Our world is hurting and hungry for change. Black people in this country are leading a fight for justice—a fight against four hundred years of racism and violence that continues to threaten Black lives and livelihoods. In just the last year, YouthCare lost eight young people. Seven of them were Black. Two of them died at the hands… Read More of “YouthCare’s CEO: Reflections on Courage & Change”
It has been over two months since Washington State began its shelter-place-order and YouthCare reconfigured our program models and services. Through this time, YouthCare worked on contingency planning for how to respond if a youth or staff tested positive for COVID-19. We’re grateful that when COVID-19 recently arrived at YouthCare’s Orion Center, and then YouthCare’s… Read More of “COVID-19 Update: Resilience Abounds”
I wanted to take a quick moment to recognize today as International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. Today was created in 2004 to draw attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, intersex people, and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. “The… Read More of “International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biophobia”
This has been an incredibly challenging and emotional time for our country and our world. Last week, our nation saw, yet again, video footage of a gruesome and traumatic murder of an unarmed Black man. The life of Ahmaud Arbery was taken when he went on his neighborhood jog. Two vigilante community members assumed he… Read More of “YouthCare CEO: Responding to the Murder of Ahmaud Abery”
GiveBIG—our state’s biggest collective giving event—is here. Today, we’re asking for your help to keep youth safe and fight back against this pandemic’s injustices. GiveBIG Now This crisis has magnified the inequities impacting our most vulnerable communities. Emerging data shows that people of color are dying and getting sick at higher rates; people experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable… Read More of “GiveBIG to Keep Youth Safe – Extended to May 15!”
As you are aware, King County has been significantly impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our hearts go out to those personally affected, and particularly to families who have lost a loved one. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, youth, and community members are of paramount importance to YouthCare. We are closely monitoring the evolving… Read More of “COVID-19: Your Support is Vital”
At the start of our conversation, Alexa asked me for yarn. Like all of you, everything in my world has recently changed. As CEO, I don’t always get to interact directly with young people in our programs, but this week I spent some time at YouthCare’s Orion Center. Alexa is a young woman in our… Read More of “A Letter from Melinda on COVID-19”
What do you do mean you’ve “consolidated resources and teams?” YouthCare offers a comprehensive range of services including prevention, shelter, housing, education, and employment training. We have temporarily suspended the majority of our education, employment, and prevention programs to focus exclusively on the core services of food, shelter, and housing. Staff from suspended programs have… Read More of “FAQ: YouthCare’s COVID-19 Response”
The 2020 legislative session wrapped up last week and there is a lot to celebrate! For the first time in YouthCare’s history, all of our state legislative priorities passed and all our budget priorities were (at least partially) funded! Keep reading to see what passed and why it matters for young people experiencing homelessness. Policy… Read More of “2020 Session Recap”
As you are aware, King County has been significantly impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our hearts go out to those personally affected, and particularly to families who have lost a loved one. The safety and wellbeing of our staff, youth, and community members are of paramount importance to YouthCare. We are closely monitoring the evolving… Read More of “YouthCare Responds to COVID-19”
