By Deb Carstens, LWV Seattle-King County

The LWVWA is honored to be a co-sponsor of "Changing Our Futures: Rethinking Education, Justice and Youth," a conversation devoted to exploring strategies for building school communities rooted in belonging, connection and care. 

The event features a panel discussion addressing policy and practice changes that can disrupt harmful trajectories by building strong relationships, personalized support and a culture of belonging for young people—especially those who have faced trauma or instability. 

Claudia Rowe, a journalist with the Seattle Times, will lead the discussion—which centers around her recent book Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care. Through stories of six former foster youth, Rowe exposes the haunting reality of the foster care-to-prison pipeline, and asks: Why do so many foster kids end up incarcerated?

Fellow panelists for this event include Dr. Ben Danielson, a clinical professor of pediatrics at UW Medicine and longtime community leader in health equity; Karen Andrews, executive director of the Center for High School Success (CHSS) at Stand for Children; and Henterson Carlisle, Northwest Regional CHSS Director. 

Please join us Sep. 30, from 5-7 pm at Town Hall Seattle (the Downstairs Forum). Register for the event.