Newsletter: May 2026 Issue 1
- Cultures Connecting
- Jun 1
- 6 min read
June is LGBTQ+ Pride, National Immigrant Heritage, and Caribbean American Heritage Month
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated in honor of the Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests that erupted in late June 1969 after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City's Greenwich Village. The patrons, many of whom were transgender women of color, drag queens, and homeless queer youth, fought back against years of harassment, sparking a movement that led to the first Pride marches in 1970. Today, we can honor Pride Month by attending local parades, supporting LGBTQ+-owned businesses, donating to advocacy organizations, and showing up as our beautiful queer selves or as an ally for the queer people in our lives. Pride is both a celebration of progress and a reminder that the fight for full equality continues.
National Immigrant Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich and enduring contributions that immigrants have made to the fabric of American life. The observance was launched in 2014 by the organization "I Am An Immigrant" in partnership with the White House, and was later officially recognized by Congress to honor the millions of people who have come to the United States seeking opportunity, safety, and a better life. From building railroads and founding businesses to advancing science, art, and culture, immigrants have shaped nearly every aspect of American society. Today, we can recognize this month by learning about the immigrant histories within our own communities, supporting immigrant-led organizations, attending cultural festivals, and advocating for fair and humane immigration policies. National Immigrant Heritage Month is a reminder that America's diversity has always been one of its greatest strengths.
Caribbean American Heritage Month is a time to honor the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of Caribbean Americans across the U.S. Established by Congress and signed into law in 2006, the observance recognizes the profound impact that immigrants and descendants from Caribbean nations have had on American society. The Caribbean encompasses a diverse array of countries and territories, including Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and many others, each with its own unique languages, traditions, and cultural heritage. Caribbean Americans have made lasting marks in music, literature, politics, sports, and civil rights, with figures like Harry Belafonte and Shirley Chisholm among the many who have shaped American history. Today, we can honor this month by exploring Caribbean cuisine, music, and art, supporting Caribbean-owned businesses, and learning about the histories of these island nations and their people.
White Women's Leadership Lunch & Learns: Naming Our Patterns Coming Up!
The second in our Transforming White Women's Leadership Lunch & Learns series, "Naming Our Patterns" is coming up this week on June 5th, followed by the last session, "Compassion at work" on June 12th. Both workshops meet virtually on Fridays at 12pm PT / 3pm ET.
June 5th: Naming our Patterns: Exploring White Women Leadership Personas.
This session invites participants in supervisory and management roles to engage in honest, constructive self-reflection about how their leadership patterns affect colleagues and staff of color.
June 12th: Compassion at Work: Cultivating Belonging Beyond Listening.
This session explores what compassionate leadership looks like when navigating the realities of racial difference, power, and trust in the workplace.
Click the button below for more details and to register.
Come As You Are: How ACE Academy is Building Brotherhood for Black Male Youth
Willie Seals III knows what it feels like to move through spaces where you don't quite see yourself reflected back. Born and raised in Seattle and a graduate of Garfield High School, he grew up inside a school system that, in his words, "wasn't necessarily hitting the mark." Not because there weren't good people, but because something essential was missing. Seals explained that “it wasn't necessarily a space of safety and a sense of belonging. I didn't really see too many educators that looked like me."
What filled that gap wasn't school. It was community represented in opportunities like the Central Area Motivation Program which provided rites of passage experiences, Upward Bound that opened up the world of college and career exploration, coaches, mentors, and the “people who showed up and stayed.”
All of these programs made a significant difference in Seals’ life, and that lived experience became the seed for ACE Academy, which Seals co-founded alongside Marcus Harden, and CJ Dancer, who now serves as Executive Director. What started as a Saturday program in 2012 has grown into a full organizational ecosystem now in its 14th year. ACE Academy is approaching its 10th summer learning program and has touched the lives of more than 1,500 young people and 200 educators across Seattle and South King County.
Their mission is precise and unapologetic: mentoring services for Black males ages 12 through 24, alongside programming to support and grow Black male educators. In a state where Black men make up less than 2% of the teaching workforce and where many students may never encounter a Black male teacher in their classroom, their programs matter enormously.
Read our interview with co-founder of ACE Academy Willie Seals to learn about the organization's inspiring work with Black male youth and educators, and ways you can support them. Click the button below to read on our blog!
Ways to Take Action for Change
Join SURJ to Launch Block by Block in Your Community Showing up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is hosting a virtual Block by Block Summer Kickoff Call on June 3rd, at 5-6pm PT / 8-9pm ET. Their goal is to reach one million White voters in key swing states by talking to neighbors and move people into action. This training call will teach you about the Block by Block strategy, hear stories from organizers, and next steps for launching your own circle or chapter team. Register for the event on mobilize.
Starbucks Workers United, TRACTION, and Seattle Gaza Mutual Aid will all be tabling at the event. Rallying Resistance will be held on May 3rd at 3-5pm and is available to attend both in-person, at the beautiful Labor Temple, and virtually on Zoom. Visit their event page to learn more and get tickets.
Mobilize to Protect Voting Rights
Many of you have heard about the April 29th Supreme Court decision which gutted the Voting Rights Act. Redistricting efforts to dilute the Black vote are already underway in places like Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Tsuru for Solidary, a Japanese American social justice organization, provided some great ideas for how to protect the Voting Rights Act. Some of them include:
Demand a vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
Get involved with All us Us' Nationwide Mobilization Event
Donate to local organizations doing voter protection work such as Power Coalition for Justice and Equity and VOTE in Louisiana, The Equity Alliance in Tennesse, and Shake the Field in Alabama.
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.
6/12: Philippine Independence Day (Filipino)
6/12: Loving Day (United States)
6/14: Race Unity Day (Bahá'i, United States)
6/14: Día de los Niños (Latin American)
6/16-7/14: Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year) (Islamic)
6/19: Juneteenth (United States)
6/20: World Refugee Day (International)
6/21: Summer Solstice/Litha (Neo-Pagan)
6/28: International LGBTQ+ Pride Day (International)
If you'd like to add our Diversity Calendar dates to your Google calendar, you can add it using this link.
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!
6/02: The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
6/02: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
6/03: SURJ: Block by Block Summer Kickoff Call!
6/04: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
6/05: Integrating Storytelling into Group Proces
6/05: Resistance Fridays at Common Power
6/05: Transforming White Women’s Leadership: Naming our Patterns
6/07: Riff Raff League for Political Action
6/09: Racism & Resistance: Anti-Racist Community Check-In & Check-Up
6/10: Vital Signs Treating Polarization and Creating Psychological Safety in Healthcare Environments
6/10: Reading and Reflection Group: Metaracism
6/11: Community-Driven Planning for Racial and Climate Justice
6/12: Transforming White Women’s Leadership: Compassion at Work
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
*Cultures Connecting workshop.
