Seattle Education Forum Gathers City, Mayoral, County and School Board Candidates in the Southend

Families, students, community members and educational advocates are invited to an intimate, public dialogue with Seattle Mayor, City Council and School Board and King County Executive candidates.

SEATTLE, WA — The media and public are invited to the 2025 Seattle Education Forum that will connect citywide candidates for King County Executive, Seattle Mayor, Seattle City Council and Seattle School Board with Southend students, families and educational advocates. The event is set for Wednesday, October 15, 2025 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Rainier Beach High School (8815 Seward Park Ave S., Seattle, WA 98118).

This forum offers an opportunity for community members—especially those whose voices are often marginalized in educational policy and decisions—to directly engage with those seeking public office during the upcoming general election. Over a shared meal in a welcoming and accessible space, participants will be able to ask questions, surface concerns, and raise issues that matter most to them and their children’s future. The goal is to foster authentic civic dialogue and strengthen the connection between community and leadership.

CONFIRMED PARTICPANTS

Among the candidates confirmed to attend are:

• Seattle Mayor: Katie Wilson, Bruce Harrell

• King County Executive: Campaign representative of Girmay Zahilay, Claudia Balducci

• City Council, District 2: Adonis Ducksworth, Eddie Lin

• City Council, Position 8: Alexis Mercedes Rinck

• City Council, Position 9: Dionne Foster, Sara Nelson

• Seattle School Board, District 2: Kathleen Smith

• School Board, District 4: Laura Marie Rivera

• School Board, District 5: Vivian Song, Janis White

• School Board, District 7: Carol Rava, Jen LaVallee

The public is invited to attend and should RSVP ahead of time to reserve a seat.

The Seattle Education Forum centers the lived experiences of those most impacted by education and civic policy. By removing barriers to participation—such as cost, accessibility, and formal structure—the Forum seeks to create a space where dialogue is led by community, not top-down political messaging.

The public is invited to attend and should RSVP ahead of time to reserve a seat.

HOSTING ORGANIZATIONS

The event is planned by nonprofit organizations Alliance for Education, Black Education Strategy Roundtable, League of Education Voters and Southeast Seattle Education Coalition. The event is co-hosted alongside community-based nonprofit organizations Ace Academy, Denise Louie Education Center, East African Community Services, El Centro de la Raza, Kandelia, Latino Community Fund of Washington State, Seattle Council PTSA, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Washington Youth Alliance.

About Black Education Strategy Roundtable

Organized in 2005, the Black Education Strategy Roundtable works to achieve systemic changes in K-16 public education, fostering excellence in equity for Black students across Washington State’s education continuum while raising the bar for all students. Through our approach, we advocate for the systemic success of Black students through statewide and local advocacy, activate Black students’ inherent strengths through direct student and stakeholder engagement, and amplify Black community voices through data analysis and equity-focused research. Learn more at www.besrwa.org.