If you’ve been wanting to look your Seattle School Board member in the eye and ask “What’s up with that?,” Tuesday night is your moment.
On June 23, from 6 to 9 p.m., Byrd Barr Place in the Central District will transform into the 2026 Seattle Education Forum: Block Party, a free, outdoor gathering where Seattle families can meet face-to-face with the elected and appointed officials who shape how our kids are educated.
Think less town hall, more neighborhood cookout—with kids’ activities, a nod to this year’s graduates, and an unofficial send-off to summer. However, the heart of the evening is real connection: parents and community members sitting down with the civic leaders who make decisions about Seattle schools.
An unusually deep roster of officials has confirmed attendance, including Seattle Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt; School Board Directors Joe Mizrahi, Liza Rankin, and Kathleen Smith; City Council Members Dionne Foster, Joy Hollingsworth, Eddie Lin, Alexis Mercedes Rinck, and Rob Saka; senior leaders from Seattle Public Schools and the King County Executive Office; staff from State Senator Rebecca Saldaña’s office; and representatives from Seattle’s Department of Education and Early Learning.
The event comes roughly a year after many of these officials campaigned on education platforms, and the organizing coalition is framing it as a progress report. That means it’s a chance for the community to hear what’s been accomplished, what’s stalled, and what comes next.
The questions on the table: “What have our leaders learned from community feedback? What progress has been made? What challenges remain?”
Details:
Organizers: Alliance for Education, Black Education Strategy Roundtable, League of Education Voters, and Southeast Seattle Education Coalition—alongside community partners Ace Academy, Atlantic Street Center, Byrd Barr Place, OneWorld Now!, Rainier Scholars, Seattle Council PTSA, Space Between, and Washington Ethnic Studies Now.
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
Where: Byrd Barr Place, 722 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Cost: Free
