Category: News

“I am moved and encouraged by the solidarity of people…”

Dear Friends …

At this moment I am experiencing grief, sadness, and anger over the death of George Floyd, and the continued killing, with no prosecution and no apology, to Black men, women, and children. The change and charges set against the other three Minneapolis police officers is a move in the right direction as black people unmantle systemic issues facing our communities.

Like most of you, I am outraged but encouraged by the powerful movement we see not only in Seattle and Minneapolis but across this country and world.

I am encouraged change will come if we do not let up… and we continue to protest, contribute and support organizations like My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Obama Foundation, Roland Martin Unfiltered, National CARES Mentoring Movement, Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement, Black Lives Matter Seattle King County, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The National Urban League, or one of the many  African American organizations fighting for order and  justice.

I know the pain as a mother as I lost my Black son Glenn Page at the age of 23 due to  white men who assaulted him in which led to his death. It is taking years to fully charge the four white men who were charged with manslaughter and  took my son’s life.

I hurt for George Floyd’s mother and mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and all other Black Americans who died at the hands of police. I am in full support of action to convict renegade police officers.

I am moved and encouraged by the solidarity of people, young and old, of all races Black, White, Latinos, Native American, and Asians who are on the streets coast to coast and even across the world. Change must come. Change in policies, changes in leadership, and system changes.

I am with all who are crying for justice and protesting injustice in policing, criminal justice, incarceration, under resourced schools, lack of quality housing, unequal health care, and inequality in employment opportunities.

I join my brothers and sisters in this time of change. I want to be part of the action to create change.

Hazel Cameron, Executive Director
4C Coalition Donate

“We’ve witnessed firsthand how mentoring can effect change at a grassroots level.”

Judge Saint Clair would like every kid who appears in his court to have a mentor

Photograph by Rebecca Sullivan

Judge Wesley Saint Clair presides over Truancies, Juvenile Drug Court, and Trials

“Many of the youth I see are disconnected from school and parents. They have a distorted view of the world,” says Judge Saint Claire. “Their aspirations and goals are misguided.”

The youth Judge Wesley Saint Clair sees in his court often come from a dysfunctional family and/or poverty. “These kids have no control of their lives, and they’re told that they are nothing. They often experience structural racism or individual racism. Additionally, like all adolescents, they are also dealing with hormonal and testosterone changes,” explains Judge Saint Claire.

When you are disconnected from your family, and your school … your new family is the one you find with your peers. “These kids feel abandoned. ‘Who wants me?’ Well, my homey’s and my buddies … they accept me unconditionally,” says the Judge. “It’s hard to compete with the bright lights, and loud music, and money that the street can sometimes provide. Kids like instant gratification … and the street keeps them engaged.”

The adolescent brain is looking for an adrenaline rush. “Science tells us that the long-term impact of criminal behavior, and substance abuse, is damaging to the developing brain … and can have long term consequences,” declares Judge Saint Claire.

Mentors can offer much-needed perspective

“I would like every kid who comes through the court system to have a mentor. In court, I refer, I don’t order, so, the kid has to agree to a mentor.”

Says Judge Saint Claire, “We need mentors who match on a lot of levels … and cultural is one of the levels. Unfortunately, we do not have enough volunteer black mentors. Mentors offer great stability for these vulnerable youth and we need more of them.”

“Often times the kids don’t see the value in it,” explains Judge Saint Claire, “but when a mentor provides a relationship of trust, the kids get it. Mentoring is a critical piece of the solution to get kids back on track.”

Judge Saint Clair was elected the Presiding Judge for King County District Court in the fall of 2001 and served as presiding judge until July of 2004, when he was appointed to the King County Superior Court by Governor Gary Locke.

In January of 2012, Judge Saint Clair was assigned to the King County Juvenile Court, where he currently presides over Truancies, Juvenile Drug Court, Offender Calendars, and Trials.

He has been recognized for his work in the drug courts by the New York Times as well as the drug courts themselves being recognized by the National Association of Drug Courts.

In 2003 Judge Saint-Clair was awarded the King County Bar Association’s Outstanding Judge of the Year. In January 2009, Judge Saint Clair was the recipient of the King County Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award.