By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE) recently announced their 2022 James A. Davis, Jr. scholarship recipients.
Named after James A. Davis, Jr., a Black graduate and 1971 senior class president at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, the scholarship honors the dedication and legacy of Davis’ efforts to promote racial equity at the school. David passed away in 2013.
“Davis supported, promoted and believed in racial equity,” says Joe Hunter, Jr., co-chair of the board of directors for RARE. “When he saw something wrong, he spoke up and challenged racial injustices.
RARE annually offers two $5,000 scholarships for economically disadvantage students of color who demonstrate a commitment to furthering their education and who have made efforts towards promoting a climate of racial equity at Roosevelt High School.
“The scholarships were awarded to students of colors that through their efforts at Roosevelt have helped to improve the racial equity and racial climate and the culture at the school,” says Hunter. “We are convinced that these two individuals have represented the best of the best of the students at Roosevelt high school regardless of race.”
This year’s scholarship recipients are Myles Mawa and Elroe Yayiso, both are seniors who are looking forward to beginning their new chapters in college.
Yayiso is planning to study computer science at Howard University in Washington, DC this fall. Yayiso, who has a passion and wisdom that will help her become an agent of change for women of color in STEM fields, has already solidified herself as a leader both in school and the community. She co-founded the Women in Tech Club, the Girls for Code program and the Making Connection program at Roosevelt. In addition, she was a participant in the United Negro College Fund program, is a teen advisor for the Elias Park Project, serves as vice-president of the Black Student Union and is a member of the National Honor Society.
Yayiso, who will be the first person in her family to attend college, also ran track for Roosevelt, which helped her learn to inspire and work well in teams.
“Racial Equity to me is when everyone has the same opportunities regardless of race,” says Yayiso. “It is also about applying justice and common sense to a system that has been out of balance.”
Mawa has used his social media platform to battle the nuances of complacency and traumatic racism. He currently is part of the Planned Parenthood South King County Teen Council and has helped coordinate Black Lives Matter panels for the Black Student Union as their vice president, constructing introspective questions that allowed panelists to accurately explain their experiences and non-panelists to self- reflect on their own. He is also the editor in chief of the 2021/2022 yearbook, the captain and choreographer for the Roosevelt Dance Team, co-president of the Kpop Club and a director, actor and dancer in drama productions.
“To me, racial equity starts with restorative justice,” says Mawa. “Deconstructing and reconstructing systems to work for and not against Black and Brown students, while very needed in order to serve the community, will mean nothing if an olive branch is not extended to students and people, in general, who have been burned by a society who wrote them out of its exclusive contract.”
Representing their generation Yayiso and Mawa are setting an example for future awardees in how to take advantage of the opportunities presented to people to help and aid them in reaching their dreams and goals.
RARE, which is now working to expand their programs and influence into other schools, is looking to make a significant impact in the lives of young people. With an emphasis on young Black males, who are walking in their awareness of societal and cultural issues like equity and inclusion as well as looking to further their education, RARE is hoping to duplicate its model throughout the city.
“I think from a community standpoint our plans are to start reaching outside of the Roosevelt community,” says Hunter. “Reaching into the greater Seattle community with special attention towards our Southend schools.”
“We have a couple of programs that we are working on for the future like restorative justice and restorative practice supporting the Seattle Public School district’s initiatives in those areas,” continued Hunter. “We are also looking at a career resource program, it is going to be geared towards young Black males between the ages 12 and 15 years old, and the whole idea behind this is giving this demographic a set of resources that will help them in their decision-making regarding their future goals and aspirations.”
For more information visit www.rhs4racialequity.org/connections/
