Connections is a 1-year youth leadership and development program created in partnership with Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE) and support from the Seattle Public Schools.

The purpose of Connections is to support students in building a school culture where every student feels respected, understood, and empowered to lead change.

Program objectives include:

• Increase a sense of belonging for students of all backgrounds
• Decrease social isolation while creating spaces that support student mental health
• Help students experience greater emotional and intellectual safety in their school community
• Strengthen personal relationships between students and across schools
• Understand and build upon equity and antiracist concepts, approaches, and tools
• Build teamwork, collaboration, and community-building skills
• Develop life and leadership skills

Centered on peer-to-peer support and student-led activities, Connections creates a safe, interactive space for student dialogue and experiential learning. The program blends dynamic activities with student-driven conversation and facilitation tools to build awareness, allyship, and actionable strategies for inclusion. Students explore intersectional identities and practice skills that empower them to lead change in their school culture.

The Connections Program has two stages: LEARNING & DOING.

During the first stage, students LEARN about belonging, leadership, teamwork, allyship, and antiracism while participating in local and community-based experiences. Students explore identity and intersectionality, cultural awareness, friendship, and self-care. Over time, they develop an understanding of equity, unconscious bias, anti-racism, and social justice while individually growing a sense of belonging within the program cohort.

Experiences include but not limited to:

• Wing Luke Museum
• North West African American Museum
• Seattle Mosaic Arts
• Indigenous Walking Tour, University of Washington
• Community Service with Yes Farm, Black Farmers Collective

Then during the second stage, students DO by taking what they have learned to develop and lead fun and inclusive activities for other students as peer-to-peer supporters and mentors.

SPRING (Semester 2, 2025-2026)

Program Orientation:

• Roosevelt Students – Tuesday, February 10, 4-6PM
• Garfield Students – Thursday, February 12, 4-6PM

Weekly Meetups:

• Garfield Students – TUESDAYS 4–6 PM
• Roosevelt Students – THURSDAYS 4–6 PM

(3) Saturday Field Trips:

• • Saturday, February 28, 2026
  • Saturday, March 28, 2026
  • Saturday, May 2, 2026

FALL (Semester 1, 2026-2027)

• Attend regular check-in (days/times TBD)
• Plan and lead student experiences, provide 1:1 peer support and/or be a peer leader for the next Crew field trips and weekly meetups.
• Optional: Propose your own idea to support your peers!

Connections is a year-long program. This includes a commitment to attend designated weekly meetups and field trips.

Students interested in participating in the program must be a current Garfield or Roosevelt High School student enrolled in grades 9–11.

Connections Crew members earn 60 Service Learning Credit Hours upon completion of the 1 year program.

Please feel free to reach out to Amber Inwood, Youth Engagement Coordinator, via acinwood@seattleschools.org.