Leadership, Service & Social Justice – Elevate Washington

Oasis Youth Center—celebrating queer youth leadership, every day

Latima Charbonneau — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 19:04:09 +0000

For more than 36 years it has been a place of joy, community, and understanding. Their mission is to, “transforms the lives of queer youth by creating a safe place to learn, connect, and thrive.” “Oasis believes that queer youth are amazing leaders that have the ability to change the world,” said Siggy Frank, Program Manager at Oasis Youth Center. Frank was introduced to Oasis at 14 years…

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Salish School of Spokane

Latima Charbonneau — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 22:04:41 +0000

The mission of the Salish School of Spokane (SSOS) is “dynamic Salish language revitalization powering cultural renewal and building a stronger, healthier community.” Of the 29 Salish languages of the Pacific Northwest, 16 no longer have surviving first-language speakers. SSOS offers invaluable Salish language immersion childcare and elementary school for Native American families in the…

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How Life Enrichment Group lives up to its name

Latima Charbonneau — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 21:58:00 +0000

Life Enrichment Group has been part of the Best Starts for Kids Out-of-School Time initiative since 2018. The Rainier Beach-based organization provides academic services to Black youth and youth of color, offering middle and high schoolers academic support, enrichment activities, and college and career exploration. Every year, Life Enrichment Group (LEG) hosts a tour of historically Black…

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A journey of compassion and reconciliation

Latima Charbonneau — Wed, 12 May 2021 17:35:00 +0000

Cup of Cool Water is a nonprofit ministry in downtown Spokane that “walks alongside youth who are homeless on their journey of reconciliation with themselves, God, and society.” For almost 25 years they have kept their doors open to youth, ages 14-24, from a wide range of backgrounds and personal beliefs. The organization operates from the standpoint of “come as you are…

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Black futures, Black brilliance—Living Well Kent’s Youth Policy Council invited to Best Starts for Kids Summit.

Latima Charbonneau — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 18:22:00 +0000

When Living Well Kent’s Youth Policy Council hosted a virtual Black History Month showcase in February, they did not want to focus on Black struggle, but rather celebrate Black brilliance—and they wanted to make sure that local politicians and others involved in community engagement celebrated alongside them. The young people’s work led to an invitation to present at the Best Starts for Kids…

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TeamChild believes in belonging and power for youth across Washington state

Latima Charbonneau — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 16:44:00 +0000

No one is dispensable. For over 20 years, TeamChild has held true to its belief that youth should not be defined by their worst mistake. Instead, young people deserve to be heard and seen as an essential part of the community. Their mission is to, “uphold the rights of youth involved, or at risk of being involved, in the juvenile justice system to help them secure the education, healthcare…

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African Young Dreamers Empowerment Program Intl.—amplifying youth voice and resilience.

Latima Charbonneau — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:30:02 +0000

The African Young Dreamers Empowerment Program Intl. (AYDEPI) was established in 2019 in response to missing resources for young immigrants in South King County. Executive Director, Beatrice Kiraguri, noticed that there wasn’t a space for young immigrants to connect and heal—including her daughter, Fiona Okech, an AYDEPI Youth Representative. The urgent need for change and input from…

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Community Spotlight on Arts Corps

Latima Charbonneau — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 03:38:19 +0000

By integrating arts into K-12 classrooms, out-of-school arts and teen leadership program in communities where access to such programs is limited, Arts Corps’ vision is “a world where barriers to arts education no longer exist and all young people can creatively lead the transformation of schools, neighborhoods, and beyond.” Reaching more than 2,500 students in South Seattle and South King…

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