(13th Year student Dulce Saucedo, who spoke at the event)
A public-affairs group chose South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) as the setting for releasing its legislative scorecard on issues of racial equity. Thanks to SSC for the photo and summary:

On December 16, South Seattle College hosted the Facing Race Coalition group as it released the “Facing Race Legislative Report Card.” The report graded Washington State legislators on 34 bills “that impact disparities in communities of color.”

A portion of the report focused on education. House Bill 1541 was categorized as a missed opportunity in the report. The bill failed and was aimed to “implement strategies to close the educational opportunity gap.” South Seattle College’s 13th Year Promise Scholarship has closed that gap for many students, including Dulce Saucedo. The 13th Year Promise Scholarship provides one-year of free tuition all graduating seniors from Cleveland, Chief Sealth International, and Rainier Beach high schools – regardless of their grades or finances. As a beneficiary of the scholarship, Saucedo – a Sealth graduate – has been able to continue her education and overcome the financial hardships placed on her family. Without the scholarship, Saucedo said that higher education would not have been an option for her. She shared her story at Wednesday’s news conference and explained how the scholarship closed the educational opportunity gap for her.

“The 13th Year Scholarship has leveled the playing field,” Saucedo, who plans on going to medical school, explained. “I’m a first-generation college student, and I want to prove to my family that I can pursue my professional dreams.”

Here’s a link to the full report; of this district’s three state legislators, Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon got an A+, and Rep. Eileen Cody and Sen. Sharon Nelson both got A’s.