Category: Stories

5 reasons why working with young people is the best

Our providers and partner organizations support some of the most brilliant young people in Washington. Lex Gavin explains why working with young people is the best They are our future. People say it all the time, but it’s true! Youth have always been at the forefront of social change and pushing for a better world. They’re also my teachers and help me break out of the cynicism of focusing on whether something is impossible and instead strive relentlessly towards justice. It’s a reciprocal relationship. I don’t take for granted the opportunity to build a strong foundation in a young person’s … [ ]

TeamChild believes in belonging and power for youth across Washington state

By Adriana Zazula

No one is dispensable.  For over 20 years, TeamChild has held true to its belief that youth should not be defined by their worst mistake. Instead, young people deserve to be heard and seen as an essential part of the community. Their mission is to, “uphold the rights of youth involved, or at risk of being involved, in the juvenile justice system to help them secure the education, healthcare, housing and other supports they need to achieve positive outcomes in their lives.”  “We operate with the basic belief that youth should not be incarcerated. Youth deserve belonging and power in … [ ]

SOWA’s coaching philosophy in action

By Adriana Zazula

Coaching is at the heart of SOWA’s work in the community. Below is a conversation with Maria Pia Johnson Barreto, who has been a coach with SOWA in Spokane for over two years and is now our new Learning and Design Manager. How did coaching change for you during the pandemic? Community had been advocating for virtual opportunities for years. We were expanding virtual support in the years before the pandemic for communities that didn’t have direct access. The pandemic allowed for more people to see not just the need, but also the value of virtual opportunities and spaces. It allowed us to reimagine the … [ ]

Seattle CARES—creating and becoming superheroes

By Adriana Zazula

Seattle CARES is more than mentoring. The organization invests not only in the youth they work with, but also their families. Their mission is to secure and transform the lives of Black children by inspiring, recruiting, and mobilizing masses of caring Black men and women to mentor and nourish them. Their programs respect the voices of the students, adults, parents and guardians they serve, and reflect the needs and wishes of the community. The pandemic highlighted an increasing need for wrap-around support. Seattle CARES took only three weeks to reassess how they would adapt their programs virtually. Immediately following, they … [ ]

How literacy is changing lives and building community in Kent

By School's Out Washington

Coalition for Refugees from Burma (CRB), based in Kent, knows that literacy is a vehicle that changes lives. Their programs provide support for immigrant and refugee communities across the age spectrum, always with an eye trained towards self-advocacy. Executive Director, Mona Han wants to work herself out of a job—a philosophy that influences all aspects of the organization. While some social service organizations utilize a case management strategy and aim to be a one-stop-shop to access a wide range of supports from rental assistance to counseling sessions to bus passes, CRB has stayed focused on their specialty: literacy as a … [ ]