Newsletter: May 2025 Issue 1
- Cultures Connecting
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
New Edition of our Train the Trainers Book Coming
Can you believe it's been 10 years since we last published our book, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, that we use for our Train the Trainer workshops? In the past 10 years, we've learned so much about facilitation, collected many stories, and grew in our skills, including facilitating virtually.
We're excited to announce that a second edition of our book, now called Facilitating Conversations on Race, is due out later this year/early next year. Topics such as virtual facilitation, accessibility, racial dynamics, co-facilitation, and more are newly covered in this edition and we are excited to share this content with you through our Brave Space Builders list. We will use this list to share sneak peeks into our new book including quotes, stories, and new content. Joining the list is simple. Either reply to this email or email Judy directly at judy.lee@culturesconnecting.com.
In the meantime, we are making room for this new edition by clearing out our current inventory of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion books for just $25 per copy. Click the link below to buy your copy today.
DEIBelonging Consultants Gathering
On April 23rd, we gathered our DEIBelonging consultants network to take a collective breath, ground into our values, and work together to move DEIB forward. While we gathered last year as an informal networking event, we felt we needed more structure this year to address the current political climate and attack on DEIB.
We started the day with brunch and then split up into 4 small groups where we:
Checked in with each other (led by JP).
Talked about hope (led by Ilsa).
Shared challenges and opportunities (led by Richard).
Used visual explorer cards for self-exploration (led by Judy).
Each group rotated throughout the morning so that everyone had a chance to attend each session. We concluded the day with a large group discussion facilitated by Caprice, which led to a conversation about language and plans for next steps to continue moving forward collectively.
At the end of our gathering, Caprice asked each of us to share one word describing how we felt. Words like grounded, hopeful, encouraged, grateful, and engaged surfaced. This event was a wonderful reminder of how, in the face of adversity, coming together as a collective and supporting each other is how we get through. We are so grateful to be a part of such an amazing community and are feeling energized to continue this work alongside them.
Creating a More Equitable Restaurant Model: Interview with Seth and Zachary Pacleb of Pidgin Cooperative
“Restaurants have always had the potential to be very toxic and inequitable, very hierarchical. Kitchen brigade is built off of the military and so it's very top down…With this [cooperative] model, this will allow somebody to be a part of a business that they're morally aligned with…and allowing them to work towards a point where they're seeing the full profits or benefits of the labor hours that they put into this business.”
-Zachary Pacleb
If you’ve ever been to the Ballard Farmer’s Market, you’ve likely seen long lines at the popular food stand, “Ramen and Tacos,” featuring a mash-up of global flavors made from scratch like kimchi on tacos or curry in ramen. Now, brothers Seth and Zachary Pacleb are opening a worker-owned cooperative restaurant under their rebranded company, Pidgin Cooperative.
We sat down with the brothers to talk about the challenges of the restaurant industry, it's harmful culture and treatment of workers, and the ways they are moving forward with a cooperative model with the hope of doing things differently. They are "reimaging the food systems of our future" to operate in a more sustainable and equitable way so that everyone who contributes their labor to the restaurant is rewarded both personally and financially.
Visit our blog to read the full interview and if you're interested in contributing to the movement, consider donating to their Kickstarter campaign "Pidgin Cooperative: A People's Restaurant" which ends on May 6th! Their video pays homage to vintage PBS educational shows and is worth a watch.
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American & Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month! AANHPIs encompass a vast and diverse diaspora of people who have been living in the U.S. since the mid-1800s. Perceptions of Asian Americans, the impact of model minority stereotypes, and how Asian Americans are defined are all important issues of we should all be aware. You can read more about this in our blog about the month here.
In the meantime, here are some events or places you can visit in the Seattle area to celebrate this month. Be sure to also check the Event Calendar below to find more ways to participate.
Learn AA&NHPI History
As many of you know, we have been supporters of the organization Make Us Visible (MUV) whose mission is pass legislation to require K-12 schools to integrate AANHPI history into existing curriculum. They have been trying to get this passed in Washington for the past 2 years but haven't had the legislative support needed. In the meantime, if you are an educator, you can do this already through the professional development workshops MUV hosts in partnership with other organizations.
There is an upcoming one on Wednesday, May 21st, Threads of Resistance: AA&NH/PI Histories of Activism and Solidarity, which is free and earns you 2 Clock Hours. Visit the workshop page here for details and to register.
She Marches in Chinatown Screenings
Continuing the theme of education, She Marches in Chinatown is a documentary featuring the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, whom you've likely seen if you've ever been to a parade in the Pudget Sound region. This 30-minute documentary tells the team's origin story, while exploring the history of Asian Americans in Seattle. The filmmaker, Della Chen, was tragically killed in February by a drunk driver. There is a small group, including our Project Manager Judy Lee, who are organizing screenings in honor of Della and AANHPI Heritage Month. Below are the screening dates and trailer for the documentary.
May 3rd at 12:00pm and 1:30pm: AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration at The Armory Loft, drill team performance preceding the screening at 11:30
May 10th at 11:00am at MOHAI, followed by a performance by the drill team
May 15th at 6pm at Wing Luke Museum, followed by a Q&A.
If you are a Seattle Public Schools educator, you already have free access to this documentary through SPS. Della wanted her film to be used as an educational tool available to all Seattle school students so consider showing this in your classroom as part of AANHPI Heritage month!
AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration at Seattle Center
Saturday, May 3rd at 11:00-5:00pm
There will be a full day of performances by various AANHPI cultural groups at The Armory on May 3rd, including a Lion Dance and the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team featured in the documentary above. There will also be tabling by several organizations, including Make Us Visible where you'll also find Judy Lee until 2pm. Be sure to stop by and say hello! Visit the celebration website to learn more.
Mam's Bookstore
Did you know there are two AANHPI bookstores in the U.S.? One is Yu and Me Books located in New York City's Chinatown. The other is Mam's Books located in Seattle's Chinatown International District and serves as a third space for the community. They host Chinatown Bookclub, Orange Couch Concerts, Open-Mics, and, of course, author talks, as well as important conversations affecting the community. Support the bookstore with a visit on the weekends and buying a book. Be sure to say hi to Mam, the bookstore's namesake and father to owner Sokha, and his wife who frequently hang out there.
Ways to Take Action for Change
Sign the Pledge to Take Action with the Civil Right Coalition
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is comprised of over 240 national organizations who are committed to protect, defend, and expand the rights of people in our country. They are asking people to sign their pledge to take specific action over the next four years. Signing up will send you emails on actionable steps you can take.
You can learn more about the Leadership Conference here and sign the pledge under their "Take Action" page here.
Join the International Worker's Day (May Day) Rally
May 1st is International Worker's Day, otherwise known as May Day, and there will be rallies throughout the U.S., including Seattle on May 1st at noon at Cal Anderson Park.. The Rally demands include:
Shutdown the Northwest Detention Center and Abolish ICE!
People Over Profit! No to Privatization, Yes to Unionization!
End the Attacks on Immigrants and Protect the Statuses We Fought For!
Resist Trump’s Fascist Agenda and Stop the Billionaire Takeover!
...and more. Visit the Seattle May Day site to learn more. SURJ is also gathering for this protest which you can find out about here. For areas outside of Seattle, you can find your local May Day protest here.
It's a new month which means taking a look at our Diversity Calendar to look at significant dates to consider when planning meetings or events to create greater inclusion. Click on the name of the day to learn more.
4/30-5/01: Twelfth Day of Ridván (Bahá'i)
5/01: Beltane (Neo-Pagan)
5/01: May Day (International Worker’s Day) (International)
5/05: Cinco de Mayo (United States / Mexico)
5/11: Mother's Day (United States)
5/11: El Día de la Madre (Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala)
5/11: Haitian Mother's Day (Haitian)
5/12: Buddha Day/ Visakha Puja/ Vesek (Buddhist)
5/21: World Day for Cultural Diversity (International)
5/22-23: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá'i)
5/26: Memorial Day (United States/Mexican/No School)
5/27-28: Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahá'i)
Upcoming DEIB/Social Justice Events
For details on these and other events, workshops and conferences happening in the social justice space, visit our Events Calendar. If you have an event you would like us to share, please reach out to us!
5/01: May Day Strong Rally with SURJ. We are the Many!
5/01: International Workers' Day (May Day) Rally
5/01: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
5/02: Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Art
5/03: Sàigòn to Seattle: 50 Years After the War Screening
5/03: Use Conflict to Change the World: A Deep Dive into Power
5/03: Aware LA: First Saturday Dialogue
5/03: AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration at The Seattle Center
5/04: Beyond The White Fragility Echo Chamber: Q&A with Robin DiAngelo
5/04: Radical Attention: Extraordinary Mindfulness for Social Justice
5/04: Black Teachers: A Pedagogy of Organized Resistance
5/05: Teach the Black Freedom Struggle Online Class
5/06: Learning Lab: Narrative Change for Racial Equity
5/06: DEI Crisis Leadership Forum
5/06: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
5/06: White People and Wealth
5/07: Teach Truth National Day of Action
5/07: Accessible Travel: Planning Considerations for People with Disabilities
5/08: Brave Conversations: Transforming Workplace Conflict
5/08: How can Democrats win back working-class voters?
5/10: Black Farmers Collective Yes Farm Volunteer Day
5/10: Lay Down to Rise Up: Restorative Embodiment for People's of the Global Majority
5/10: She Marches in Chinatown Screening and Performance at MOHAI
5/15: She Marches in Chinatown Screening ant Q&A at Wing Luke Museum
5/12: Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future
5/12: People's Institute Northwest Organizing Meeting
5/13: Men of Melanin: BIPOC Healing Circles
5/15: SURJ Abolition Action Hour
5/15: The Tender Work: An Ongoing Affinity Circle for People Identifying as White
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
