Who we are:
ShadeMakers are individuals who live by the principle of paying it forward.
Our Why
Our why is simple - our educational journeys required us to blaze trails instead of follow in footsteps. Due to the support of our community we went from forgotten seeds, to deep-rooted trees and understand the responsibility to create shade.
In other words, we understand the importance of healthy environments, mentorship, and leadership development. Our work as “ShadeMakers” is to create conditions where all three occur as the norm.
We understand “shade” as a byproduct of people who love their communities enough to plant seeds and leave places better than they found them. We strive to do this in every school and community we partner with and hope to inspire young people to do the same.
The poem below (written and performed by one of our co-founders) captures the essence of who we are, what we hope to create, and why we continue to do this work everyday.
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“PLANT SEEDS, KNOW SHADE”
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CREATING A HEALTHY CULTURE ROOTED IN PROGRESS AND PURPOSE.
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SHARE THE WISDOM AND TOOLS NECESSARY FOR CREATING CONDITIONS THAT WORK FOR ALL OF US
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VIBRANT COMMUNITIES WITHOUT SMOKE AND MIRRORS
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COLLECTIVISM: Providing shade as a way of life
AUTHENTICITY: The acceptance of self and honoring the lived experience
ADVOCACY: Address the conditions directly by amplifying the voices of young innovators
LEGACY: Embracing our communities and loving them unconditionally
Watch Now: “Trees”
Written and Performed by
Christian Paige
‘Trees’ is a story of community. Originally commissioned for Degrees of Change, ‘Trees’ has become a relatable piece for young people overcoming adversity.
It tells the incredible story of first-generation college graduates from Tacoma impacting change in the city they call home.
The video was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2019 and explains the ideology behind true ShadeMakers.