The City of Seattle's Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is doubling down on its commitment to youth leadership and cultural education, giving a $2.8 million cash injection to six community-based organizations (CBOs) aiming to uplift Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), along with immigrant and refugee youth, as announced on the DEEL website. This two-year funding spread for 2024 and 2025 will promote students' cultural identity, leadership skills, and social-emotional wellness through a range of initiatives, from after-school programs to creative and cultural mentorships, the department reported.
The awarded CBOs include a variety of groups such as Celebrating Roots and The Good Foot Arts Collective, each receiving between $375,000 to $500,000, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell was quoted in the DEEL press release, emphasizing the importance of creating community spaces that foster growth and mentorship for young people of color, and Councilmember Maritza Rivera also echoed the sentiment, supporting DEEL's efforts in promoting youth well-being through educational and emotional development. According to DEEL, approximately 2,000 students across Seattle will benefit from these expanded programs in the upcoming years, ensuring that these youth find the recognition and nurturing environments they rightfully deserve for their holistic progression.
One notable recipient, Friends of the Children-Seattle, stands out for its long-term mentorship approach with salaried professional mentors, a feature highlighted during National Mentoring Month in January, as claimed by DEEL, Sam Gorman, a program manager, told DEEL about the “ripple effect” of building robust community mentorship, which not only enriches the youth but also their families, the mentors, and the larger community, according to the latest statement. Moreover, the funding supports signature activities like study abroad and summer job readiness to foster indispensable skills such as confidence and perseverance in Seattle's youth.
Each CBO plans to sustain and grow unique program models, including project-based learning and healing justice, providing services in and out of school throughout the year, Lacie West, executive director of Friends of the Children-Seattle, expressed the grant will help leverage long-term mentorship generational impact, thus enabling the youth to realize and harness their power for achieving goals, three organizations, namely Creative Justice, South End Stories, and The Good Foot Arts Collective, were awarded a cool half-million each, as part of the full list of awardees disclosed by DEEL.
