Category: Community Spotlights

Community conversation with Cornelius Cambronero of Totem Star

By Tran Tonnu

Tran Tonnu, SOWA Marketing Manager, sat down with Cornelius Cambronero (also known by his artist name Kid Cobb or Cobb) as the Program Assistant Coordinator at Totem Star. The organization is committed to supporting a diverse community of young recording artists learning music and life skills through mentorship and meaningful relationships. In this interview, Cobb shares how he was introduced to Totem Star in high school 7 years ago and started his journey of being a musician. During this time he has fostered a community that has supported him in both his artist and life journey. He also shares his … [ ]

ADEFUA Cultural Education Workshop’s is uniting communities of Rainier Valley through the power of arts and culture

By Tran Tonnu

Southeast Seattle, especially the Rainier Valley area, is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the country. With a population of 84,000, Rainier Valley comprises 40 different ethnic groups and 59 languages. Located at the Rainier Arts Center in the heart of it all is ADEFUA Cultural Education Workshop (ACEW).  ACEW’s mission is to create, expand, and offer options for youth to enhance growth, personal development, and academic success through the study of African culture, music, and dance. The organization is known for building education pathways for youth and families for the past 27 years. ACEW runs four key … [ ]

What does it mean to be of a place?

By Adriana Zazula

Washington is renowned for its natural beauty, from the stoic Cascades and the stillness of the Hoh Rain Forest to the roaring Columbia River. CultureSeed nurtures a sense of belonging for youth in southwestern Washington amongst the beauty and vastness of the surrounding nature. Their mission is to “provide year-round connection to nature, self, and others, for our underserved* youth and communities to thrive.”  The organization is located in the rural town of White Salmon where the population is less than 3,000. CultureSeed is committed to long-term relationship building with the youth in their community.  Their cohorts are groups of … [ ]

How Life Enrichment Group lives up to its name

By School's Out Washington

Life Enrichment Group has been part of the Best Starts for Kids Out-of-School Time initiative since 2018. The Rainier Beach-based organization provides academic services to Black youth and youth of color, offering middle and high schoolers academic support, enrichment activities, and college and career exploration.  Every year, Life Enrichment Group (LEG) hosts a tour of historically Black colleges and universities for high school students. The pandemic meant shifting to a virtual format— and while it wasn’t the same, this strategy meant that more youth, including middle schoolers, could participate.   Saniyah, 13, narrowed down her choices and plans to go to Howard University. “My mom and I looked at the campus online, and I know what dorm I’m gonna stay in,” says Saniyah.  She … [ ]

Beyond voices, into action.

By Adriana Zazula

The Bridge Conference is a place where those in many levels of youth development can gather to share ideas and reimagine what opportunities and programs  are offered to young people. An incredibly important gift to the Conference is being able to learn from the youth directly. The Community Center for Education Results’(CCER) workshop, “Shaping Stories to Shift Systems: The Youth Storytellers Project” offers just that.  The workshop is described as an opportunity to, “center community and lead with anti-racist action, we need to reimagine who ‘experts’ are, resource young people of color to own their stories, and follow their visions … [ ]

Investing in professional development, one podcast at a time.

By Adriana Zazula

Housed within the University of Washington, Cultivate Learning has “established itself as a bridge between research and practice, and has emerged as an institution that delivers guidance and expertise in multiple aspects of early learning and expanded learning opportunities.” “At the end of the day Cultivate Learning believes that every child deserves a safe place to learn and grow. We think that investing in the learning of those who work with youth and their families creates those types of spaces,” said Sophie Biddle, Project Specialist at Cultivate Learning. Partnership is also very important at Cultivate Learning and they’re thrilled to … [ ]