Newsletter: October 2025 Issue 1
- Cultures Connecting
- Oct 2
- 6 min read
Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders Workshop
Our workshop, Advanced Microaggressions for Leaders: How to Facilitate Difficult Conversations, led by our co-founder Dr. Caprice Hollins will be held next month.
This strategy-based workshop is designed for supervisors, managers, and leaders who want to improve their ability to lead their staff through difficult conversations. Participants learn eight strategies for engaging staff when tension exists due to microaggressions and other types of comments that cause tension. Together we will explore intent vs. impact, public vs. private conversations, calling in vs. calling out, and other ways of thinking that are necessary in determining your approach.
Leaders will develop their skills for approaching challenging situations in a way that invites healing, creates psychological safety, increases their staff’s ability to have courageous conversations, and promotes growth when confronted with cross cultural conflicts.
Date: Thursday & Friday, November 20-21, both days
Time: 8:30am-12:00pm PT / 11:30-3:00pm ET
Location: Zoom
To learn more and register, visit the button below!
Foxycut, a Salon and Thriving Cultural Community Hub
“Our mission is literally to help as many people as possible. Times are changing quickly and I think community spaces are more important now than they've ever been. Accessible. That's kind of a key word....I want people to be able to get together for good causes for as little as possible. We will host them, bring beverages. We want to make it comfortable, easy, and convenient for people to have community space.”
- Miguel Vigil
Photography, illustration, makeup artistry, and multimedia production are just some of the careers Miguel Vigil could list on his resume, but one career has remained constant throughout his life―hairstyling. Miguel is the owner of Foxycut Salon, an LGTBQ+ and BIPOC centered space, open to everyone though they specialize in cutting hair for people who value self-expression and creativity.
Connection and community serve as foundational values for Miguel, which are also reflected in the mission of Foxycut. The salon is not just a place for hair but is also a thriving cultural community hub. For example, they hold lots of free classes such as teaching mothers to cut/ braid their children’s hair, or new stylists how to cut or color curly hair. They host book clubs and Dungeons & Dragons groups and are open to hosting almost any community event. They hold monthly fundraisers where everyone comes in for a cut and all proceeds are donated to a nonprofit organization or a community member in need. They partner with organizations such Orion Youth Center, whose mission is to serve unhoused youth, to provide free haircuts.
Foxycut Salon had to leave their location recently for the Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle because the restaurant next to them wanted to expand into their space. Along with the move comes unexpected expenses and while Miguel is usually the one supporting the community, he is now asking the community to support him through a fundraiser.
Visit our blog to reach the full interview and donate to Foxcut at their GoFundMe. Watch their video pitch below.
October is LGBTQ+ History, National Disability Employment Awareness, Filipino American History, and Global Diversity Awareness Month
There is a lot to think about in October with four awareness months: LGBTQ+ History, National Disability Employment Awareness, Filipino American History, and Global Diversity Awareness. Here is a little history we featured in last year's newsletter with links to resources.
LGBTQ+ History Month
This month is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of LGBTQ+ icons and role models and was founded by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson. The day has been endorsed by GLAAD, Human Right Campaign, and other national organizations. Learn more about the month on the LGBT History Month website.
Global Diversity Awareness Month
This month began with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and was founded to acknowledge the value of each person regardless of nationality, color, race, sex, gender, country of origin, and language. Here are some idea for how to celebrate this month at work and at schools.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
This month was established following congressional Public Law 176 which referred only to physically handicapped employees. The U.S. Department of Labor expanded it to include all types of disabilities in 1945. Check out our interview with Eric Matthes of The Arc of King County last year for how to be a better ally and advocate for people with disabilities.
Filipino American History Month
Established in 1991, this month celebrates the rich history and contributions of Filipino Americans to our county dating back to 1587. Learn more about this month at the Filipino American National Historical Society website.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book on Clearance
Our current edition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Strategies for Facilitating Conversations on Race is on clearance for $25. We use this book for our Train the Trainer workshops and are offering it at this discounted rate until our inventory runs out. If you're interested in a bulk order, please reach out to Judy at judy.lee@culturesconnecting.com for discounted shipping.
WA State to Collect Tax on Live Events
Starting October 1st, Washington State will begin collecting sales tax on live events, both in-person and virtual. For virtual events, taxes are based on the ticket buyer's location so only people living in WA will be affected.
Since our virtual workshops are affected by this new tax, we are moving back to Eventbrite because they offer this function automatically. We have enjoyed using Humanitix, a philanthropic nonprofit platform with low fees, for our workshops but they do unfortunately not offer this function.
Ways to Take Action for Change
Attend a No Kings Protest on October 18
The last nationwide No Kings protest took place on June 14th and was one of the largest single-day demonstrations in history with estimates between 4-6 million participants. In Seattle alone, over 70,000 people were estimated to be in attendance.
A second protest is scheduled for Saturday, October 18th from 12-2pm 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.
Attend this Solid Ground Social Justice Salon at Town Hall Seattle
Solid Ground is hosting a Social Justice Salon called "Responding to the Moment: Social Justice Federal Actions, and the Future of Human Services." Panelists Naomi Ishisaka of The Seattle Times, Rhonda Banchero of Downtown Emergency Services Center, Shalimar Gonzales of Solid Ground, and Regina Malveaux of United Way King County will discuss the conversations happening behind closed doors at human services nonprofits and agencies about the future in response to federal actions this year.
The event will be on Wednesday, October 15th at 4:30-6:30pm at The Forum at Town Hall Seattle. Register here.
Get Involved with or Support La Resistencia
La Resistencia is a grassroots organization working to end the detention of immigrants and stop deportations. Their goal include shutting down the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) and advocating for people detained there. They are also fighting for environmental justice, running a #NoTechforICE campaign, and an end to collaboration between the Department of Corrections and ICE.
Visit their website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky for updates on events and actions. You can also make a donation to support their efforts 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.
10/01-02: Yom Kippur (Jewish)
10/02: Dusshera/Vijayadashami (Hindu)
10/06-13: Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish)
10/11: National Coming Out Day (United States)
10/13: Canadian Thanksgiving (Canada)
10/13: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
10/13-15: Shemini Atzeret (Jewish
10/14-15: Simchat Torah (Jewish)
10/20-21: Diwali (Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist)
10/21: Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh)
10/22: Birth of the Báb (Bahá'i)
10/23: Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Bahá'i)
10/28: National Immigrants Day United States)
10/31-01: Samhain (Neo-Pagan)
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!
10/02: We the People: Plan Your Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy
10/02: NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
10/02: Casa Latina: Rhythms of Resilience Annual Fundraiser
10/07: ToP Facilitation Methods
10/07: Yoga & Social Justice Virtual Closing Circle for #workersoverbillionaires
10/07: NAMI BIPOC Support Group
10/13: Institute for Common Power Banned Books Club
10/13: People's Institute Northwest Organizing Meeting
10/14: SURJ: Fight Back Fall Recruitment Phone Bank
10/14: Men of Melanin: BIPOC Healing Circles
10/15: Responding to the Moment: Social Justice, Federal Actions, and the Future of Human Services
...and so much more! Visit our Events Calendar to see the most up-to-date full schedule.
*Cultures Connecting workshop.
