Summer youth program
First Five Years & Beyond was selected by the Safeway Foundation for a Nourishing Neighbors grant! The funds come from the Summer Meals program, part of Safeway’s Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief Initiative, and will benefit our culturally diverse families, providing them with the nutritious foods that they cook with.
In July 2021, First Five Years & Beyond partnered with School’s Out Washington (SOW) and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to support the youth in our community with outdoor activities and field trips to promote social-emotional health.
Through partnership with the parents, we were able to provide 4 weeks of outdoor activities and swim lesson scholarships to engage youth and families in culturally appropriate games, songs, and opportunities to connect with one another socially.
“I like the Lapa game, it was so fun! Can we play it again next week?” – Gretchen (5th grade)
growth mindset training
In August 2021, our theme was developing a growth mindset what is a growth mindset, and why is it important? Many kids tend to give up when they encounter failure and hardships because they believe that means they are not good enough or that they aren’t smart enough. However, the growth mindset means that the brain is capable of overcoming the challenges it faces in new areas of learning. when children develop a growth mindset, it can help them overcome hurdles they face in learning and develop a necessary skill to persist.
The culmination of this year’s program ended with the Back to School event where we issued Growth Mindset Training certificates and school supplies for the new school year.
In May 2021, First Five Years & Beyond partnered with the Youth Development Strategy Table (YDST), a coalition of public, non-profit, and community-based organizations. In this partnership, FFYB hosted a Marijuana Retailer Assessment Awareness training for our youth ages 10-17. It was focused on the business practices of local businesses that advertise in their own communities indiscriminate of how visible and accessible their business is to the youth in their communities, and how it impacts their influence.
The youth who participated in this program were tasked to analyze whether or not there were schools within walking distance of the marijuana business, whether the logos triggered thoughts and ideas of what was advertised, and if there were smells associated with the business.
“The marijuana shop in my neighborhood has a 21-and over sign posted, a parking lot, and is located next to a bus stop. the store’s logo includes the word ‘marijuana’ and has a picture of the plant, promoting sales and deals. Near the shop, there are grocery stores with food options that could appeal to youth,” says Oluwasayo Odeh, 13.
This integrative approach to drug awareness allows for teens and pre-teens to critically analyze the social impacts of marketing towards youth.
2021 YOUTH & LAW FORUM
Founded by Judge Charles V. Johnson (ret.), Judge Norma Smith Huggins (ret.), and Judge LeRoy McCullough in 1990, the Youth and Law Forum is program of free community legal education for middle-high school age youth and their parents/guardians. Workshops on legal rights and responsibilities, legal careers, prevention strategies, engagement with law enforcement, and civic engagement will be offered.
First Five Years & Beyond lead and supported access to the Youth & Law forum this year to promote legal consciousness. The workshop included short youth performances, special guests, opportunities to win amazing prizes! 7 of the winners were from First Five Years & Beyond, congratulations!
For more information about the Youth & Law forum, visit their website.
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