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 Safe Passage in Rainier Beach |
 (This article includes exerpts from "Community Love Provides "Safe Passage to Rainier Beach" by Barb Biondo. Read the full article here.)
A new program called Safe Passage has begun in Rainier Valley. Loosely modeled after programs with the same name in Chicago and Los Angeles, Safe Passage hopes to reduce fight disturbances and aggressive behavior during after school hours by increasing guardianship where youth are present in large numbers.
Coordinated and managed by the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County, Safe Passage launched on March 16th and will run through December 2015. School personnel, parents, and community and youth volunteers have formed the Safe Passage Team, which will monitor specially designated "safety zones" Monday through Friday from 2-6pm to ensure that youth safely transition from school to home during after-school hours...
Click here to read more...
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Introductions: Teddy McGlynn-Wright
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SYVPI is pleased to announce that Teddy McGlynn-Wright will be joining our team. As Youth Violence Prevention Organizational and Service Quality Manager, Teddy will be responsible for supporting the professional development needs of the Initiative, conducting trainings, and helping with Risk Assessments with a focus on Motivational Interviewing.
Teddy has an extensive background as a facilitator and over a decade of experience working with groups moving away from violence and towards racial justice. Previously, he served as Education Manager for the Teen Outreach Program with Planned Parenthood, working across departments to advance cultural competency and social justice. He has also served as a consultant for Common Action Consulting in partnership with SOAR, the Seattle Youth Empowerment Zone among others.
He is also a husband and father, and works with Families of Color Seattle, whose mission is to help parents and children have a strong sense of community, advocacy and pride to counter prevailing cultural and racial biases. He has also helped to develop an outdoor (and affordable) preschool model called Tiny Trees set to open next year. He has written about race and his experiences as a parent in the article Redefining Fatherhood for ParentMap magazine. Check it out!
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Event Spotlight: Girlvolution
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Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative partners with many amazing organizations to serve our youth. Powerful Voices is one valued SYVPI partner whose mission is to help girls of color ages 12-18 who regularly have experienced oppression through violence, poverty, racism and sexism. Through employment programs, workshops like Girl Justice Training, mentoring and case management, Powerful Voices helps girls engage with their communities and identify issues that matter to them in order to shape a more just world.
One excellent example of Powerful Voices programming is Girlvolution, a conference put together by girls participating in the ActiveVistas program. ActiveVistas is a 12-week job training program for girls to build a trusting and supportive team with other girls and women, and develop skills in teamwork, public speaking, writing, community organizing and facilitation. At the end of the program, participants create interactive workshops on a social justice topic that impacts them and their community to present at the Girlvolution conference on May 16, 2015.
Girlvolution is a youth-led event, reaching over 300 youth and adults who come together in the name of justice. It's goal is to create healthy communities through education and advocacy and in past years has focused on topics such as stereotypes, prostitution, body image, and relationships. This year, Girlvolution will also feature youth performers, an MC, and a community resource fair.
Click here for more information and to register!
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Youth Spotlight: Alrick Hollingsworth
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Alrick Hollingsworth shakes Governor Jay Inslee's hand at the annual Legislative Youth Action Day.
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Alrick Hollingsworth is an exceptional teen who has been involved with SYVPI since October, 2011. Recently, Alrick participated in World Vision's Youth Empowerment Network. This program trains and equips community groups to develop youth leaders to promote transformation in their neighborhoods.
Inspired by the death of Charlie, a homeless man that he knew and who had a big impact on him, Alrick is speaking up for the needs of his South Seattle community and a homeless man who changed his life. "This was a powerful movement toward what I want to do." Alrick says, "This led me to where I can get actual resources to open up to help other communities."
Click here to read more...
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Director's Corner |
This issue celebrates the achievements of our young people and some of the outstanding efforts of SYVPI partners to support them. Nonetheless, it is with great sadness that we also acknowledge the loss of young lives in Seattle this year, three of whom were SYVPI youth.
On New Year's Day, former SYVPI youth Rhaman "Jr" Karriem was killed in a drive by shooting. Only a few weeks later, his heartbroken younger brother, Isaiah, who was actively engaged with SYVPI, took his own life. And just a few weeks ago, Robert Robinson was shot and killed in another drive by shooting. These young men leave behind friends and families to grieve this senseless loss of life and human potential. I know that everyone within SYVPI has been deeply impacted by these tragic events and has worked selflessly to support the families in this time of need.
What we have experienced is reflected in Seattle Police Department data. Compared to last year at this time, we have seen a 40 percent increase in shootings and loss of life. In 2014, the year to date shootings stood at 82; today they number 115. Each number represents life cut short, families changed forever and a community in grief. It is especially hard for all of us at SYVPI to lose youth who have been a part of our Initiative and who had taken steps to make positive change in their lives. Our hope is that by enrolling in SYVPI, reaching out to caring adults, working hard in school, and taking steps to change their lives, that our young people could remain safe. Tragically, this is not always the case.
I share with you two stories that help depict what the loss of young lives means to our Seattle community:
Our community service providers, government agencies, school staff, and community members are joining together to seek out new solutions and develop a coordinated effort to address the many challenges our young people face. Please contact your neighborhood network if you'd like to help.
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Sincerely,
Mariko Lockhart
Director, SYVPI
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