Powerful Voices

POWERFUL VOICES CREATES BRAVE SPACES WITH GIRLS* OF COLOR TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR OWN POWER AS LEADERS, IGNITING THEIR ABILITIES TO CONFIDENTLY EXPRESS THEMSELVES, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND ACT AGAINST INJUSTICES AFFECTING THEIR LIVES. *THOSE WHO IDENTIFY OR SOCIALIZE AS A GIRL

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: POWERFUL VOICES WORKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT GIRLS* OF COLOR TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND MAKE THE WORLD A MORE JUST PLACE FOR EVERYONE. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS INCLUDE HOSTING OUR ANNUAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNITY CARE DAY WHERE WE PROVIDE SELF-CARE ITEMS AND SERVICES TO YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES, PRODUCING THE ANNUAL GIRLVOLUTION CONFERENCE LED BY ACTIVISTAS YOUTH, PROVIDING TRAINING ON POWERFUL VOICES CURRICULUM AND PRACTICES, SERVING ON COALITIONS, AND PARTNERING TO PROVIDE OUTREACH TO GIRLS OF COLOR DETAINED IN KING COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION. DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE STAY AT HOME ORDER, WE TEMPORARILY PUT THE GIRLVOLUTION CONFERENCE AND OUR WORK WITH INCARCERATED YOUTH ON HOLD. IN THE INTERIM, WE HOSTED OUR REVOLUTIONARY COMMUNITY CARE DAY SERVING 19 YOUTH IN 2020. WE ALSO PROVIDED RENT AND FOOD ASSISTANCE TO 70 BLACK INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HOUSEHOLDS IN KING COUNTY THROUGH A COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT FROM OPEN DOORS FOR MULTICULTURAL FAMILIES AND AS PART OF OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE RACIAL EQUITY COALITION. *THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AND SOCIALIZE AS A GIRL.

EMPLOYMENT: THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OFFERS BOTH AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR 14-18 YEAR OLD GIRLS* OF COLOR. OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM IS A JOB READINESS PROGRAM WHERE GIRLS OF COLOR LEARN ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT IMPACT THEM WHILE BUILDING JOB READINESS SKILLS. ACTIVISTAS WAS OUR SPRING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM THAT EMPLOYED GIRLS OF COLOR TO DEVELOP AND PRESENT WORKSHOPS AT THE ANNUAL GIRLVOLUTION CONFERENCE. DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE STAY AT HOME ORDER, WE TEMPORARILY PUT ACTIVISTAS ON HOLD. IN THE INTERIM, WE PIVOTED TO OFFER VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING VIA ZOOM IN THE SUMMER THROUGH THE LAUNCH OF CARE4U WHERE 12 GIRLS WERE PAID TO LEARN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, POSITIVE SELF-CARE PRACTICES, AND HOW TO UTILIZE THESE PRACTICES IN THEIR DAILY INTERACTIONS INCLUDING PEER TO PEER ADVOCACY. THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM SERVED 12 YOUTH IN 2020. *THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AND SOCIALIZE AS A GIRL.

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM IS BOTH "SCHOOL-BASEDX AND SUMMER PROGRAMS FOR 12-14 YEAR OLD GIRLS* OF COLOR. THE SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM IS A SPACE FOR GIRLS OF COLOR TO LEARN ABOUT THEMSELVES, INCREASE PRIDE IN THEIR IDENTITY AND FURTHERMORE LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THE CURRICULUM IS DELIVERED THROUGH GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS OF UP TO NO MORE THAN 15 PARTICIPANTS PER COHORT. DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND STAY AT HOME ORDER, THE SCHOOL-BASED PART OF THE PROGRAM WAS TEMPORARILY PUT ON HOLD. IN THE INTERIM, WE DISTRIBUTED 47 TOOLKITS CALLED POWERFUL PACKETS CONTAINING ACTIVITIES WE USE IN OUR PROGRAMS, JOURNAL PROMPTS, CREATIVE MATERIALS, SELF-CARE ITEMS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE ITEMS SUCH AS MASKS, AND OTHER RESOURCES. AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, OUR YOUTH LEADERS HOSTED AN EVENT CALLED RELEASE THE TEAM THAT PROVIDED SPACE FOR 6 GIRLS OF COLOR TO REFLECT ON THE CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE IMPACT OF THE UPRISINGS AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE CULTURAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM SERVED 53 YOUTH IN 2020. *THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AND ARE SOCIALIZED AS A GIRL.