Art By: Darlene Wiegle

“This year, the work of the Y’s Social Impact Center has become more important than ever before to our regions youth, young adults, and the broader community.” began Loria Yeadon, President & CEO of the Y of Greater Seattle at the Art of Resilience event. This year, we combined two annual events, the Valentine’s Breakfast in Auburn and our Social Impact Center benefit dinner into one where the art, inspiration, stories, and resilience of the young people in our programs took the spotlight and together raised $133,050. “Tonight, we get to show off,” Mark Putnam, Executive Director of the Social Impact Center said. “We get to share all of the work we’re doing and our community partners’ dedication to our young people,” but most of all, this event showcases some incredible talent within the young people at the Social Impact Center.

Through poetry, song, paintings, carvings and more made by young people in our programs, we shared the story of our success this year. A year that demanded so much of these vital programs, like this art, we were resilient and rose to the occasion. In sharing a song from a young person residing in New Arcadia, we communicated that in 2020 we increased the number of beds available for young people by 170, increasing our nightly served to 450 people. We opened three new buildings to meet the growing need including New Arcadia in Auburn, Arlington Drive in Tacoma, and Roy Street Commons on Capitol Hill in Seattle.

Roy Street Commons is the newest addition, a building owned by Eric and Amie Friedland and operated by the Y Social Impact Center. “We found ourselves in a pandemic with a nearly empty building in a great place on Capitol Hill and asked ourselves, what purpose can this building serve?” said Amie. But it was when they saw the commitment, intellect, and passion of Y staff that they knew partnering with the Y was the right choice for this space.

“How can young people be resilient when you’re constantly looking for a place to lay your head?” Amie asked.

Roy Street Commons is already up and running and serving young people in transition each day through housing, behavioral health, and wraparound services.

It is clear through these stories that big impact can’t happen without creative community partnerships. Another great partnership that was highlighted is between our Alive & Free violence prevention program and the Youth LINC Committee, which stands for leadership, intervention, and change. Burien Police Chief Ted Boe sits on this committee with Y leader Marvin Marshall. In this conversation moderated by Aaron Fox, officer Boe said, “violence prevention is all about partnerships, it’s about working together to help kids who stub their toes get back on the right path.” In this difficult year where kids lost their structure and experienced lack of access to vital resources like caring adults, food, and educational support, kids showed their resilience through survival.

Because donors like you showed up for this event, we are able to provide young people with the support they need to succeed, survive, and thrive. Learn more about Y Social Impact Center Services.

Missed it? You can still watch the event: