King County Councilmember Larry Gossett and Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien will co-host a forum on disproportionality in the education and criminal justice system at 6:00 p.m. on Weds., July 29 at the New Holly Gathering Hall – 7054 32nd Ave. S. in Seattle.
The event will feature a special discussion that will that will focus on the challenges of meeting the educational needs of youth of color as a step to help reduce their numbers in the regional criminal justice system.
“Our youth, especially youth of color, must traverse difficult times in our society. We must equip them with critical thinking skills through offering them a multicultural education through a social justice lens,” said Gossett. “This is a necessity if we want them to become leaders in changing our society to one that is inclusive and benefits all people. We hope we as leaders in King County can be open to the ideas and concerns we hear at this town hall.”
“One of the most important things we can do for racial justice in Seattle and King County is to break the school-to-prison pipeline,” said O’Brien. “We need new approaches to school discipline that keep students in the classroom where they can continue to learn and grow.”
The councilmembers will be joined by panelist that will participate in a roundtable discussion on steps that need to be take on a local and county level to ensure that students of color are receiving the multicultural education and relevant services needed to keep them in school and out of the school-to-prison pipeline.
One of the most accurate predictors of adult criminal justice involvement are suspensions and expulsion while in school. South Seattle schools have higher rates than other parts of the city, and South King County school districts rank as high, or higher in some cases, than Seattle Public Schools. African American and other students of color are grossly overrepresented in those numbers.
“One of the most important things we can do for racial justice in Seattle and King County is to break the school-to-prison pipeline,” said O’Brien. “We need new approaches to school discipline that keep students in the classroom where they can continue to learn and grow.”
