ShadeMakers

Plant Seeds, Know Shade. Shade Makers are individuals who live by the principle of paying it forward.

We are leaders who were able to rise above adversity and impossible odds - thanks to a hand up from the ones who came before us.

07/10/2026

End-of-Week Reflection 💭

This week’s ShadeMaker Sunday reminded us that growth isn’t just found in our victories—it’s often found in the moments that stretch us the most.

Sometimes what feels like a setback is actually preparing us for what’s next. When we choose to reflect instead of dwell, we can uncover lessons that help us grow.

Looking back on this week, what experience challenged you the most — and what did it teach you?

Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear what this week taught you. 🌱

06/29/2026

What if we’ve been trying to be the whole forest, when we were only ever meant to be one tree?
Somewhere along the way, we’ve been taught that strength looks like independence—that success means carrying it all on our own, having all the answers, and never needing anyone else.
But that’s a heavy way to live.
The truth is, one tree can’t create the kind of shade a forest can.
On its own, a tree has limits. But when trees grow together—when their branches overlap and their roots support one another—they create something far greater than any one tree could ever accomplish alone.
Maybe that’s true of us, too.

We spend so much time trying to prove we can do it all that we forget to recognize the people around us. We compare instead of connect. We compete instead of collaborate. We focus on standing out instead of standing together.

But real impact isn’t found in pretending we can be everything. It’s found in acknowledging the people around us, valuing what each person brings, and recognizing that we were never meant to create shade alone.

This Shademaker Sunday, we’re exploring what it means to stop pretending we’re the whole forest and start appreciating the trees around us. Because when we grow together, support one another, and embrace community, we create the kind of shade that no one person could create alone. Real shade isn’t created by one tree. It’s created together.
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06/15/2026

How often do we find ourselves living for the next season?

The next promotion. The next opportunity. The next relationship. The next milestone. The next version of life that we believe will finally bring fulfillment. Yet somewhere along the way, we forget that many of the things we have today were once the very things we prayed for.

The job. The home. The friendships. The growth. The healing. The opportunities. At one point, we prayed for these things. We hoped for them. And once we enter the season that we once prayed for, rather than appreciating where we are, our eyes are fixed on where we think we should be next. Contentment is not the absence of ambition. Gratitude is not the enemy of growth.

This Shademaker Sunday, we’re talking about what it means to live “here rather than there”—to stop overlooking the gifts of today because we’re consumed by the possibilities of tomorrow. Before we rush into the next season, let’s pause long enough to have gratitude for this one. Because what feels ordinary today may be the very answer to a prayer you prayed years ago.
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05/17/2026

Shade Sunday is back. ☀️

Today’s reminder:
Be willing to take the risk.

Confidence doesn’t come out of nowhere — it’s built through evidence.
And evidence comes from creating a reputation of trying.

From showing up when doubt gets loud.
From falling and returning anyway.
From choosing growth over comfort.
From taking the step before you feel ready.
Belief is not born in waiting —
it’s earned in motion.

So take the shot.
Trust the process.
Become someone your future self can thank.
Every attempt leaves proof
that you are more capable than you once believed.
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04/14/2026

Back in March, we headed to Seattle for the Diversity Leadership Summit at Bishop Blanchet () grounded in this year’s theme, “No More Waiting: Building the World We Deserve.”Because the future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build, together.

In that room, you could feel something taking root. Young people speaking into the future, their visions echoing one another—calling for a world shaped by love, equity, and care that reaches everyone.

Something growing, something shared, something bigger than any one of us.

So we asked:
What does the world we deserve look like?
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🎥 : .llc
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04/07/2026

Snow couldn’t stop what was meant to grow ❄️🌱

This year’s ShadeMakers Conference brought together nearly 100 students from 5 schools for a day rooted in growth, connection, and possibility. Students stepped into spaces designed for them—choosing workshops that spoke to their interests, engaging in two powerful sessions, and learning from keynote speakers who challenged them to think bigger and move with purpose.
But more than anything, this was a day about showing up—for yourself, for your community, and for the future you’re building.

We were reminded of something powerful:
“we were seeds that nobody expected to be trees…
but we tend to supersede expectations”

From the workshops to the conversations to the closing celebration connecting students to real resources—this wasn’t just a conference. It was a moment of recognition. A moment where young people were seen, heard, and affirmed in who they are becoming.

This is ShadeMakers.

Thank you to everyone who continues to pour into this vision 🌱
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Stay Tuned to Future ShadeMakers Announcements !

03/29/2026

Tap into Fruit for thought with Nermin — a first-year Monologist and dedicated ShadeMaker, she moves with purpose and vision in everything she creates. She is paving the way for her family and her people, weaving strength, identity, and truth into every piece she brings to life. A powerful writer and storyteller, her voice carries both legacy and possibility. Through her work, she brings much-needed awareness to the experiences of Kurdish people—stories too often overlooked—shedding light on a history marked by resilience in the face of oppression, and ensuring those narratives are seen, heard, and remembered.

Catch the full interview on our Youtube: ShadeMakers,

If you haven’t already, RSVP for your free ticket to attend Diversity Monologues on March 31st at 6:00 PM
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03/22/2026

Peace Friends,
This past month the ShadeMakers team has been back working with for the 4th year. has been the Diversity Monologue coach for 12 creative storytellers for 16th annual diversity monologues, taking place on March 31st at 6:00PM at Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center. Open to everyone to attend!

Our director of storytelling, .llc , has had the opportunity to interview some of the Monologuist and capture our storytellers through photography, stay tuned for all to come until March 31st !

If you haven’t already, RSVP for your free ticket, you won’t want to miss this powerful night of vulnerability - if you need the link, comment “storytelling” below and we will dm you!
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03/19/2026

Save the Date Friends, Diversity Monologues is Happening March 31st, 2026 at Myrtle Woldson, Gonzaga University from 6PM - 8PM
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12 Monologuist from GU submitted their work back in January and have been working with faculty coaches and Christian Paige this semester to prepare and practice for the 16th annual Diversity Monologues.
Save the date, tickets are free.
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🎥 .llc
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02/23/2026

Peace Friends,

We are gearing up for our first ever Student Leadership Conference, after our registration closed earlier this month, we have a little over 200 students signed up to attend.

Our conference is taking place on March 14th, in Spokane, WA. at Gonzaga University. This conference was made free-admission for student leadership teams across WA state, we are committed using student voice to create schools where young people can grow, belong, and thrive. We empower young people to be agents of change in their home communities and invite adults to become mentors, listeners, and informed strategists.

As we continue preparing, we are still seeking volunteers, vendors, and sponsors. This conference is made possible through the support of our community. We’re grateful to our current sponsors — Degrees of Change, Black Future Co-op Fund, and Asians for Collective Liberation — and we’re excited to collaborate with additional companies and organizations committed to supporting students across Washington State.

Interested in Sponsoring or being a Vendor?
Email [email protected]

Volunteer Sign Ups: https://forms.gle/3HEFRnVz524jH7zQ8

Know anyone that would be interested in supporting -- share our post with your friends, and we'd love to connect!

Address

8220 24th St SE
Everett, WA
98258

Website

http://www.plantseedsknowshade.com/

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