Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE)

We invite you to express your commitment to racial equity and donate today! RARE's programs teach students to live and work in a community filled with people of all races, religions, and ethnicities. Your generosity funds RARE's programs which impact those in and around the Seattle area - and across the nation!

rhs4racialequity.org

Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE) formed in 2020 following George Floyd's killing and our national reckoning. A racially diverse group of high school alumni from Seattle's 1970's era of voluntary busing joined together to impact racial equity through the creation of a series of education related programs.

 Documentary Film  The making of the documentary “Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White” has proven to be one of RARE’s major accomplishments. It delves into past and present issues of race at Roosevelt High School in Seattle, setting them in a larger historical context of Seattle's efforts at desegregation. The story is told through vivid personal experiences and reflections of RHS alumni, current students, staff, and parents, as well as through archival documents and the testimony of education and race experts.  Watch 3 minute film trailer

Since the original release of the film in January 2022, it has been shown at more than 15 schools, 13 organizations and to more than 3,000 individuals. It aired five times on PBS and was selected for the Seattle Social Justice Film Festival in October 2023.  Most recently the documentary was featured by The Funders Network, a national granting entity based in Florida. RARE board members participated in a moderated post-film discussion with participants from all over the country.

"Beyond Black and White" and post-film discussion questions are available on demand on RARE's website. RARE plans to continue to introduce the Teachers’ Guides and Curriculum Guides to educators/parents after showing the documentary, as well as to continue to show the documentary in as many schools, PTSA groups and community organizations as possible.  Learn more about RARE's Documentary Film.

 Connections  The purpose of the Connections program is to create student leaders who share a vision of inclusion and work together towards a welcoming and positive school culture, where all students feel that they belong, are appreciated for who they are, and have equal access to educational resources. The program consists of workshops, meetups, and adventurous activities — inclusive experiences where students learn and practice valuable new skills that help remove “barriers to belonging” for their classmates.

RARE is honored to collaborate with Urban League of Metro Seattle, one of the most respected civil rights organizations in the country. Students reported in initial pilot programs that they are better able to understand and participate in their school community - and they want more!  Plans are in the works for expanding Connections in 2024 with a full time Youth Engagement Coordinator.  Learn more about Connections

 Open Discussions  (OD) is one of RARE’s hallmark programs. Join us for moderated and lively on-line discussions related to understanding racial equity issues. Read more about RARE's past inspiring and informative Open Discussions.

• “The State of Racial Equity in Seattle Public Schools” - Blog post
• “Mixed Race Students and Adults – Their Paths Traveled” - Blog post
• “Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline” - Blog post

 Scholarship & Awards   RARE prioritizes academic scholarship and is excited to announce its seventh and eighth $5K James A. Davis Jr. Scholarship recipients! In its founding year, RARE established funding for two annual $5,000 scholarship awards. Funds support two Roosevelt students of color in need each year to reach their post-secondary educational goals. Applications are welcomed from graduating students of color who plan to attend college, trade school, or a professional training program.

New this year, RARE presents the inaugural Forrest Ward Racial Equity Award.

 Restorative Practice  (RP) is one of the biggest single endeavors of the Seattle Public School District (SPSD). Restorative Practice empowers students to resolve conflicts on their own and in small groups, and it’s a growing practice at schools around the country. RP has the potential of changing the climate and culture in Seattle schools. The goal is to guide people to respect themselves and others regardless of their differences. RARE’s RP Committee works with the Restorative Practice Community Coalition (RPCC), to support SPSD’s implementation of Restorative Practice in schools, networking with professional RP organizations in the community.

DONATE, VOLUNTEER, AND ADVOCATE FOR RACIAL EQUITY

If you are interested in volunteering with RARE, please see our volunteer opportunity page or let us know what you’re interested in via our contact us page.