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 Seattle at the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention |
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Attorney General Loretta Lynch giving her opening remarks
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"If I grow up, I want to be a fireman."
U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan shared this heartbreaking message from a child at the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention's Fourth Annual Summit, Reducing Violence/building Community: From Promise to Practice.
Commenting on how personally impacted he continues to be by youth violence in his hometown of Chicago and around the country, Secretary Duncan stated, "If we are serious about reducing youth violence, we have to be serious about reducing adult violence as well.... I'm more and more convinced that our young people have the answers. We adults should be held accountable for listening to them deeply and authentically and delivering what young people ask for." (emphasis ours).
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SYVPI at We Day
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Mark Rivers and Brandon Shell speaking at Key Arena in Seattle
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On April 23, 2015, Brandon Shell and Mark Rivers, two outreach Workers from the Seattle YMCA's Alive and Free program, were invited to speak at We Day about their efforts to help youth. We Day is a national movement empowering young people to turn inspiration into action featuring people from all over the world who create positive change such as Kenya's Mama Helen, Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to ever go to space, and SYVPI partner Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll.
SYVPI is proud to have such inspirational people like Mark and Brandon as part of our team. Mark and Brandon shared their personal stories of doubt and struggle, and ultimately how they became agents of change... Click here to read more about Mark and Brandon at We Day...
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SYVPI Spotlight: Sawhorse Revolution |
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An SYVPI youth installing siding on an early "Impossible City" structure
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"A student who can build or take down walls is not so trapped by them." - Sarah Smith, Chief Organizer with Sawhorse Revolution Sawhorse Revolution is a non-profit carpentry education program for diverse high school students, and has worked with SYVPI and the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture's Work Readiness Arts Program (WRAP) to create tiny houses using salvaged materials, including city street signs. They are currently engaged in a multi-year collaboration with the Nickelsville homeless community that has recently gotten national attention. Click here to read more about Sawhorse and SYVPI youth...
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Cities United: Community and Inspiration |
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| | Jerrell Davis, Maggie Thompson, Mariko Lockhart and Pastor Lawrence Willis at Cities United |
By Jerrell Davis, a community organizer and artist from South Seattle. When I got an email from my friend Maggie Thompson who works in the Mayor's office, I was surprised by the proposal it came with: an invitation to attend the 2nd annual national convening called Cities United, this year in Philadelphia, PA. I would be joining Maggie in representing the Mayor's office, along with Mariko Lockhart, Director of the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, and Reverend Willis from Truevine Missionary Baptist Church in Skyway. Cities United is a national convening, a designated space and time for affiliated government officials, youth, community developers, policy makers, etc. to discuss and address the subjugation and violence in our African-American communities, as well as sharing and critiquing potential solutions. Initially, I was hesitant to attend this convening, because I half expected it would be a big room full of "bougie" white bureaucrats - who, in my experience, are usually (and inappropriately) the very people who make and pass legislation, enact initiatives, and dictate the government's relationship with our marginalized communities. I was pleasantly surprised to be largely surrounded by strong, educated, and passionate African-American women and men from all across the country... Click here to read more... |
Director's Corner: Community Matching Grants |
Congratulations to the SYVPI 2015 Community Matching Grant Awardees! Ten organizations received grants ranging from approximately $15,000 up to $25,000 to carry out projects that engage youth in academic, recreational and artistic activities. A total of about $200,000 in awards will serve approximately 115 youth this summer. To see a complete list of grantees, including project descriptions and award amounts, visit our website.
Community Matching Grant projects are led by community partners and serve SYVPI youth in one of three Neighborhood Networks. We are grateful for the dedicated individuals and organizations that apply each year and their commitment to serving our most vulnerable youth. Click here for more details about the CMGs and for information about applying next year.
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Very truly yours,
Mariko Lockhart
Director, SYVPI
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