Community Leaders Convene to 'Reclaim the Village' at Garfield High School

Community members, parents, and leaders gathered last month in the Garfield High School Library for “Reclaiming the Village,” an ongoing series of convenings aimed at addressing persistent challenges and restoring the legacy of the historic Central District school. The event brought together stakeholders to discuss the state of Garfield and mobilize resources to ensure student success.

Chukundi Salisbury Sr., founder and executive director of 100 Black Parents, led the event alongside Garfield Principal Dr. Tarance Hart.

“We're reclaiming the legacy...of Garfield High School,” he said, emphasizing the need to rebuild a foundation of achievement. The summit addressed what Salisbury described as a "state of emergency” at the school.

Discussions centered on reversing the decline in academic achievement, supporting the school’s historic athletic programs, and addressing concerns over campus safety following tragic acts of violence. The overall goal was to restore the school's legacy of excellence despite the undeniable trauma Garfield students have faced in recent years.

Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, who lives down the street from Garfield, also attended to lend her support as a city representative and Central District resident. She framed the event as a necessary response to decades of systemic change in the neighborhood, counteracting the effects of gentrification and resource depletion. 

“We're trying to figure out how we're getting resources to our community, to our kids,” she said. “...Because we don't have the community that we once had here.” 

Hollingsworth also connected the school-level efforts to a broader, more critical issue of economic justice in the city, stating that the challenges faced by the Black students span decades. 

“These are generational problems that will not get fixed unless we fix the economic mobility for Black community,” she said. 

Both leaders stressed that the commitment to Garfield High School and its students is an ongoing effort, with plans to continue the "Reclaiming the Village" series to ensure consistent support and positive impact.

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