August 7, 2025
Colleagues, Advocates, Amig@s,
It’s the final stretch of summer, the buildup to a new school year, and for me personally, a moment of reflection as I celebrate another trip around the sun. Like many of us, I find myself pausing to ask: What is this work asking of me right now?
That’s why I’m so honored to share our 2025 SESEC Summit Graphic, a visual representation of our shared vision, grounded in the wisdom and truth spoken by our community. This graphic is more than art. It’s a living values statement. A checkpoint. A guide we can return to as we ask: Are we doing what we said we would do? Are we honoring what our coalition has told us matters most?
This visual reflects SESEC’s theory of change, rooted deeply in relationship, community accountability, and the leadership of BIPOC youth and families. It’s a commitment to a future that rejects the isolation of traditional education models and instead invests in collective learning and liberation. In Southeast Seattle, we know how special our communities are. The brilliance, the resilience, and the deep ties that hold us together are our strengths.
As we gear up for the school year ahead, this graphic becomes a mirror and a compass. It reminds us that every program, partnership, and cohort must align with what we believe: That students deserve power, families deserve to be heard, and our systems must reflect our shared values.
Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us, for showing up, staying grounded, and imagining what’s possible. As always, this work moves forward because we show up. I hope to see you at our next coalition meeting, where we’ll be joined by guests from UW’s CELE Center.
Nos Vemos (See You) at the August Coalition Meeting,
Liz Huizar, M.A.
Visual Graphic Credit: Mari Shibuya, IG
