About Solutions...

For educators in any learning community to center trustworthy, mutually accountable relationships for our collective healing, and the well-being, support and engagement of future generations.   

I, Manuel Cadenas am an experienced multilingual educator and a community-based partner. Though a proud original of the Caribbean coast of South America, I choose to call "The South End" of Seattle: HOME. There, I have inspired young folks since the turn of the millennium. Though in schools I have been known by thousands as a math teacher, an International Baccalaureate (IB) world language (Spanish) instructor, a basketball coach and/or a mentor, I am a first generation immigrant, a father, a husband, and a son before all...  I've been affectionately referred to by my scholars as "Mr. C". I have humbly aimed at being an energetic, empathic certificated teacher in grades K-8 from 2003-until 2013, yet I've been in middle school and high school grades ever since. I have surpassed my passion for the classroom by being an eager advocate for the rights of Black, brown, Indigenous and non-English speaking families. The decades I have dedicated to traditional education have provided me insight as to "what has worked", and what isn't being served to youth of the global majority in those educational spaces.

Additionally, I have served beyond being an educator in the professional communities I've been in by being a department/curricular lead, a union representative and liaison for fellow educators of colors at different timespans. Though I am no longer in the traditional classroom, Solutions By Cadenas does continue to be a presence in local public school board meetings as a stalwart for equitable discipline measures, multi-tiered support systems (MTSS) as well as positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS) for those who need it most. I am for policy changes that would cease the neglect of the genius of our melanated children. In addition, I fervently seek the prioritization of mental health services and allocation of funds towards social-emotional learning that is not exclusively to students, but inclusive to the adults they are entrusted to... I continually challenge decision-makers to "concertedly meet our youth half-way", and "to build bridges" to truly grasp whatever developmental stage each of our children and young folks may be in... 

Only then, they may allow us adults to get to know them and to assess their most basic human needs: To belong and be cared for. Needs which are long overdue... 

Young folks desperately need our guidance... Let's build partnerships to offer them, their families and their educators SOLUTIONS!

In Service to Our Youth,

Manuel Cadenas, Founder / CEO / Lead Educator