To keep you connected to LT and current issues and topics discussed in the curriculum, LT will share highlights and resources from the recent Challenge Day. We hope you enjoy these monthly updates!

As a former middle school teacher, I enjoyed participating in this year's Education Challenge Day. A central theme of the day was how supportive teacher/student relationships make all the difference in a student's educational experience and can have a profound impact in shaping their future.

Another theme was the importance of addressing systemic and institutional racism in our schools. Youth receive influential messages from media, society, and their schools about race from a very early age. Teachers and parents must pay attention to these messages and work to create new narratives and stories for our children.

"I expect great things from you. This region needs you." Martha Choe, LT'84, began her Leadership Reflection. "You don't have an option. You're in this class for a reason. You are uniquely privileged to be in this program. I have high expectations for you to be in this seat in 10 years."

As the class considered the regional economy, Martha pointed out that necessary community-focused work is not just about the economy. It's about all the conditions that come together for a sustainable economy. "A healthy economy depends on everything you've talked about all year."

Written By: Carl Bailey, LT’14

As an LT alum, I wasn't sure what to expect when I re-visited a Challenge Day for the first time in nearly four years. But once I parked the car and made my way to the UWBG Center for Urban Horticulture, some of those old LT feelings came flooding back.

There was that slightly nervous feeling of being around other highly intelligent, capable, and opinionated people while covering topics that I don't deal with on a regular basis. And the unconscious pressure of being my most authentic self and being comfortable enough to share my life experiences with people I've only known for a few months.

Another familiar LT feeling was optimism, as the day was full of opportunities to think about how each individual can get involved in and help influence who has access to the decision-making table.

Held at Green River College in Kent, WA, LT'18 examined the growing number of people experiencing poverty in South King County. The class learned about the drivers of poverty and racial inequities, how they play out in suburban South King County, and what local organizations are doing to support basic needs in the community. 

This "Challenge Day Reflections" was written by Ben Phillips, LT'15. Here's what he had to say after the Challenge Day:

"The Arts & Culture Challenge Day was a great reminder of how crucial arts are to bringing about change. I was inspired by the class members who took the day as a personal opportunity to take steps to change their community. James Miles led a fascinating discussion around improving education by weaving youth culture into the curriculum. There are many challenges for the arts in our region, namely around funding and support, but I was left excited and optimistic by the passion and enthusiasm in the room."