Reclaiming The Village: Community Leaders Call for Renewed Parental Empowerment and Accountability
Community members pose at Garfield High School during the most recent Reclaiming The Village Summit. (Photo courtesy of Deaunte Damper)
Over the weekend, 100 Black Parents’ Reclaiming The Village series brought together Black families, community leaders, and educators at Garfield High School to address deep-seated issues facing Black students and families in Seattle. Deaunte Damper, Community Engagement for the King County Regional Office for Gun Violence, met with key figures at the event who gave insight and strategy into increasing parental engagement, cultural identity, and community-led solutions.
Rebuilding Trust and Taking Accountability
Marcus Stubblefield, a consultant and strategic advisor who previously served in the King County Executive's office, said that the core mission of Reclaiming The Village is to bring Black families to the forefront in supporting students through lack of safety and declining academic performances.
Amid discussions of gun violence, Stubblefield stressed the role of the family as the first line of defense. He called for parents to show up, be active and stay engaged with their kids.
"We can't put safety on everybody else, because it starts at the home... we have to know who's in [the student’s] network, so that we can be that first line of defense and that protective factor for them,” he said.
Community members gather at Garfield High School during the most recent Reclaiming The Village Summit. (Photo courtesy of Deaunte Damper)
Restoring Legacy and Community Support
Community Partner for Seattle Public Schools and Garfield High School alumna Arika Townsend focused on the need to restore the school’s legacy and the high expectations once held for its Black students.
Townsend expressed concern about a lack of pride in Garfield's legacy, recalling a time when strong community support systems, including the church community, clergy leadership, and the neighborhood, helped produce successful Black students. She called for alumni to return, share their experiences and history, and become mentors to the next generation of Bulldogs.
"It also helps us to learn how to give back," she said, highlighting the importance of current students seeing themselves in successful alumni.
Awakening the "Natural Genius" and Pursuing African-Centered Education
Steven Akuffo, a clinical psychotherapist at Garfield High School, framed the event around the theme of "awakening the natural genius of the Black adolescent student." He explained that while students are born with potential, they face intense social barriers that often impede their development.
Calling for the community to tackle the issues in unity, Akuffo argued that the educational intentionality of a student "starts in the home," and emphasized the influence of families on the developmental psychology of their children.
"A village is an extension of a culture. It is an instrument of a culture,” he said. His hope for future events is to propagate the discussion around African-centered education and what it should look like in schools.
Speaking directly to students, Akuffo left them with motivational words.
"There are people who believe in you and believe in your potential and believe that things do not always have to be this way. Don't lose hope. There are solutions,” he said.
Stay tuned for details on the next Reclaiming The Village.
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