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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">Greetings,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">College Spark Washington is pleased to join the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in sharing the 2<i>025 Evolve Initiative Report:
Thriving Equitable Systems</i>. This report represents a critical milestone in our collective efforts to foster inclusive, antiracist institutions across Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">College Spark Washington and SBCTC are collaborating to launch the Evolve Initiative, a system-wide effort designed to strengthen the conditions under which formal and informal leaders of color can thrive. Embracing
this effort also enhances the environment for effective and inclusive college outcomes for both staff and students. This report, written by Education Northwest, presents findings from over 500 survey responses, interviews, and focus groups with CTC leaders,
highlighting the lived experiences, challenges, and recommendations across our system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="color:black;background:white">College Spark Washington and SBCTC are working collaboratively to launch the Evolve Initiative, a system-wide effort designed to strengthen the conditions under which
formal and informal leaders of color can thrive. This report, written by Education Northwest, presents findings from over 500 survey responses, interviews, and focus groups with CTC leaders, highlighting the lived experiences, challenges, and recommendations
across our system.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="color:black;background:white"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><b>Key findings in the report include:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
Persistent barriers to equity-focused systems change, including performative practices, limited mentorship, and inequitable advancement pathways for leaders of color.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
Opportunities to embed structural reforms in hiring, professional learning, and leadership development practices.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
The need for a statewide EDI implementation framework that provides consistency while honoring local context.
<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3">
A systemwide call to elevate equity leadership as a moral and strategic priority.<o:p></o:p></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">The full report with an executive summary is now available
<a href="https://collegespark.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025-Evolve-Report-Final-Distribution.pdf">
here</a> and is also attached. We'd like to encourage you to explore the findings and consider how they might inform and strengthen your local efforts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">We extend our sincere gratitude to the
<i>Evolve Advisory Committee</i>, comprised of leaders of color across the CTC system, for their guidance in this work. In addition, we extend special thanks to the
<b>Multicultural Student Services Directors Council (MSSDC), the Diversity and Equity Officers Commission (DEOC), the Trustees of Color, and the WA Equity Network</b> for their invaluable contributions during the meaning-making phase of the report. Their insights
and leadership helped ensure the evaluation reflected lived experience and was grounded in transformative possibility.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt">As we prepare for the implementation phase in the coming months, we look forward to continuing to partner with you to turn these insights into action and ensure that every leader, staff member, and student in
our system is supported to thrive. More information about the specific strategies that will be funded through the Evolve Initiative will be available in the coming months.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">Heather Gingerich, JD (she/her)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">Director of Strategic Initiative Partnerships<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">(206) 890-6371</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#F63B00;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.collegespark.org/"><span style="color:#F63B00">www.collegespark.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#232559">Book a time to meet with me
<a href="https://link.zixcentral.com/u/c29efbf9/xNj_aZgh7hGfIeXXhnsoMg?u=https%3A%2F%2Foutlook.office.com%2Fbookwithme%2Fuser%2Fe00016791334445db5f17091708f11b8%40collegespark.org%3Fanonymous%26ep%3DplinkC%3AUsersheatherDocumentsCustom%2520Office%2520Templates">
<span style="color:blue">here</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#BDBDBD;mso-ligatures:none">_______________________________________________</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><img border="0" width="250" height="42" style="width:2.6041in;height:.4375in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01DBD3CB.69BD7F50"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">College Spark Washington supports the postsecondary dreams </span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">of students and their communities through grant making focused </span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none">on dismantling racism in the education system</span></i><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:#4190F0;mso-ligatures:none">.</span></i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maison Neue Book";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:#000034"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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