We represent families with kids at Garfield High School and/or other schools in Seattle - as well as people who live in the communities near our schools, and we are fed up with the lack of action to keep our kids safe from gun violence. 

We recognize gun violence in this country is sadly now anywhere and everywhere - and is a complex problem to solve.  Many of the necessary solutions are longer off and also on our congressional and state leaders  Yet there is way more Mayor Harrell and our City leaders could and should do now. 

Principals and school staff are doing so much to keep kids safe when inside the school.  We have asked what they need and ask the Mayor Harrell and our City leaders to: 

1) immediately convene a student-centered process to listen to students for what they need and want to feel and be safe going to school.

2) provide immediate trauma response support through the rest of the 2024 school year (through city-resources in addition to a cash-strapped SPS) and increasing mental health/trauma support in the schools for ongoing not just occasionally resourcing after tragic events.  

3) fund restorative justice training; 

4) fund for additional community/family support roles at schools; 

5) increase police resourcing -- noting need for immediate presence during rest of school year -- and ongoing with high schools especially focused on youth mentorship and youth services and include CARE team from 9-1-1 who sends out MHPs with police response; 

6) resource and support working more closely with Community Passageways and other community-based organizations; and

7) fast-track work and collaboration across all City departments, along with other levels of government- King County, state elected officials and our congressional delegation - to pool, align resources and expand the benefit of solutions faster both for Garfield HS given the numerous recent events but also for all city schools. 

This list is a start.  Garfield High School students and families have had several recent shocking and tragic events with gun violences - yet other schools have too and we ask for both resources for the Garfield HS area, but also for the Mayor and City Council to look at the issue across Seattle.