South End Stories at Lowell Elementary (Image: South End Stories)
Capitol Hill’s Lowell Elementary is not completely quiet this summer. Storytelling and identity program South End Stories is busy on the campus for a summer session of graphic novels, poetry, dance, screenwriting, and drawing.
The special session is part of $1 million in funding awarded by the City of Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning this summer to enhance summer programs for more than 1,300 K-12 Seattle public school students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic:
Community-Based Summer Enhancement and COVID-19 Response Funds were awarded to 17 community-based organizations to enhance or expand a diverse array of student enrichment opportunities, including reading, writing, STEM, social justice, college mentorship, career exploration, physical fitness, and arts. Funded programs will provide K-12 students with greater access to academic supports and culturally-responsive enrichment experiences promoting physical wellness and social-emotional learning. Of the 17 award recipients, eight are first-time funding recipients from DEEL with award sizes ranging from $5,720 to $99,940. Funded organizations are largely concentrated in the South Seattle area.
“This funding opportunity prioritized diverse BIPoC-led organizations working to serve communities most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the urgent needs of students,” the city says.
Donte Felder, executive director of South End Stories, said the program “aims to ignite joy and curiosity through anti-racist curriculum and artistic sensibility.”
“We will use 21st century pedagogy grounded in creative expression to provide hope and inspiration for the students in our upcoming summer camp,” Felder said.
You can learn more at southendstories-artsed.com.
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