Neighbor to Neighbor Summer 2024 Spotlight
By: Aileen Balahadia
Intersectional is a word that is often thrown around and used, but what does it mean in the context of the grassroots communities we serve in N2N? For two of our grantees this Summer, both the vibrancy of and the challenges that arise from multiple identities spurred the creation of their respective organizations and projects. Intersectionality is an approach that recognizes the effects of multiple forms of discrimination (such as racism, sexism, and classism) and how they combine, overlap, or intersect especially in the experiences of marginalized individuals or groups.
SFEEED (Steps for Engagement, Education, Employment, and Development), is a newer organization based in SeaTac/Tukwila with a mission to empower underserved immigrant communities in King County and to provide opportunities for growth and prosperity. They do so through education, engagement, employment and education initiatives.
However, as they listened to their communities and their struggles, the urgency to understand the multiple identities and realities of families was clear—there was not enough attention being paid to East African immigrant families with children with developmental disability. N2N is funding this group to start early dialogue with families with special needs children in order to build community, educate, and dispel myths. When looking at the data, they could see that needs vary based on race and ethnicity. Factors such as evaluation bias, lack of multicultural tests, poverty, and insufficient professional development for working with diverse children contribute to these disparities. Statistically, black children are disproportionately referred to special education programs. African families, often unfamiliar with the special education system and lack the tools to combat subtle racism. Advocating for their labeled “disabled” child becomes challenging. Conversely, some African families deny their child’s special needs due to stigma, fear of discrimination, or lack of awareness. Given these complexities, it is crucial to approach this issue with sensitivity and cultural competence while recognizing and acknowledging families’ fears of systemic racism.
The Bismillah Approach is a new organization, largely based in South Seattle, who wrote and received their very first grant from N2N. Their mission is to support African/Somali families of children with disabilities in King County through parent support groups, sensory-friendly field trips, and educational workshops. Their mission encompasses fostering connections, promoting advocacy, and educating the community about various disabilities. Knowing that their communities face multiple realities: immigrant/refugee, African/Somali, women-led, and impacted by developmental disabilities- their intersectional lens is clear.
Bismillah wants to dismantle the stigma surrounding disabilities and differences, especially within the African community. Many families live in fear of being judged by others, leading to secluded lives that have a detrimental effect on not only the child but the entire family. Their members have the same lived experiences and are familiar with the cultural considerations and challenges of the community.
In both organizations, leaders fill important gaps in the health and education system to step in when institutions cannot serve those with multiple and intersectional realities with a “cookie cutter” approach. N2N is grateful for their leadership and for highlighting the needs of developmentally disabled, immigrant/refugee and low income communities of color.
Many diverse grantee partners and community members attended this year’s N2N annual grantee convening in September 2024. Photography by Mel Ponder.
The full list of N2N Summer 2024 grantees can be found below:
Summer 2024 grantees
- Alimentando al Pueblo*: To support a leadership development and power building initiative for Latine community members in Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila and White Center to transform food bank dynamics from “passive recipients to active participants”.
- Amigos de Seattle: To train 10 South Park youth on mental health and bullying prevention through radio programs on ADS Radio and social media with experts, aiming to connect and support peers amid rising Latinx mental health issues and bullying.
- Angolans Community in Washington*: To understand the growing Angolan community in Kent and SeaTac/Tukwila by hosting social gatherings, surveying community needs, and creating engagement strategies to strengthen the organization and their mission.
- Casa Surya Healings: To continue deepening Latinx White Center/South Park area families healing practices through provision of community programs and a traditional medicine project, along with opportunities to build stronger community.
- Center for Global Muslim Life*: To build a statewide coalition of diverse Muslim organizations, made up of nonprofits, Mosques, and Islamic Schools with a specific focus on South Seattle as the primary population center of Muslims in the region.
- Dayspring**: To support a mental health and services project working with African immigrant families and individuals in the Kent and South Seattle communities to become self-sufficient, self-reliant, and thrive.
- Duwamish Valley Affordable Housing Coalition: To provide workshops on the “Economics for Emancipation” for to up to 20 participants from the Latino community living in South Park, White Center and Burien in order to build generational wealth.
- Lao Senior Outreach: To support volunteer engagement and programs for vulnerable Lao seniors in the South King County area including arts and crafts/cultural enrichment and wellness.
- Perihelion Community Solutions: To empower African immigrant senior women in SeaTac/Tukwila through a 10-week program, fostering health advocacy and addressing specific health concerns, promoting holistic well-being and community resilience.
- P.O.W.E.R (Providing Other With Every Resource)**: To support BIPOC and homeless youth in SeaTac/Tukwila/South Seattle by providing essential resources, housing solutions, and mentorship to vulnerable individuals and families to foster stability and self-sufficiency.
- Queens Project: To support a retreat for Black Women/Womxn of color to physically & emotionally detox, address trauma, and set new intentions for their life’s journey, primarily in South Seattle/beyond.
- SFEEED – Steps for Engagement, Education, Employment and Development*: To dialogue with BIPOC and immigrant/refugee families with special needs children, primarily in SeaTac/Tukwila, in order to build community, educate on early intervention and dispel myths around special education.
- Team Redeemed Life Center: To engage the BIPOC, Kent area youth through facilitated conversations with credible messengers as Peer Mentors to reduce youth violence and in strategic partnership with local police.
- The Bismillah Approach**: To support South Seattle African/Somali families of children with disabilities through parent support groups, sensory-friendly field trips, and educational workshops.
- VOCIFINU*: To support East African immigrant youth in Kent area through programs that helps to develop social emotional and leadership skills to adapt and thrive in a new society.
- White Center Heights PTSA*: To support White Center BIPOC and low income families through food equity programming such as a community garden and Family Resource Center cultural cooking collaboration.
*indicates a first time N2N applicant
**indicates the first time the organization has written a grant application
For more information about Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N), please contact Program Consultant Aileen Balahadia at 206.515.2106 or [email protected]. The quarterly deadlines for N2N are January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30.