by Susan Fried

Dozens of families enjoyed a fun day of games and activities at the “Spring Into Summer” Community Carnival, on May 10th at the Rainier Beach Community Center. Although the event was free and open to the entire community, it was especially dedicated to the children of incarcerated parents. Upon arriving, children were given a passport which they used to discover all of the fun activities they could participate in and the resources available to their families. Children could get their faces painted and temporary tattoos, there were several raffles with great prizes, a delicious lunch provided by Panda Express, and free books. Community organizations and Seattle Government Departments offered parents and caretakers a variety of resources including information about accessible healthcare, educational resources, after-school programs, and employment opportunities.