It’s officially Fall! For some, this is a time to enjoy fall colors, warm drinks, and festivities. It can also be a challenging adjustment as the weather changes, the days become shorter, and we find ourselves indoors more. As we prepare for the end of the year, this is a good time to reflect on the last three seasons and be mindful of how we show up for ourselves and others in the next few months. 

 

At RBAC, you have heard about our four branches. These branches focus on food justice, neighborhood safety, economic development, and education. For us, our branches are a part of a tree, a tree that symbolizes Rainier Beach. Each leaf, root, scar, and twig represents every aspect of our neighborhood. With every tree, comes change. Through our neighbors and neighborhood partners, we embody and fuel the change to make sure the 98118 is the best it can be. 

 

This is the month we kick off our self-evaluations and reflect on the incredible work we’ve been able to accomplish so far this year. We’ll also be starting our 2025 program planning and budgeting. We are intentional about including our young adult staff in this process to gain planning and budgeting skills that are transferable to their own lives and professional goals. This is a moment we are taking to reflect on the changes of 2024 so we have the information we need to drive our action in 2025. Our tree is changing and paying attention will allow us to help our tree and branches grow more. 

 

As a lead for our Life Long Learning Branch at RBAC, I am personally excited to go through this process for the first time with my teammates. Since I started six months ago, I have been able to soak up organizational knowledge and history, build relationships and learn the unique talents and interests of our staff, and participate in and help with planning for two of our signature events such as the annual Fundraiser Luncheon and the Back 2 School Bash! It’s been beautiful to reconnect with neighbors and neighborhood friends through our town halls and public meetings, our farmstands, our activations, and more. Through this work, we are taking intentional time to tend to our roots. You are our roots! The time we spend learning, laughing, growing, praying, and organizing with you all strengthens the Rainier Beach tree. 

 

Another important part of this work is tapping into our health and wellness needs. Whether we have experienced pain and loss, or yearn for a world that respects our human dignity, physical and mental health are top of mind. During a recent staff meeting, we had the honor of having Logan from Tubman Center for Health and Freedom share their holistic health approach. The Center and an opportunity for our staff to receive care at the Center. During this visit, Logan said, “Healing House is a response to a call from the community, “who’s taking care of the caregivers.” What a profound statement that is imperative to this discussion of change. For all of us leading the change, we must take time to take care of ourselves and each other. The work we are all doing, including you reading this now, is necessary and also a massive undertaking. Taking care of ourselves and each other ensures that our fire stays burning and that it is sustainable. 

 

The seasons are changing, our tree is growing and so are our branches! Through those changes we learn, adapt, and grow together as a neighborhood. We want to thank every one of you for embodying that change, fueling that change, and maintaining it as well. We can’t wait to see all of you in the neighborhood!

 

-Ilays Aden

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