By Aaron Allen
The Seattle Medium
Last week, the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) announced $1 million in grant awards to enhance community-based summer learning for more than 1,400 youth.
This marks the second year that DEEL has invested in community-based summer youth programs that address the impact COVID-19 has had on student learning and beyond providing access to new and diverse learning opportunities to enhance student success as the new school year approaches. These efforts include social-emotional learning, academic activities, college and career exploration and enrichment. All programs will occur between June and September 2022.
“In One Seattle, kids need safe spaces to learn,” says Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “Spaces to play and grow throughout every part of the year, especially during the summer months. With this investment, the City of Seattle is partnering with community organizations who are doing great work to support our kids with mentorship, arts and enrichment experiences to keep them engaged in their learning and excited about the next step in their educational journey on their way to college and careers,”
In 2022, 19 community organizations were awarded grants, providing a diverse array of opportunities for children and young people, including reading, writing and math support, STEM activities, art, gardening, college tours, and work-based learning. Organizations received awards ranging from $11,400 to $75,000 with a majority of the programs located in south Seattle neighborhoods.
“I am super excited to partner with community organizations and provide K-12 students with summer learning opportunities that are really going to support their success,” says Dr. Dwane Chapelle, Director of DEEL. “This is our second year that we at DEEL are investing $1 million in community-based summer learning opportunities. Ultimately, to address the impact of covid 19 on student learning.”
This grant is really important for a lot of these organizations to have this chance to continue their work.
“As you know because of the pandemic we were half in person and half virtual for the last two summers,” says Jawaahir Omar, Programs Director for the East African Community Services. “With this grant we are able to accomplish a lot. From enrichment programs for education purposes covering all course subjects, to providing STEM programs we are able to continue the work we have been doing for the last 10 years.”
The Marvin Thomas Memorial Fund (MTMF), a mentorship and youth outreach program centering on education, financial literacy, homelessness, fighting hunger and family and community unity, will host a Community Connections program in partnership with Concord International Elementary School. This program will provide South Park youth with culturally responsive arts & crafts projects, STEM activities, cooking classes, dance, music, and academic support focusing on social-emotional learning.
“Community Connections will enhance and support our children’s social and emotional well-being while,” said Marvena Kemp, Executive Director of the MTMF. “Creating a safe, fun environment of learning opportunities where children can build self-confidence and promote values and cultural connectedness,”
Another grant recipient, Multimedia Resources and Training Institute (MMRTI), will host a Summer Youth Media Program, where students can learn how to use various forms of technology and utilize their expressive voice through photography, digital storytelling, and video in the form of a documentary production. According to Assaye Abunie, Executive Director of MMRTI, the program is designed to strengthen and promote self-confidence in many academic areas to help prepare the kids for the next school year.
“These activities were designed to help children review basic math skills in preparation for the new school year,” says Abunie. “To spark excitement about math so that online learning in the fall would be more engaging. Last summer, participating youth created two documentaries focused on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the Yesler Terrace community:
The full list of Summer Learning Enhancement funds award recipients are listed below:
• ACE Academy – $31,790
• Atlantic Street Center – $75,000
• Boys and Girls Club of King County – $75,000
• Coyote Central North – $75,000
• Launch – $63,695
• Creative Justice – $52,117
• East African Community Services – $75,000
• El Centro de la Raza – $42,838
• Empowering Youth & Families Outreach – $60,000
• The Good Foot Arts Collective – $63,819
• iUrban Teen – $40,310
• Marvin Thomas Memorial Fund – $27,000
• Multimedia Resource & Technical Institute – $74,395
• Seattle Parks & Recreation at Denny Middle School – $30,000
• Seattle Parks & Recreation at Aki Middle School – $39,450
• Somali Family Safety Task Force – $44,300
• South End Stories – $73,797
• Student & Family Support Services – $11,400
• Washington Building Leaders of Change (WA-Bloc) – $51,856
Young people like Alvin Tang, a former participant, says that programs like MMRTI are they can influence the personal perceptions that youth have about learning and grow their confidence in working with others to create and voice their experiences.
“During the Summer Program I helped with creating a documentary titled, A Way Forward,” says Tang. “The documentary highlighted mentally, the challenges Yesler Terrace faced throughout the pandemic and how those challenges were overcome. Everyone was impacted by it in some way, whether it was big or small. After the Summer Program I continued working with MMRTI as a member of the Digital Navigators. The Digital Navigators is a team of people who assist the neighborhood and beyond with their technical needs. Support ranges from basic troubleshooting to things like registering people for financial support for internet.”
“Our students and school communities are still feeling the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of remote instruction on student achievement and well-being, especially for youth disproportionately affected by systemic inequities in education,” says Chapelle. “DEEL’s investment will provide community organizations with funding to enhance learning opportunities that will foster student success for historically underserved youth in our city.”
