On March 4, 2013, representatives from A Better Seattle and the YMCA of Greater Seattle presented the A Better Seattle public/private partnership model to the Department of Justice and members of the White House staff. A Better Seattle is a partnership between the Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll, YMCA Alive & Free and Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. "Our conversations were very productive" reported Kevin Griffin, Executive Director of A Better Seattle, "so much so that United States Attorney General Eric Holder is inviting Coach Carroll to deliver a keynote address during the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Summer Summit on June 14, 2013." 

A Better Seattle serves as a catalyst in Seattle and King County to develop public/ private partnerships between corporations, law enforcement and community groups to build healthy communities and reduce youth violence. The White House visit showcased Seattle and King County as a model of collaboration, leadership and positive outcomes in reducing youth violence. Based on feedback from this historical meeting, the City of Seattle and/or Seattle/King County may be asked to join the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention established by President Obama in 2010 and led by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

Stay tuned to future SYVPI eNewsletters for updates!
 

Update on 2013 SYVPI Community Matching Grants

Last week the Initiative received 17 proposals from community-based organizations requesting a total of $281,031 in funds from the 2013 SYVPI Community Matching Grant (CMG). Requests for funding in the proposals ranged from $7,810 to $20,000, and the community match portions of the proposals ranged from $4,000 to $115,192. SYVPI has a total of $134,617 to award during this grant cycle.

CMG proposals are reviewed and ranked in April by a panel made up of city staff, Neighborhood Network staff and community members, including youth from the represented neighborhoods. Awards are generally made in May. Applicants will be notified via email once the review process is complete. Projects may start once a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is in place with the fiscal agency, Seattle Neighborhood Group, which generally occurs in June.

Freehold Theater Lab youth performers during the "talkback" to audience members after their November 17, 2012 performance. The production was sponsored in part by the SYVPI Community Matching Grant.

The deadline to submit 2013 applications was Friday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. If you missed this year's grant cycle, please consider applying next year. Check the SYVPI website in January 2014 for details on applying for a grant during the 2014 cycle. 

Update on the SYVPI budget proviso and potential expansion of SYVPI

Last month we reported that the Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee held a public meeting on March 6 to review and discuss whether or not to lift a budget proviso and expand the Initiative to allow enrollment of an additional 450 youth. The City Council imposed the $1.02 million budget proviso as part of the 2013 adopted budget. In order to lift the proviso, the City Auditor was required to develop an SYVPI logic model and evaluation strategy, and SYVPI staff and research partners were required to provide a report on the SYVPI risk assessment tool.

At the March 6 public meeting, the Committee reviewed materials submitted by the Auditor (January 31, 2013 memorandum and SYVPI Logic Model and Evaluation Plan) along with a February 27, 2013 memorandum submitted by the SYVPI Director. The Committee directed Office of the City Auditor and SYVPI staff to work together to address questions posed by the Auditor.

At its April 3, 2013 meeting, the Committee will revisit the issue. If the Committee recommends lifting the proviso, that matter will be referred to the full Council. April 8 would be the next opportunity for the full Council to consider the matter for a vote. Committee Materials considered by the committee will be posted up to 24 hours in advance of the meeting at the following location: http://www.seattle.gov/council/calendar/#/?i=1 (click on the link for agendas).

If you are interested in this issue and would like to attend the April 3 public hearing, click here for location, directions and parking information.

You may also wish to express your opinion by writing to your City Councilmembers.  Additional hearings may be held so stay tuned for more updates in SYVPI eNewsletters or check the City Council calendar.

Many of the attendees pictured here at the October 25, 2012 City Council public hearing are SYVPI youth and staff from partnering agencies who testified before the Council regarding the city's 2013-2014 proposed budget.

SYVPI Central Area Network partnered with A. Philip Randolph Institute and The Royal Project to bring SYVPI teens to African American Legislative Day in Olympia on

SYVPI youth and community partner with Governor Jay Inslee at African American Legislative Day in Olympia.

February 29, 2013. SYVPI participants and community partner are pictured to the right with Governor Jay Inslee following his speech.

SYVPI youth and partnering agencies   attend We Day

On March 27, 15,000 people attended We Day at the Seattle Center Key Arena. We Day is Free the Children's signature youth empowerment event that brings together young people from across North America to celebrate positive actions that they are taking and to learn about important social issues from some of the greatest social justice leaders and performers today. Co-chair of We Day in Seattle this year was Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll. Given his history of working with at-risk youth through the establishment of A Better Seattle a public/private partnership with SYVPI, Carroll was an ideal candidate for this role.   

Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll at We Day on March 27 at the Key Arena