Here are the local teams for the Seattle region. Either click on the name of the team or scroll through to see the full community. And remember to check back often as teams are always launching and joining the movement!
Amp4Africa [website]
Amp4Africa was started in 2007 in Seattle by Henry, a 13-year-old who read an article in Sports Illustrated about kids dying of malaria in Africa and decided to do something about it. Amp4Africa works to raise awareness about the issue of malaria in developing countries and funds the purchasing of malaria nets to people in need.
AYFEEO
American Youth for Equal Educational Opportunities (AYFEEO) is dedicated to providing the less fortunate children of our community and abroad with school supplies so that they can have the opportunity to succeed and excel in school. By collecting lightly-used and new supplies, along with monetary donations, at bi-annual drives, AYFEEO seeks to address the growing disparity between children in need of support and the supplies available to them. While initially focused on the Bellevue community, AYFEEO hopes that its strategies, which could be easily replicated, scaled, and expanded, can spread through the region and beyond. Additionally, AYFEEO will host annual drives to benefit students in developing countries, providing a chance for students to connect with and support peers around the world.
The Beat
Partnering with the Issaquah Press, The Beat will be a weekly teen section in the newspaper that is written, photographed, and illustrated by youth, for youth. The mission of The Beat is to promote literacy and careers in journalism, photography, and art while educating and cultivating a generation of youth newspaper readers. Additionally, The Beat seeks to increase newspaper readership while providing a creative outlet and public voice for the youth of Issaquah and the surrounding region. Through the partnership with the IP, approaching donors and grantmaking organizations, and several fundraising events, The Beat has a plan to keep the youth voice heard.
Blankets for Comfort
Blankets for Comfort is comprised of a group of students at Forest Ridge in Bellevue who make no-sew fleece blankets for foster children from Amara Parenting and Foster Services. In order to fund the future production of blankets, members of Blankets for Comfort sell the blankets to individual “blanket sponsors” at churches, schools, fabric stores, and grocery stores. Representatives of Blankets for Comfort were able to make and donate 70 blankets in their first year of operation, and plan to meet or exceed that number each year.
Big Picture Spirit Wear
Noticing a lack of school pride, as well as shortcomings in the school’s budget, Casey and Johnie, two sophomores at Highline Big Picture High School, decided to create a student store. By selling spirit apparel and food items as well as hosting events throughout the year, Big Picture Spirit Wear will raise revenue for school funding while instilling a sense of pride in the Big Picture community.
BSAA
Formed by a team of avid middle-school bicyclists, Bicycle Safety Awareness Assocation (BSAA) is designed to both inform young people about the importance of bicycle safety measures and to encourage more people to try cycling as an alternative to other modes of transportation. By developing and delivering skits demonstrating the dangers of ignoring safety precautions at local elementary and middle schools, BSAA hopes to spread the message the cycling can be fun, but needs to be taken seriously. Additionally, they are planning to use their seed funding to develop marketing materials that they can give out at their presentations and on area bike trails to help remind people to stay safe.
Dig Deep [website]
Madeline and Grace, two freshmen from Overlake High School, believe everyone in the world should have access to clean water, and they formed Dig Deep to help make this possible. By holding awareness events and selling merchandise like t-shirts and water bottles, Dig Deep aims to raise $10,000. Working in conjunction with the international organization Water 1st, they’ll use this money to supply 12 public water taps to a rural village in Ethiopia.
Eagle Express
At Cleveland High School in Seattle, a leadership class decided that they wanted to open a student run store, and Eagle Express was formed. The Eagle Express team hopes to unite the student body, build a sense of community, and raise money for school-related activities.
Embasco
Motivated by a desire to spread awareness about environmental issues and promote conservation of our natural resources, Najee, a high school student in Seattle, formed Embasco. Embasco will collect waste materials from throughout the city and turn them into a rich, fertile compost that will be sold to local farmers and residents as a nutrient-rich, environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Emerald City Improv
Knowing the power of improv comedy as a source of happiness, expression, and general great feeling, Emerald City Improv will create an improv troupe in the Delridge community. Creating a safe space for experimentation, people will be introduced to the basics of improv and be allowed to try out this art-form and learn new techniques. Within the first year, Emerald City Improv will begin hosting performances throughout the community, bringing the positive energy of comedy to a wider audience. Additionally, they will provide space for a local charity to disperse information and gather donations at these large gatherings.
Feed Da Game
Hoping to support the homeless community that had once supported them, Deonte and Marquelle launched Feed Da Game, a clothing line designed with the intention of giving back to the communities that offer help to the people who need it. By selling their merchandise and holding motivational awareness events to speak with youth about their own experiences, Feed Da Game will build a culture around their label and constantly expand their reach, kicking resources and inspiration back to the Seattle community.
FIERCE
Female Identity Education & Reclaiming Creative Empowerment (FIERCE), a program for middle school girls started by a team of women at Seattle's Nova High School, inspires and empowers young women by creating a safe space for them to express themselves. Conceived as an after school program which brings high school mentors (trained by FIERCE) to a South Seattle middle school, this program will help free young women from harmful double standards and unrealistic expectations of what it means to be female.
First Amendment
Launched as both a brand and a production workshop, First Amendment will help all social classes express themselves freely, not just by word of mouth, but by fashion and creativity as well. First Amendment will create custom, artisan, silkscreened t-shirts, giving individuals the opportunity to voice their opinions and create a more aware and creative society. As an additional benefit, First Amendment will donate portions of its profits to support nonprofit organizations, providing a direct impact as well as a message.
First Tee JAB
In April 2008, The First Tee J.A.B. formed a mentor program in Seattle, WA to help at risk youth through the game of golf. Through the already established First Tee, the First Tee J.A.B. provides a program that serves at risk 8 to 12 year olds, aiming to create lasting relationships and possibly duplicating the program throughout First Tee locations across the country.
Golden Laurels [website]
The food banks in Seattle, WA have been overwhelmed with an increase in the number of people requesting their services. Thankfully, there are young people such as Amy, Perri, Chloe, Hailey and Katie who have decided to do something about it. The five girls formed "The Golden Laurels" in Seattle, WA in 2008 to support the University Food Bank and provide resources, holding bake sales to raise money and purchasing some much-needed supplies.
Hamilton Homepage
Four girls in Bellevue, WA came together to launch Hamilton Homepage in the spring of 2008. Hamilton Homepage is a school newspaper that aims to raise money for Heifer International through profits made from subscription sales. In addition to raising money for Heifer, the girls will use the paper to inform youth about the community.
Hand & Heart [website] [contact team]
Hand & Heart is a non-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing resources and support for populations in need, focusing specifically on raising funding and coordinating infrastructure improvements at the Boikarabelo orphanage in South Africa. Hand & Heart seeks to improve the overall living conditions for children at the orphanage by providing and supporting their nutrition, dental care, education (through books and computers), and health (TB and HIV medication). Much more than a fundraising campaign, Hand & Heart also works to educate the public about the conditions faced by orphans in South Africa, and plans to travel to South Africa to implement and install the services they are supporting.
IFTIN FC
Disheartened by seeing old friends turn to drugs and violence due to a lack of other activities and options in the community, Mohamed created IFTIN FC to help end the downward spiral. Pairing his love for soccer with a desire to provide a positive space for youth, Mohamed has recruited a team of 18-25 young soccer players who will practice together, play together (in tournaments and leagues), and give back together through group community service.
Kill the Chill
Seeking to lessen the harsh winter effects on people experiencing homelessness, the Key Club at Evergreen High School formed Kill the Chill, an organization that makes and distributes fleece scarves to local homeless shelters. Over the course of two winter seasons, Kill the Chill has made and donated over 250 blankets to the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Seattle.
Le North Pole
Recognizing a distinct lack of options for youth on Mercer Island to explore music and the arts, especially when compared with all-ages offerings in Seattle or Kirkland, Le North Pole Part Deux will establish an all-ages music venue on Mercer Island. The ultimate aim is not only to engage Mercer Island youth in positive, creative activities and inspire them artistically, but also to gradually change stereotypes surrounding the Mercer Island community. Performances will be a combination of open mic nights, local bands, theme parties, and larger shows, bringing together passionate young people across the island and giving them a safe, exciting alternative to drugs, crime or apathy.
Malaracare
Shocked by the number of preventable deaths around the world due to malaria, Malaracare seeks to bring malaria to the forefront by spreading awareness, hosting fundraising events, and providing malaria medications to small villages in Rwanda, one of the countries most affected by malarial deaths. Malaracare will partner with the International Medical Corps to purchase and deploy anti-malarial medicines in rural villages, providing treatment for countless potential victims of this curable disease. Funding for Malaracare’s efforts will come from a combination of t-shirt and other product sales and from events, such as fundraising dinners and erg-a-thons (rowing competitions with pledges).
Not 4 Sale
The mission of Not 4 Sale is to educate the youth in our community about sex trafficking and raise funding to help restore the lives of trafficked victims all over the world. Realizing that sex trafficking is a global issue and is not just something that happens “out there,” Not 4 Sale works to educate youth about sex trafficking in the US, and even the Seattle community. By combining fun events (concerts, plays, dances, marathons, etc) with the stories of sex trafficking victims and presentations about the affects on individual lives and whole communities, Not 4 Sale helps the issue enter into the minds of youth around the Seattle area. Not 4 Sale will also used funds raised through these efforts to help restore the lives of victims through a partnership with Shared Hope International.
Nova Bike Shop
Eric and Travis know that being able to fix a bike is an important skill, so they teamed up to form the Nova Bike Shop, a youth-run bicycle maintenance shop situated on the campus of their high school in Seattle. The Nova Bike Shop will begin as a space for learning basic maintenance and providing cheap and efficient repairs, and will eventually expand into a bicycle rental, or green bike, program.
Paw by Paw
Brianna, a student at Seattle’s Chief Sealth High School, realized that oftentimes the American Pit Bull Terrier is demonized in the media, and that a disproportionate number of animals abandoned in shelters are pit bull mixes. That is why she formed Paw by Paw, an organization dedicated to spreading awareness about both sides of the pit bull story and to supporting the efforts of local shelters that care for the animals. Through a combination of informational meetings, fun public events, and coordinated volunteer trips to local shelters, Paw by Paw seeks to actively support not just the American Pit Bull Terrier but all dogs in general.
PICS
Photos Inspiring Creation of Schools (PICS) is an after-school photography program for middle school students that explores creative outlets, while simultaneously working to raise awareness and funding to support the construction of a school in West Africa. PICS will provide cameras for youth, and throughout the program they will learn how to use the cameras through field trips and studying their prints to find both good and bad aspects of the photos, and ways in which to improve. At the culmination of the 8-week program, PICS will hold an auction with the children’s photos (as well as other fundraisers), with the proceeds raised going toward keeping PICS sustainable, as well as building a school in Africa. This program will give youth a sense of accomplishment, not just for learning a new skill, but also realizing that the products of their creativity and work are helping other children in parts of the world who do not have the benefits of education.
Reach Out
Designed with the mission of giving every child a place where they feel like they fit in, Reach Out pairs high school mentors with elementary-school youth who have had trouble adapting to their school environments, due to disabilities or other reasons. Reach Out will help form strong bonds and provide students with a community of peers and mentors who they feel connected to. Reach Out will organize group activities, ranging from field trips to art project to games, to help establish relationships and truly build a setting where everyone feels safe, connected, and supported.
Reality Check
Moved by the portrayal of child soldiers in a documentary by the Invisible Children Foundation, Alex and his team from Newport High School in Bellevue started Reality Check to use something they love to make a difference. Reality Check will host a series of six breakdancing battles over the course of the year, using the events both to raise money to support the Invisible Children Foundation and raise awareness about the experience of child soldiers. Additionally, Reality Check will host screenings of the Invisible Children documentary and will integrate clips from the film into their events.
Rebirth of Bones
Noticing that Seattle does not have the burgeoning Dominos community that he had experienced in other parts of the country, Brandon launched Rebirth of Bones to bring the game of Dominos to young people throughout the Seattle community. He views the game of Dominos as an exciting way to teach basic math skills, a positive alternative to other activities, and a tool for expressing cultural heritage and connecting with other generations.
Richard's Rwanda [website]
Jessica, a 12-year-old from Seattle, decided to start her organization after her family hosted a man from Rwanda who was able to share with her the effects of the terrible atrocities that happened a little over a decade ago. With the help of several friends, she formed Richard’s Rwanda, an awareness-building organization working to create a bond between girls in America and Rwanda. From there, it became something much more, raising $25,000 to date and enabling 22 girls to attend school by covering their school fees, supplies, uniforms, and lunch.
The Scenario
Inspired by the vitality and openness of the Bboy (a lifestyle extension of break-dancing) community in Seattle, which welcomed him with open arms when he moved to the city, Thias designed The Scenario to give back. The Scenario is an organization which plans and hosts a series of Bboy events (such as battles and celebrations) to strengthen the bonds of the local youth Bboy and Bgirl movement, inspire positive activity and life choices, and raise funds to give back to the community that allowed them to prosper. At the heart of this vision is the desire to support the Jefferson Community Center, a location that has long fostered the Bboy movement and allowed space for practice that has recently fallen on hard times.
Seattle Commuter Works [website] [contact team]
Seattle Commuter Works will provide a fun activity for community members, raise money to expand the bicycling community in Seattle, and overall make an attempt to reduce greenhouse emissions. While a long-term vision is an extensive commuter bike program, Seattle Commuter Works will begin by creating a recreational bike rental service in Seward Park in South Seattle. With an aggressive growth strategy and expansion throughout the region, a data collection regime to show a demand for a commuter program, and an increased inflow of capital, this program will hopefully spiral into a full-fledged commuter service within several years.
Seraph Student Store
After watching students arrive at school in need of supplies that they forgot or maybe just didn't have, Cary, Hannah and Irina saw an opportunity. They decided to start a student store in late spring of 2008 at their middle school, aptly naming it after their school mascot. They currently sell supplies but will also incorporate a tutoring program offered at their store location. The proceeds will benefit the school, which was formed just a few years ago.
SIFF [contact team]
Created as a “big buddy” program, pairing motivated high school students and students with special needs to go on “buddy dates” (activities based around shared interests), Sharing Interests, Forming Friendships (SIFF) seeks to bridge the boundary between students at the high school, form bonds, and generate a vibrant community. Noticing that their high schools are unfortunately divided into cliques and groups, which oftentimes left special needs students on the outside, SIFF attempts to dismantle the divide by focusing on similarities and shared interests, and by creating a platform for gaining collaborative, shared experience. SIFF will provide a fun, interactive way to expand boundaries, challenge comfort zones, and increase bonds between students.
Sol Purpose
Sol Purpose is an organization that will plan, host, and mobilize tournaments across a wide range of sports and activities (basketball, football, board games, and video games). Starting with the creation of a flagship, four-day summer tournament, which will become an annual event, Sol Purpose is bringing together a wide range of youth from throughout the Puget Sound area, engaging them in communal yet competitive activities, exposing them to the work of various nonprofit organizations (starting with Northwest Harvest), and raising money to contribute to a scholarship fund which allows underprivileged youth to participate in sports and activities.
StudentRND [website] [contact team]
Student Research and Development (StudentRND) aspires to inspire students across the Greater Seattle area to learn more about science and technology. Recognizing a distinct lack of hands-on opportunities to explore science and technology, StudentRND provides a platform to explore a wide range of areas, from robotics to circuitry, from web platforms to iPhone applications. By combining outreach efforts and educational presentations designed to inspire youth interest with hands-on experiences and programming at a workshop space, StudentRND is building the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators, one student at a time.
Studio 2Toned
Recognizing the impact that music has had on our lives, we have started Studio 2Toned as a home studio available for any young person to utilize, though we will have a specific focus on at-risk populations. Too often young people resort to destructive behaviors out of boredom or necessity, but Studio 2Toned will allow them to channel their energy into creating, producing, mixing, and selling music of their own creation. This will be a safe environment, keeping young people off the streets, while also providing Seattle with another outlet for energetic, creative music.
Team Sigma Beta Rho
Members of the University of Washington’s Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity recognize the need to give back to their community. They have partnered with Seattle’s Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) to aid Seattle’s homeless population. The team is working with DESC to turn land owned by the organization into fertile garden spaces to aid homeless shelter residents. Sigma Beta Rho also creates awareness and inspires others by conducting seminars on homelessness for students at the University of Washington.
Water Bliss
Knowing that water is the essence of life, and that, though we live in a time with so much wealth, there often a lack of access to clean water around the world, Water Bliss seeks to directly address this problem at the source. Through a combination of awareness-generating events, Water Bliss will raise the funding necessary to send a group of students to both Cambodia and Nicaragua to build wells and water taps in rural villages every year. However, this is only half of the problem, as much of the water that can be accessed through these systems is contaminated and can cause problems such as disease. Water Bliss plans to tackle this aspect head-on as well, building and delivering WAPI’s (pocket-size water purification meters).
Water Rights Education Arts Program
WREAP was formed in Seattle, WA in 2007 by Abby and Elinor, two teenage girls who wanted to create awareness around the issue of water rights and inspire youth to take action on world issues. The primary focus of the group is on facilitating a middle school program which provides students with an opportunity to attend a workshop series where they learn about world issues through art. The second component of WREAP involves a public street campaign, implemented through street fairs and festivals, and focused on water rights awareness.
Youth Teaching Youth for Pro Justice
The purpose of the Pro Justice Work team, facilitated by Emma and Josef, is to bring awareness to systematic oppression. Pro Justice facilitates discussions on racism, sexism, classism and imperialism as a way for participants to realize where they fit in as a target or an agent, and how they can become allies for the targets of oppression. By providing training and the opportunity to become leaders within the program, the Pro Justice Work Team will establish a cycle through which youth gain experience and, in turn, become leaders. In this way, they will set up a system of leadership to have youth teaching youth for Pro Justice forever.
