Estela Ortega, Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza , doesn't describe her career in terms of titles or accolades. She describes it in terms of what needed to be done. "No task is beneath you," she says, "whether it's answering the phones, sweeping, mopping floors, cooking." For 53 years, Estela has shown up for El Centro de la Raza and she's still showing up. The organization began not with a board meeting or a grant, but with a peaceful occupation. In 1972, a group of

Arab American Heritage, Autism Acceptance, and Celebrate Diversity Month Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated to recognize the diverse culture, history, and contributions of Arab Americans to the United States . While grassroots efforts to mark the occasion began in the 1990s, it gained significant momentum in   2017 through the efforts of  ArabAmerica.com  and the Arab America Foundation. The initiative was driven by a desire to combat stereotypes and provide a dedicat

Artist Jo Cosme grew up being told Puerto Rico was paradise. Her work asks who that story actually belongs to. Yolanda Cosme  grew up in Borikén, the indigenous name for the island the Spanish renamed Puerto Rico, absorbing a story about herself that wasn't hers. It was the story colonialism tells: that North Americans are more educated, more intellectual, more worthy. That to be from the Caribbean is to be lesser. "We grew up with this shame of being savages," she says. "Tha

Our Project Manager, Judy Lee, is curating an art show in April through May at   The Fishbowl , a nonprofit QTBIPOC centered community gallery she helps manage. The theme is Between Borders and Belonging  and explores the complex emotional arc of grief, resilience, and joy in the immigrant journey. This exhibition aims to move beyond mainstream headlines to center the personal, lived narratives of those who have crossed borders.  Unlike traditional art shows, The Fishbowl's C

Leading Equity in Shifting Times Workshop in May Equity leadership is evolving. Across the country, formal DEI roles are being restructured, renamed, or eliminated. In many organizations, the work has not disappeared, it has simply become more complex. Some leaders are carrying equity efforts under a different name. Others are navigating pushback, policy shifts, or heightened scrutiny. Many are doing this work while also holding their primary roles. In this moment, clarity, s

The 27th annual White Privilege Conference (WPC) will be held on April 22-25 in Seattle. WPC welcomes everyone including students, educators, social workers, nonprofit leaders, activists, healthcare professionals, members of the spiritual community, and corporate spaces. WPC aims to provide a rich range of perspectives and creates space for meaningful dialogue and how White privilege, White supremacy, and systems of oppression shape our daily lives. Our co-founder Ilsa Govan

"The practice of joy is reclaiming how to be safe in a moment, even when the world is not safe." Physician, author, and global trauma worker Dr. Tanmeet Sethi has spent decades sitting with suffering—in disaster zones, in exam rooms, and in her own home after her son was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which progressively destroys muscle tissue and is fatal. She talks about receiving that diagnosis, while nine months pregnant with her third child, in her New York

No Kings Protest on March 28th No Kings is organizing their third protest since the current administration took office with thousands of nationwide marches rooted in nonviolent action on March 28th. To find a protest in the greater Seattle area, visit this events page . To find your local events on an interactive map, visit the No Kings website . In addition to the marches, they also have a list of urgent calls to action, Know Your Rights resources, and trainings to document

Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout history while recognizing the ongoing work toward gender equity. It began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978, organized by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. After continued advocacy from historians and women’s organizations, Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month in 1987. This month also includes Inter

March is Women's History & Developmental Disability Awareness Month Women’s History Month honors the achievements and contributions of women throughout history while recognizing the ongoing work toward gender equity. It began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978, organized by the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women. After continued advocacy from historians and women’s organizations, Congress officially designated Ma

Join Tsuru for Solidarity & La Resistencia for Solidarity Day Tsuru for Solidarity  and La Resistencia  are hosting a Day of Remembrance and solidarity day on the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center on Saturday, February 21st at 1:00pm. Survivors of Japanese American internment will speak about the parallels between their lived experiences and the current victims of mass immigration detention. La Resistencia will be speaking on the latest conditions inside the detention center

Our book Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which we use for our Train the Trainer workshops, is on final clearance! To make room for our new edition, which is scheduled for release later this year, we have further discounted the book to $10 (+$10 shipping)! Visit the button below to purchase. If you'd like to learn more about the new edition, including a sneak peek of our cover and release date, join our Brave Space Builders list by replying to this email and requesting to jo

Lunar New Year 2026 begins on February 17th and is celebrated by millions of people around the world. The holiday marks the start of the lunar calendar and is observed in many countries and communities, including China, Vietnam (where it is known as Tết), Korea (Seollal), Singapore, Malaysia, and across the global Asian diaspora. While traditions vary by culture, Lunar New Year is generally a time for family gatherings, honoring ancestors, sharing meals, and welcoming renewal

DEI Facilitation and Social Status Workshop in 2 Weeks Our DEI Facilitation and Social Status  workshop, facilitated by Dr. J.P. Anderson, is in 2 weeks! This workshop is designed to help organizations identify and repair one of the most common pitfalls of DEIB work: status inversions. This shows up when an organization genuinely wants to advance equity but ends up flipping who is seen as credible instead of changing the deeper rules of the game. Rather than separating compet

Our 2026 Cultures Connecting team retreat was held on January 30th, which coincided with the National Day of Strike, at Reclaim Clay Collective. We debated cancelling but decided to move forward as a way to be in community, to replenish our souls through art, and be connected in person. We had fun (and felt challenged) wheel throwing to make bowls under the guidance of our instructor Andrew (featured above). It wasn't easy but they turned out pretty well! Reclaim Clay Collect

Black History Month is  celebrated in February to recognize the significant contributions and sacrifices of African Americans that have often been neglected in U.S. history. Officially recognized in 1976, it honors achievements in areas like science, politics, and culture, while encouraging reflection on the ongoing movements for racial equity and social justice. Here are some things you can do to honor this month: Visit & Support the Northwest African American Museum Buy a B

Like all of you, we too are feeling overwhelmed with ICE, Minnesota, and the 8 deaths so far this year of Geraldo Lunas Campos (1/3), Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres (1/5), Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz (1/6), Renee Good (1/7), Parady La (1/9), Victor Manuel Diaz (1/14), Heber Sanchaz Dominguez (1/14), and Alex Pretti (1/24). This is in addition to the 32 deaths last year, not including Keith Porter who was killed on New Year's Eve. You may be feeling rage and grief. Nikita Gill  remind

February is Black History Month Black History Month is  celebrated in February to recognize the significant contributions and sacrifices of African Americans that have often been neglected in U.S. history. Officially recognized in 1976, it honors achievements in areas like science, politics, and culture, while encouraging reflection on the ongoing movements for racial equity and social justice. Here are some things you can do to honor this month: Visit & Support the Northwest

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on Monday, January 19th. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (King Center), established by Coretta Scott King in 1968, is a great resource for commemorating this day. They are holding a teach-in for educators which you can register for here , as well other virtual events such as the  2026 Beloved Community Children's Book Reading  and MLK Day Service Project . If you're local to the Puget Sound area, here are some

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network In this issue, we want to highlight the work of the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network  (WAISN) whose mission is to build collective power for immigrants and refugees across Washington through peaceful, non-violent, community-led action. WAISN works in multiple areas including policy advocacy and grant making & fund development. They also support deportation defense through a hotline, rapid response network, accompaniment for legal