Community as resistance

Earlier this week, Puget Sound Community School staff prepared a shifted schedule for Wednesday—in response to the realities and anxieties of the election. Regardless of the outcome, there was the possibility that the race would be contested and that there may be an uptick in local violence (of which the C-ID would likely bear a brunt), and that, either way, everyone would need time to process and react, plan for safety, learn from each other, and share our worries and hopes.

While in planning we didn’t know yet who would be elected, we knew PSCS by our nature will be deeply affected by the outcome. As a school that eschews grades and standardized testing, centers collaboration, experience, and traditionally excluded narratives, encourages banned books, intersectional and creative professional development, community partnerships, mutual aid, evolving pedagogy, and prioritizes equity, the PSCS community strives to exist in defiance of the status quo—imperfect but intentional. Now in our 31st year, we seek to continue to embody Community as resistance. “Without community, there is no liberation” (Audre Lorde). Our community knew we’d need to be prepared to address division and fear with connection and collaboration.

And with food.

On Wednesday morning, PSCS Seniors—JJ, Brayden, Miranda, Charlie, Wolf, Meta, and Jaylee (’25)—came to school early to prepare breakfast for the students and staff. They plied us with biscuits and gravy, pancakes, whipped cream, and fruit. They played cartoons on the big screen and all of us, 6th grade through 12th grade (through 34th grade) ate and played and together. Everyone was invited to simply show up as they were and with whatever they were holding.

Staff then led us through centering and gratitude, followed by a series of community activities and conversations. We broke up into Advisory groups to write and discuss questions meant to move us toward staying compassionate and resolved to continue moving forward, including,

• What do you feel hopeful about?  What do you feel concerned about?
• How can you imagine the results/consequences will feel or impact identities other than yours?

Our conversations led to more writing and large scale posters (and more food). We held a gallery walk so each of us could see in real time our varied and shared concerns, hopes, and needs. We then self-selected into groups to get creative together: visual art, playing or listening to music, movement, math, games, followed by affinity spaces and group shares. The vibe was connection, the objective to rest. We sat in circles and talked about our feelings. We laughed and we cried and we held space and every one of us contributed something—and yes, I know how woo-woo that all sounds.

But no matter how many crystals it may read like I have, I am deeply proud of our collaborative process and our consensus to resist the usual. Proud of the agreement we each so easily made to co-create opportunity for collective joy and care; to respond to reality with honesty. I am especially proud at the ways each of us showed up as ourselves and lent experience and perspective to that which will likely forever remain an important moment in our collective memory.

PSCS students and staff have a wide range of beliefs, values, upbringing, and approach to politics. Many of us live with or love people who voted differently than we did, voted with apathy or with anger, or didn’t vote at all. There is no more room to tear ourselves apart, lay blame, or give up. We are each a main character in the future and we are here as a testament that through collaboration and community we can, and will, do more than survive.

Unrest has already begun around us—this will not likely be contained to the C-ID. While we are immersed in the realities of this neighborhood, we are all practicing action, growing more engaged in and prepared to support the community, both within and outside our doors. Staff understand that being responsive in this way is a privilege of being a small independent school. This can’t be done easily within other systems and we don’t take that lightly.

But that truth shouldn’t stop us. Perfection is “the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.” Perfectionism is also a deeply rooted tool of oppression, along with urgency and individualism. That being said, while we can’t let imperfection stop us from considering all that is possible, we must be vigilant in our commitment to perfect in this case. We must strive for perfection in ending oppression; we must strive to be free of the flaw of inequity, free of the defect of injustice. And we must do this together.

If you can find it today, what do you feel hopeful about?

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Sieglinde Levery-Nicholas
Director of Community Engagement
PSCS Collaborative Admin Team.