Greetings!
In this edition of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI) eNewsletter you will find information about applying for SYVPI's Community Matching Grants (CMG), highlights from recent SYVPI CMG projects and a synopsis of the City-County sponsored gun buy-back event held on January 26.
SYVPI Community Matching Grants
Matching grants focused on reducing and preventing youth violence
Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative has two matching fund programs currently available: the Community Matching Grant and the Mini Community Matching Grant. Both grant programs require a 50 percent community match that can include volunteer labor, donated supplies, meeting space, professional services and/or cash that show community commitment to, and investment in, a project.
The Community Matching Grant provides funds for projects that serve youth referred by one or more of the three Neighborhood Networks located in Central, Southeast and Southwest Seattle. Available funding for each project is up to $20,000. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 22, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. For more information visit http://safeyouthseattle.org/whatwedo/community-matching-grants
The Mini Community Matching Grant seeks to supplement existing Initiative services by funding small community projects in each of the three Neighborhood Networks that serve youth referred by the Networks. Available funding for each project is up to $2,500. Applications for the Mini Community Matching Grant are accepted throughout the year. For more information, visit http://safeyouthseattle.org/whatwedo/community-matching-grants/mini-cmg/
Highlights from SYVPI Community Matching Grant (CMG) Projects in 2012: Young Urban Authors, "Aloud" Freehold Theater Lab and Black Masters of Social Artistry
 | | YUA Book Release Flyer |
Central Area Network Mini CMG Project
Last fall, five youth participated in ten-week Young Urban Authors workshop, a collaboration of the SYVPI Central Area Network and the YMCA Employment Program, funded in part by the SYVPI Mini Community Matching Grant. "We are so excited about the accomplishments of these teenagers from the Central Area Network who will become fully-published authors", said Jamila Taylor, Central Area Network Coordinator. "These books will touch your heart, make you laugh, make you think and so much more."
Not only did youth learn about writing and editing from professionals in the field, they also gained valuable skills in public speaking and marketing their books using youth-appropriate social media. The project culminated in a book release celebration on December 20 at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.
Southwest Area Network CMG Project
"Aloud" Freehold Theatre Lab, funded in part by the SYVPI Community Matching Grant,
 | | SYVPI youth rehearsing for "Aloud" |
brought teaching artists, Daemond Arrindell, Slam Master of Seattle, and actor Carter Rodriquez together with a group of 15 teenagers twice a week for after-school workshops from mid September through November. The workshops encouraged participating youth to experiment, play, and build skills in both writing and performing. Writing from each of the youth was compiled into a script for public performances by the youth at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center on November 17. The public performances included a Question and Answer session with the youth and the teaching artists. For more information visit ww.freeholdtheatre.org
Southeast Area Network CMG Project
Supported in part by an SYVPI CMG grant, ten youth of color participated in workshops and received training to form a group called Black Masters of Social Artistry (BMSA). BMSA created a monthly online arts magazine called #RBArtbeats with a focus on Southeast Seattle artists and art forms. The program helped youth explore the arts
 | | BMSA participants, project volunteers and guest artist Adrian Lafall |
and express themselves through the use of social media and state of the art technology, such as iPads, digital cameras, ipods, and smart phones. The youth also incorporated this self expression into an individual online portfolio. Project leader, Gregory Davis states, "With a focus on the arts over the next few months the SE Seattle FreedomNet citizen journalists are striving to become 'black masters of social artistry'. They are seeking to capture the arts scene in SE Seattle through their eyes and words." Ultimately, according to Davis, the result of this effort is to reveal the thriving art scene in SE Seattle that adds to the richness of this community. For more information visit www.seseattlefreedomnet.org
Community Matching Grant Technical Assistance Sessions Scheduled
Three sessions will be held, one in each SYVPI Neighborhood Network
Those wishing to apply for the 2013 SYVPI Community Matching Grant must attend a Technical Assistance session. Each year, SYVPI awards Community Matching Grants of up to $20,000 (please see related story above, contact the Network Coordinator for your neighborhood listed below or visit our website for more information). Technical Assistance sessions will be held on:
Southeast Network
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club of King County
Smilow Clubhouse & Teen Center at Rainier Vista
4520 MLK Jr. Way S
Seattle, WA 98144
Contact: Marty Jackson, Network Coordinator
mpatu@positiveplace.org
(206) 436-1898
(206) 725-2662 FAX
Central Network
Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Therapeutic Health Services
Central Youth & Family Services Branch
1901 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S
Seattle, WA 98144
Contact: Jamila Taylor, Network Coordinator
jamilat@THS-WA.org
(206) 402-1030
(206) 726-7585 FAX
Southwest Network
Thursday, February 28, 2013, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Southwest Youth & Family Services
4555 Delridge Way SW
Seattle, WA 98106
Contact: Nani Fatuesi, Network Coordinator
nfatuesi@swyfs.org
(206) 937-7680 x109
(206) 935-9967
716 Guns Collected at Gun Buyback Event
The January 26 gun buyback event sponsored by the Seattle-King County Gun Safety Initiative collected 716 guns in less than four hours, and handed out $68,000 in gift cards.
"I'm pleased that so many people were able to safely dispose of unwanted guns," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "This would not have been possible without our donors and sponsors and the hard work of the Seattle Police Department. We will be working together to plan another gun buyback event soon, and I encourage donors to step up and help us meet public demand."
Despite the presence of private buyers near the event site, very few members of the public chose to sell their weapons, preferring to participate in the gun buyback event. State law permits private gun sales between Washington State residents without a background check, even though background checks are mandated for retail gun sales.
A total of $118,100 was pledged from private donors to fund the event. Donors included Amazon ($30,000), Nick and Leslie Hanauer ($25,000), UW Medical Center ($10,000), A Better Seattle, founded by Head Coach Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks ($10,000), and PEMCO ($5,000). Those wishing to make a donation to fund future events should contact the Seattle Police Foundation.
Eleuthera Lisch, Director of the Alive and Free Metrocenter YMCA, stated that youth wishing to participate in the program should contact her directly at (206) 930-6516 or elisch@seattleymca.org.
 | | Guns collected at the January 26 buyback event. |
###
|
