New Early Learning Center to be named after Edwin Pratt

Architect's drawing of the new Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center

Shoreline School District’s Early Learning Center has a new name. At their May 21, 2018 meeting, the school board voted unanimously in favor of naming the new facility the Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center in honor of the local civil rights leader.

The board’s decision follows a three-month-long process and recommendations from the district’s School Naming Committee, which was comprised of parents, staff, students and community members from across the district.

As a founding member of the Central Area Civil Rights Committee and Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League, Pratt dedicated his life and career to promoting racial equality and social justice. He led civil rights campaigns against housing discriminations, school segregation and employment bias.

Pratt moved his family to a nearly all-white Shoreline in 1959 to highlight and bring attention to residential segregation that was present through housing covenants that would not allow the sale of homes to African-Americans and through redlining.

Redlining was the practice of denying financial services, such as loans and insurance, to minorities seeking to purchase homes in many Seattle-area neighborhoods.

Bettye, Miriam, and Edwin Pratt
Photo courtesy Miriam Pratt

Pratt was assassinated in front of his home on January 26, 1969 at the age of 38. He was survived by his wife Bettye and two young children, William and Miriam.

Sarah H. at the Pratt Memorial north of
the Shoreline Center

The nomination to have the new Early Learning Center named after Pratt followed a yearlong campaign by Meridian Park student Sarah H. to name a new facility after the civil rights leader. Sarah organized informational booths at local events, gathered signatures of support and spoke in favor of naming a building after Pratt at numerous school board meetings.

"I am very excited about the board's decision. I am happy for our community and Edwin Pratt's family. 

"I hope that all of the children who go to the new Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center get to know about Edwin Pratt and what he stood for." -Sarah H.

School board president David Wilson said,

“We are proud to honor and recognize Edwin Pratt for his life of service and commitment to the values of equality and justice that our schools and community work hard to promote.

“The commitment to those same ideals was also reflected in Sarah’s work to educate our community about the life and contributions of Mr. Pratt. It was very inspiring to see one of our students lead that charge.”

The Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center will open this January at 170th and Meridian Ave N as home to the district’s preschool, Head Start and Early Childhood Education programs.

5-24-18 Corrected Pratt's age at death to 38