Trae Holiday welcomed Principal Dr. Tarance Hart of Garfield High School to discuss the inaugural "Reclaiming the Village" summit. Host Trae Holiday expressed her excitement about having Garfield administration in the studio for the first time, noting the school's significant legacy in her own life and the broader Seattle and Pacific Northwest communities. Principal Hart shared his background, growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, as part of the first post-Civil Rights generation, which shaped his understanding of race relations and education. He emphasized how this experience influences his approach to leadership at Garfield.

Principal Hart, now in his fourth year as principal, acknowledged the challenges of acclimating to the Pacific Northwest and the context of education there, especially coming from schools with a high percentage of Black and Title I students. He explained that a Title I designation provides additional academic and programmatic resources based on the percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch. While Garfield is not currently a Title I school, Principal Hart believes it could be if more families submitted the necessary applications, highlighting the budget constraints the school faces.

The "Reclaiming the Village" summit stems from Principal Hart's realization that Garfield needed to better engage its Black families. A conversation with a parent who felt the support provided did not reflect a strong Black principal deeply impacted him. This summit is designed to be a listening session, allowing families to share their experiences and for the school to communicate its efforts to support students. It aims to strengthen the partnership between the school and families, providing information on graduation requirements, navigating high school, and accessing mental health and academic supports.

The "Reclaiming the Village" summit is scheduled for Saturday, August 16th, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Garfield's main building. The day will include an address from Principal Hart about the current state of Garfield, feedback circles for families to share their experiences, and breakout sessions on student mental health with Dr. Steven Akuffo from the teen health center and other professionals. A community-based organization fair will also be held, featuring programs that prepare students for college and careers. Families interested in attending can register on Garfield High School's website. https://garfieldhs.seattleschools.org/