The Parenting Circle Class at our local Shelters works to build community and create space for parents who are dealing with the many challenges of raising children while experiencing homelessness. There is art, crafts, snacks and conversation. Each week has a theme to promote connection, routine, and positive discipline strategies. The facilitator encourages parents to reflect and connect with each other and with their children while teaching about child development and meeting parents wherever they are on their journey, raising healthy and resilient young people. The greater Seattle community’s support of this program helps foster the opportunity for families to build bridges above the struggles of homelessness to keep family connections strong for those in the most difficult circumstances.
The Parent Education Program has had a successful year with our classes. Much thanks to our instructors, Emily Bradley and Judy Aks, for taking on the task of creating an innovative way for our program to reach out to families to provide parenting education and support. We have served families at Sacred Heart Shelter and Mary’s Place during this academic year; thanks to generous donations and a grant.
In order to continue this innovative model, we are fundraising for the coming academic year. We have set up a fund with our college’s foundation, the Education Fund, titled the Cesily Crowser Memorial Homeless Family Support Fund. If you or your co-op class would like to make a donation, please follow the link below:
https://nscef.ejoinme.org/, indicate the “Donation Category” as “Other”; then put in Crowser Fund in the box.
Checks can be made out to the Education Fund, indicate “Crowser Fund” on the memo line; mail to:
Education Fund, North Seattle College
9600 College Way North
Seattle 98103