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 […]
Centering the power of community is critical when providing safe and culturally responsive spaces for Black youth. Bringing community voice back to the education of Black students is one way to help close the racial disparity seen in classrooms. By Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant When Dr. Debra Sullivan talks about supporting Black childhood education, […]
A fresh start for justice-involved youth, adults, and families. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant New Connections has a 20-year history of serving the Kent and the South King County communities. Their mission is to connect justice-involved youth, adults, and families for a fresh start with education and resources. Justice-involved youth are those who have […]
Our words, our way: A look at two community-based podcasts recently funded by N2N. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Officer Representation matters. In the mainstream media, we do not see accurate representation of the faces, languages, viewpoints, and lived experiences of diverse communities of color. Negative stereotypes, unbalanced reporting, […]
Creating sacred space that unapologetically centers Black women and people By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Officer During a Neighbor 2 Neighbor (N2N) virtual site visit with Wonder of Women International (WOW), we got a glimpse of their gallery space in downtown Seattle, and we immediately realized that Zoom just […]
Promoting health and self-sufficiency with Black and African American youth, one seed at a time. By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant Supporting Black Dollar Days Task Force (BDDTF) this year feels poignant, as we, Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N), continue celebrating our 30th anniversary. BDDTF received a grant in 1991, the year N2N was launched, and […]
Empowering the Latinx community through cultural and ancestral healing By: Aileen Balahadia, N2N Program Consultant and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Advisor Xochitl Garcia knows firsthand the impact that stress and illness have on health and wellbeing, especially for members of her Latinx community. Years ago, Xochitl, whose name comes from the Aztec word for “flower,” […]
Cultivating safer spaces for Muslim girls and women. By Aileen Balahadia, Neighbor to Neighbor Program Consultant, and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Advisor Rahmo Rashid recalls the first time she was asked to support young Muslim girls in her African community. Her instincts told her they needed to meet in a group, face to face, and […]
Reclaiming Indigenous culture and language for youth. By Aileen Balahadia, Neighbor to Neighbor Program Consultant, and Elaine Chu, Senior Philanthropic Advisor It was a site visit like no other. That was the thought running through the minds of Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) advisory members who listened to Sondra Segundo, the founder of Haida Roots. She […]
