Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
PTSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Join Us! BHS PTSA DEI Meetings
It would be great to see you
Meeting typically Tuesday prior to the PTSA Meetings (Thurs.) of the same week 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Please reach out if you have suggestions, questions, or would like to join us on the DEI Committee: DEI@ballardhighptsa.org.
DEI Meeting May 5, 2026
- Tuesday, May 5: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the BHS Library
- Topic: Community Building & Favorite Outdoor Nature Activity
- Guest: Judge J. Wesley Saint Clair
Thanks to everyone who attended the PTSA Community Building event March 31, 2026 in the school library. It was interesting and fun!
Always lovely to hear people’s responses to questions like: what’s one word to describe your day? what superpower do you wish you had? how could we engage more people in our Ballard High community and make it even more welcoming?
Thanks to Ellen (for leading the circle), Larry (for bringing goat cheese and strawberries) and everyone for participating.
We look forward to our next meeting (May 5) when we will snack, talk more about community building and describe our favorite outdoor nature activity. We will host the Honorable Wesley Saint Clair who will share more about Huayruro’s community building work with Ballard High School students, teachers, and staff.
Have a great Spring Break and please join our next meeting on May 5 in the library. Sending love and gratitude, Ballard PTSA DEI Committee
PS: Keep your eyes open for a PTSA appreciation event in June!
BHS PTSA DEI Meetings
- June 2: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- Location TBD
The BHS PTSA provides Community Resources purely for informational purposes and does not necessarily support the activities or views presented therein. See an interesting event that celebrates Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion? Please send it our way to DEI@ballardhighptsa.org Thank you!
BHS PTSA DEI Resources
- Check out the book: “Parenting at the Intersections.” the Library Journal calls it “A necessary, engaging, educational, and eye-opening perspective, not often found, about parenting children of color with neurodivergence.” (Seattle Special Education PTSA)
- Fun fact! Headwater People worked on the design highlighting Indigenous history at Ballard Pagliacci’s (across from the Ballard Locks).
- SPS Black Indians, African American History: A place of belonging. A true sense of home
- QPOC Hikers: Hikers based in the Pacific NW and exists to connect queer people of color with hiking and the outdoors.
- Up & Back: Outdoor solace for Seattle’s queer people of color
- Native and Strong Lifeline: 988 Crisis Line Support for Native Communities.
- UW: Get to Know the UW campus with Indigenous Walking Tour
- Seattle Histories: My Grandfather’s Queue – Front Porch
Previous Event Resources
Restorative Practice Workshop
The Ballard PTSA DEI Committee and Ballard High School hosted a very special event at the end of the School Year 2023-24: Restorative Practice Workshop with national leaders RJOY (Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth). Our community came together for this workshop, including parents, students, and educators from Ballard High School and nearby schools. Together we learned about restorative justice work and practiced circle discussions. Ballard DEI Committee and BHS educators are excited to continue building on this effort with more events in the 2024-2025 school year!
Beyond Black & White Film Screening Resources
On April 21, 2023, the DEI Committee hosted Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE) for a community film screening and panel discussion of “Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black and White.“
RARE Resources
- View the film on the RARE website. Learn more about RARE’s work and events on the Open Discussions RARE site.
- Related Seattle Times Article: Seattle Schools chose integration. But then it fell apart. (may need subscription to read).
BHS PTSA DEI Committee Goals
We are excited to kick off another year of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts (or DEI) at Ballard High School! We want everyone to link arms towards creating a more welcoming, diversity-rich safe space here in our school community where everyone feels a greater sense of belonging, where everyone has a seat at the table, and where students’ and families’ unique cultural perspectives are valued.
Goals of DEI Committee
- Create a safe space for students and families in our BHS to discuss experiences and resources
- Provide and promote activities and enrichment experiences that elevate students and school families in our community, focusing on the information and skills necessary to improve equity
- Facilitate direct access to school administration, allowing better communication between families and school administration
- Advocate for and amplify diverse voices in the school community
At the Jan. 2022 PTSA meeting, the Ballard HS PTSA adopted a resolution affirming the information in WSPTA Resolution 2.26, “Dismantling Institutional and Systemic Racism”. To view, open the Child Safety and Protection tab. This will guide the work and inform the DEI Committee’s future goals. See an interesting event that celebrates Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion? Send it our way! Thank you, Shelley Bolser at DEI@ballardhighptsa.org
As of April 14, 2026