Foundation helps those of mixed race

In filling out a temporary job application recently in Seattle, Amanda Erekson was stumped when asked to check the box that matched her racial background.

She considers herself to be "Japanese American and white American," but she wasn't allowed to check two boxes and there was no box for "mixed race" or "other."

"I felt completely denied in my identity," said Erekson, 22. The human resources person "said, 'Choose the one that's more dominant.' That made me more upset."

How public agencies and schools deal with those of more than one race will be studied by the Mavin Foundation, a non-profit organization in Seattle that advocates for mixed-race people and families.

The foundation will hold a community open house today to introduce its project, which is funded by a $14,000 grant from Seattle's neighborhood fund.

Next month, Mavin will begin surveying city agencies, Seattle Public Schools and others to determine what resources, services or curricula exist for mixed-race people.

"We don't expect very much to be there," said Matt Kelley, Mavin founder and president, even though, he said, mixed-race youths have high rates of physical and sexual abuse and juvenile delinquency.

Mavin will offer six public workshops starting in June on parenting, health care and other topics, and an interactive Web site.

The organization will make recommendations to the city in the fall.

Mavin's past projects include advocating for people of mixed race to register as bone marrow donors.

Nearly 7 million Americans identified themselves as being of one race -- including 213,519 in Washington, representing 3.6 percent of the state's population -- according to the 2000 Census.

"Mixed-race students are probably the fastest growing segment," said Kelley, who is part Korean and part white.

"We get a lot of complaints that they are still forced to check only one box. That tells us that awareness of mixed-race youth is still very low."

Mavin also wants to hear from parents of mixed-race children, those who have adopted children of a different race and those who are in interracial relationships.

"We don't want to assume what multiracial people want," said Erekson, who was hired for the temporary job for which she had applied, despite her problem with the application form.

She has since left that job and now works as Mavin's operations manager.

MAVIN FOUNDATION

The Mavin Foundation will hold an open house today to introduce its project relating to people of mixed race. The public event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at Rainier Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle. Food, music and activities will be provided. For more information, call the center at 206-386-1925, Mavin Foundation at 206-622-7101 or e-mail mix@mavinfoundation.org.

P-I reporter John Iwasaki can be reached at 206-448-8096 or johniwasaki@seattlepi.com

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