Building a world class foster care system while serving our neighborhood youth DECEMBER 2003 Foster Care and Homeless Youth Speak out Across the Nation VOLUME III, ISSUE 11 VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.MOCKINGBIRDSOCIETY.ORG Youth, Police Learn how to Talk Together Shay Deney My Day with the SPD Darius Reynolds FOR YEARS there has been a growing tension in Seattle between homeless youth and the Seattle Police Department (SPD). A lot of this tension is caused by pre-conceived notions and misconceptions, such as homeless youth thinking that all cops are out to get them and police thinking that every homeless kid does COPS AND ROBBERS; that’s supposed to drugs, steals, etc. Over the past couple years, the be the game, right? However, on the afternoon problems have been getting worse. The community Cop and youth on a smoke break. of Oct 15th in Seattle’s University District, a decided to take matters into their own hands and Photo by Darius Reynolds. time out was called in the game as police create something called the Donut Dialogues. This is Next up on the agenda was the actual dialogue. The officers and homeless youth set aside their where street youth and the SPD get together and talk room separated into five different groups: two officers differences to get a better understanding of about issues that each are having with the other. There and about six youth included in every group. The energy each other. have been four previous Donut Dialogues sessions held within the room felt calm, even light-hearted at times. It The Donut Dialogues were first started May on Capitol Hill in Seattle, WA. Recently, I had the chance seemed that both groups were listening to the other 2001 on Capitol Hill in Seattle by Peace for to attend the first session held in the University District. and setting aside assumptions in hopes that problems the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS). Police Chief Dan Oliver from the North Precinct could get resolved. As the discussion wrapped up, laughter This year, Seattle’s University District decided attended, along with about 10 other police officers and filled the room and the confidence levels felt high. to have their own dialogue coordinated by Rick close to 25 homeless youth from the surrounding The last two agenda items were presentations and Eberhardt, Director of Partnership for Youth, University District area. The agenda consisted of feedback. One youth and one police officer from each an advocacy program helping youth on the education about basic laws and a question and answer group gave a presentation on what each had learned streets. Officers Len Carver and Kim Bogucki, session with Officer Carver. Subjects touched on about the other. This was one of the most empowering who were also the first police officers to included loitering, aggressive behavior, criminal parts of the four- hour session, where youth and police participate in the very first Donut Dialogues, trespassing, spare changing, pet licensing, leash laws, and officers came together and accepted each other’s both participated at the University District trash can laws (it is against the law to remove any item differences. Strong points that were agreed upon by meeting. from a public trash can). By the end, it seemed like both sides included: the need to communicate more, I went to the dialogues as a participant and there was more understanding in the room about mutual respect, relationship-building, and less it was nothing like I thought it was going to be. circumstances involved with each group. assumption making. I figured it was going to be a bunch of yelling “They’re gonna give you what you give them,” stated and arguing but everybody was actually civil. I one youth, referring to the police officers. Both the was pretty nervous through the first part of youth and the cops agreed that they learned they each the dialogue because I was sitting next to a INSIDE had pre-conceived ideas about the other that weren’t bunch of cops. A few of them had arrested me necessarily true. Officer Brown said that he assumed or had their guns pointed at me at one point in LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 2 that homeless youth lead destructive lives and didn’t time; plus I was late. However, after about an by Jim Theofelis care. He learned that a lot of homeless youth know hour everyone (including myself) started to they lead destructive lives and are working to make loosen up. QUOTE 2 We had a smoke break and one officer even compiled by Courtney Konietzko their lives better. A common theme mentioned by the SPD was the importance of honest communication came out to smoke with us. We joked that we POSITIVE POWER 3 from the youth. didn’t know cops smoked and had a good time Grocery Grief “I see a lot of youth pulling themselves out of laughing. After our break we went back in and by Courtney Konietzko [destructive] situations,” stated Officer Martin. Martin started the hardest part of the dialogue, the also said that when dealing with the law, most police “talking to each other” part. We started out by A DRUG AGAINST WAR 3 telling each other one thing that we would not Music Review officers appreciate when their interactions with youth are civil. Things are accomplished much faster with much have guessed about each other. One of the by Courtney Konietzko less hassle. officers told us about how he stole a POETRY CORNER 4 In conclusion, I would say that this session was motorcycle when he was a kid and got into a A birthday gift successful. Both the youth and the police department high speed chase and got away. I thought it was a good story for the situation because he was by Guadalupe Garcia agree that they would like the Donut Dialogues to continue so that they can keep building relationships letting us know that he was a trouble maker ’TIS THE SEASON TO BE… HOMELESS?4 and working out problems. The community also wants when he was a kid, which helped me connect What you can do for the holidays to start the Donut Dialogues up in the Central District with him. by Courtney Konietzko where problems between the youth and the cops are The main question asked of the group was also on the rise. what would make our contact more effective. MOCKINGBIRD FUNDRAISER BIG HIT 4 Meetings like this are a very important aspect of My answer was that we should show each other Mockingbird celebrates second year building a community. Hopefully we will continue to respect and officers should not assume that see more improvements in the future and things can COPS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Founded in Seattle, Washington, 2001 finally be at peace. Page 2 Mockingbird Times, Decvember 2003 Harborside, Marge Mueller of Grey Mouse Letter from the Editor Graphics, and KINKO’s on NE 45th. Because of the generosity of McCormick and Schmick’s, all of Mockingbird FIRST I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE who the donations from the event will go solely towards Expands Headquarters attended our annual event on November 2nd and also our program. Thank you to Marianne Kogon and all of those of you who sent in contributions to support Mockingbird’s Friends for making our third annual The Mockingbird Society proudly The Mockingbird Society. We had nearly 150 people event the best ever! (See page 4 for more info about announces our upcoming move to the attend and raised close to 12,000 dollars. Thanks to the fundraiser.) Representative Ruth Kagi for providing a key note I want to take this time to wish each of you the very beautiful new Treehouse building in the address, Integy Entertainment and Kenney Polson best during this holiday season. Our world seems Rainer Valley. We are all excited about for the wonderful entertainment, Aleta Kennedy, increasingly precarious, resulting in a great deal of stress, this move, in particular the opportunity Jenny Hoyt and Darin Clendenin for their beautiful anxiety and grief for many families and kids. I hope to work side-by-side with several rendition of “One Child” by Neena Freelon, a former you will create the time to share with those you love foster parent. Also, a special thank you to Shay Deney how much they mean to you and your quality of life. In incredible programs; including for her wonderful speech. She really brought the house particular, I send my heartfelt blessings to those children Treehouse, Youth in Focus, YMCA down! In addition, I’d like to thank all the good folks and adolescents who find themselves away from home (Transitions and ILP), Northwest who donated items for our silent auction. A very special during this season. Thanks to the foster parents, kinship Children’s Fund and Washington thank you to McCormick and Schmick’s families and group home staff who welcome these same young people into their homes. Happy Holidays! Women’s Foundation. Our new site will have a space specifically devoted to Jim Theofelis the Mockingbird Times staff and offices [email protected] for Mockingbird Society personnel. We are excited to move into a space that Do you need a Flu Shot this winter? will continue to allow us to grow and Until one feels the spirit of thrive as we work on building a world- Christmas, there is no Christmas. class foster care system while improving What: Flu Shot Clinic the lives of neighborhood youth. All else is outward display – so Where: Teen Feed If you would like to help us out we much tinsel and decorations.