus being empowered."

Sofia works at T-Mobile for work study and enjoys her honors biology and English classes. Describing her impression of student spirit, she said, "At the assemblies, we're not just individuals at a school, but we're all one community."

Skyway Has a New Place to Find Resources and Community

On May 31, the Skyway Coalition celebrated the grand opening of the Skyway Resource Center. The former bank building (with bank vault intact) hosts two conference rooms and three private spaces for potential partnerships. There are also spaces for services, including Good Intentions mental health counseling, NAACP, and Urban Food Systems Pact, as well as rooms for the King County Department of Local Services and Public Health – Seattle & King County, with other services to be announced. (Keep an eye on the Emerald for future reporting on the Resource Center!)

Even though services at the Skyway Resource Center aren't fully up and running yet, approximately 200 to 300 people attended the grand opening event.

Elder Trina Cobbinah and Alynn Harris, a mother-daughter team, said they've been living in Skyway for 13 years. Cobbinah went to Renton High School in the neighborhood and moved back after time away. "I was excited about the resource center. I like to find out how we can wrap our arms around the residents here, how we can look out for one another," Cobbinah said.

Harris grew up between Southeast Seattle and Skyway and currently studies at Seattle Central College. "This area has always remained home for me. I'd love to see more art."

Kent resident Matt Krause visited over food with Skyway resident Tyson Koyano. "I'm Seattle, born and raised, and I've seen the people who grew up in my neighborhood disappear. I moved to Skyway in 2008 and it's a holdout. I love this neighborhood," Koyano said.

Shira Yin, a University of Washington communications graduate student, chatted with Michael Morales, Skyway Coalition's business development consultant. Nearby, Alesia Cannady, founder of Women United, who tabled at the event, described some of the services her organization provides. Cannady says she supports grandmothers raising their grandchildren, and organizes Grandma's Hands, chair yoga, and an art therapy program. The organization coordinates Hope's Community Closet, which gives out free clothing in Skyway.

Rebecca Zapata, the executive director of the Skyway Coalition, took in the day from the resource center's conference room. "I hope people can lean in and understand that this is community owned. [This] means they have a say [in] how we use it and how we can build it forward," Zapata said.

Eyes on Our Youth!

Muslim Youth, Make Your Story Count to Help End Bullying 

CAIR-WA has noticed a rise of Islamophobia and bullying toward Muslim children in the region over the past year and a half. The organization is working on its first survey for a more comprehensive understanding of what Muslim youth in our state face. CAIR-WA says the responses will be used to advocate for Muslim youth. This survey is for Muslim youth, 11 to 18 years old, who go to school in Washington State.

Indigenous Youth Can Represent on Seattle Advisory Council

The City of Seattle Indigenous Advisory Council is searching for an Indigenous young representative, age 18 to 29. The council advises the mayor, City Council, and City staff about policies and projects that affect the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian community in Seattle. Apply by June 12.

Nominate a Black Student Activist

You can nominate a Black Education Matters awardee until June 11. The organization encourages families, educators, students, and organizers to nominate a student in the Seattle Public Schools who has "demonstrated exceptional leadership in struggles against racism—especially with an understanding of the intersections with sexism, homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, class exploitation, and other forms of oppression—within their school or community."