New Lunch & Learn: DEI Facilitation and Social Status Are you feeling stuck in your DEIBelonging work? Have you lost momentum for change in your organization? One of the most common pitfalls of DEIB work in teams and organizations is falling into the trap of status inversion . Status inversion shows up when an organization genuinely wants to advance equity but ends up flipping who is seen as credible instead of changing the deeper rules of the game. Rather than separating c

We are deeply troubled by what we are witnessing across our country. The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the broader systems that enable harm in the name of “security” or “order,” continue to result in profound human suffering—particularly for immigrants, asylum seekers, and families who are already navigating fear, uncertainty, and loss. Behind every policy, every raid, every detention, are real people: parents, children, partners, neighbors—members

Dr. J.P. Anderson, one of Cultures Connecting’s racial equity specialists, recently joined the University of Washington (UW) as a faculty member in the American Ethnic Studies department where he teaches in the Integrated Social Sciences program (ISS). ISS is designed specifically to accommodate students outside of a traditional campus schedule—and for many, it is their only pathway to a bachelor’s degree. The program serves a wide range of nontraditional students includin

Condemn Illegal Military Attacks on Venezuela Rising Majority , a BIPOC led coalition, has a call to action on Google Docs to help you notify your congressional representative to stop the attacks on Venezuela. They provide a template letter and links to find your representative so you can quickly and easily take action. Watch this Video about Fighting Facism The Ripple Effect Institute shared this guide on things you can do to fight fascism as an antidote to despair. They ta

Train the Trainer Virtual Workshop Next Week! Our Train the Trainer workshop will be next week on January 14-16 from 8:30-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET. The skills developed in this three-day intensive are valuable for individuals who want to further equity work in their communities. Organizations committed to instituting systemic change will benefit by sending a small group of employees who become internal trainers that can provide on-going professional development for staff.

We were fortunate to interview representatives from six different organizations making a positive difference during 2025 and look forward to talking to more members of our community. In the meantime, here is a roundup of all the interviews we did. Make Us Visible: Urgent Action Needed to Include AA&NH/PI History in Schools Make Us Visible (MUV) is nationwide effort to get Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AA&NH/PI) history integrated into K-12 curriculum. We

Blackout Spending at Large Corporations Black Voters Matter , among other organizations, are urging people to avoid buying from major corporations between Thanksgiving and December 5th. SURJ is recommending you boycott Home Depot, Target, and Amazon during this period. They recommend that you redirect spending instead to Black-owned and community-rooted small businesses. Sign this Petition and Consider Opting out of Spotify Spotify has been airing ICE recruitment ads using i

Cultures Connecting End of Year Wrap Up for 2025 Can you believe 2025 is already coming to a close? It's been a tumultuous year for many of us as we've experienced attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, harm to our communities, and the dismantling of rights. It's a lot to take in so for our very last newsletter issue for the year (there will only be one in December), we wanted to share how we've been managing through all of this, as well as highlights of 2025

Can you believe 2025 is already coming to a close? It's been a tumultuous year for many of us as we've seen attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, attacks on our communities, and the dismantling of rights. It's a lot to take in so for our very last newsletter issue for the year (there will only be one in December), we wanted to share with you how we've been managing through all of this, as well as sharing some highlights in order to end on a high note. It's i

In the heart of Seattle’s Chinatown–International District, A Resting Place offers something rare—a culturally rooted sanctuary for grief. Founded by community organizer and grief worker Derek Dizon, the center serves as a “grief and loss cultural resource center,” a place where people can connect with others, honor their ancestors, and themselves. For Derek, grief is inseparable from identity. “When we experience loss, whether it’s the death of a loved one, the displacement

In part 4 of Ilsa Govan's conversation with Delbert Richardson of The Unspoken Truths Traveling Museum, Mr. Richardson talks about the different ways he cultivates belonging when engaging with students. This is the final part of this conversation and parts 1-3 can be found below. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Practice Self-Care & Engage in Things that Bring You Joy Whether you do this alone, with friends and family, or community, it's important to take a break to reset and refill your energy reserves. Seek out connection and community. Here are some events to help support your well being during this time: NAMI mental health support group Roots & Resonance Workshop Series Community of Practice Grief Circle Native Art Market at the Duwamish Longhouse Watch to Learn 5 Ways to Fight

Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders workshop has been rescheduled from November to April 9-10 next year due to unforeseen family circumstances. The workshop will still meet at 8:30-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET on Zoom. We will advertise this course again in this newsletter when we get closer to the rescheduled date. In the meantime, registration will remain open at Eventbrite . As with all of our workshops, refunds are available for up to 7 days before the event. For questi

Most of us grew up learning about Thanksgiving as the celebration of a 1621 feast shared between English colonists ("pilgrims") and the Wampanoag people. This narrative is typically portrayed as a harmonious relationship and sanitized of its history of violence. Today, we recognize these stories as over-simplified and inaccurately framed from a colonist point of view so for many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is considered the Day of Mourning. Watch the video below to learn a

Train the Trainer: Strategies for Facilitating Courageous Conversations on Race workshop will be held on January 14-16, 2026 at 8:30-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET on Zoom. Through engaging and interactive exercises, participants learn strategies and tips on how to successfully present sensitive information to a wide audience of learners. You will develop skills to take difficult conversations about race, privilege, and power to a deeper level and learn strategies for working w

Train the Trainer Workshop in January Train the Trainer: Strategies for Facilitating Courageous Conversations on Race workshop will be held on January 14-16, 2026 at 8:30-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET on Zoom. Through engaging and interactive exercises, participants learn strategies and tips on how to successfully present sensitive information to a wide audience of learners. You will develop skills to take difficult conversations about race, privilege, and power to a deeper le

Participate in Disappeared in America Weekend of Action Disappeared in America is a national effort to protect immigrant rights, due process, and democracy. The Disappeared in America Weekend of Action on November 1-2 is a mobilization effort to protect immigrants, expose corporate complicity, and honor the lives lost in detention. Events include protests at Home Depot, freedom vigils at detention centers, courthouses, and jails, as well as Dia de los Muertos actions to honor

National Native American Heritage Month, which is also referred to as American Indian or Alaska Native Heritage Month, was established in 1990 to recognize the significant contributions of Indigenous people. This originates back to 1915 when Episcopal priest and Native rights activist Rev. Sherman Coolidge , an Arapahoe, called on the country to observe American Indian Day the second Saturday of each May. Thanksgiving, one of the biggest U.S. holidays of the year, also falls

Advanced Microaggressions on November 20th & 21st Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders: How to Facilitate Difficult Conversations workshop will be taking place this month on November 20th & 21st at 8:30-12:00pm PT on Zoom. We apologize for the incorrect dates in our last newsletter (it was correct on Eventbrite). This workshop is for people in leadership positions who want to develop skills for approaching challenging situations in a way that invites healing, creates psychol

Attend a No Kings Protest on October 18 We shared this in our last newsletter but wanted to remind you of the second No Kings protest taking place this Saturday, October 18th from 12:00-2:00pm throughout the country including in Seattle at the International Foundation, Seattle Center. No Kings is organized by Indivisible and over 140 partners . Visit the No Kings website to find your nearest protest. Join Pramila Jayapal's Immigration Justice Lab Training Common Power is ho