After 23 years of operating in rented spaces, Empowering Youth and Families Outreach (EYFO) is gearing up to open a new $6.6 million facility in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. This 11,000-square-foot center, with its grand opening scheduled for March 2, 2024, symbolizes a significant milestone for the organization and the community it serves.
Situated at 7936 Rainier Avenue South, the facility boasts six classrooms, a teaching kitchen, a staff lounge, office space, two playgrounds, and an outdoor classroom area. EYFO invites the community to join the grand opening event from 12 PM to 3 PM on Saturday, March 2, 2024, to witness the unveiling of this new hub for community enrichment and support.
The project, a partnership with Bellwether Housing, the Pacific Northwest’s leading affordable housing provider, marks EYFO’s transition from renters to owners. This shift is crucial in anchoring EYFO in the Rainier Valley, particularly as the neighborhood undergoes rapid gentrification. The new center will enhance EYFO’s ability to provide affordable and culturally relevant childcare, academic support, college and workforce readiness programs, and other enrichment activities.
Empowering Youth and Families Outreach, established in 2002, has been a pivotal force in addressing the needs of one of society’s most vulnerable groups: children, especially youth of color.
The success of EYFO’s programs is evident in the words of past participants like Josiah Toye, who stated, “EYFO helped me develop leadership skills and provided me with my first job at 14. They have continued to instill moral values that I will take with me throughout my journey in life.”
The organization’s existing operations at another Bellwether Housing location, Rose Street, highlight their dedication to low-income families. In response to the increased hardships due to the pandemic, EYFO has been providing essential support such as free diapers and meals weekly to hundreds of families in partnership with the City of Seattle and the American Heart Association.
The need for such a facility in King County is underscored by the challenges families face regarding childcare costs, equitable access to education, and the economic impact on childcare providers. With childcare costs averaging 18% of family income and 26% of children under six living in poverty, EYFO’s expanded services will be a significant boon to the community.
According to EYFO executives, the new facility in Rainier Valley is not just a physical expansion but a beacon of hope and a commitment to fostering the potential of youth and families in Seattle.
