Fortifying Futures for our Youth
We are convening partners to build the future we wish to see and live in.
Led by youth.
Co-designed by community.
Grounded in joy.
Aspiring towards hope.
All young people deserve a world that honors their boundless brilliance.
The scope of this project is about fortifying the elements of thriving and what needs to be present far upstream to render youth incarceration and homelessness nonexistent. While also addressing the need for nourishing relationships, self-efficacy, joy, and whole-person wellness amongst those striving to address youth incarceration and unhoused youth in King County.
To do this, we must not only be clear about what we are against, but what we are for and coalescing strategies and ideas on how to get there, together.
This project centers youth as a part of both the project and co-design teams to curate a youth-centered, multi-generational, multi-sector community group to co-design emergent solution-oriented, whole community innovative ideas that are created from a space of hope and abundance.
Project Goals
Emergent Ideation + Co-Design
Meaningful power is noticeable, and we understand that communities have the spaciousness to cultivate solutions and a sense of self-determination through co-destined experiences. We believe in building with, not for. This project will cultivate and ideate upstream and asset-based projects that materialize a vision for communities having the things that obviate youth incarceration and unhoused youth and moving those emerging possibilities through a youth-vetted process to funder supported model implementation.
Youth Voice Cultivation + Leadership
Our intention is to give youth power. We work as allies to ensure youth experiences, perspectives, and aspirations are not only heard, but valued and acted upon. Fortifying Futures will co-create a youth-focused space that will be an incubator for project ideation, mentorship, and self-determination. This space will nurture joyful youth leadership and provide key feedback for this project. We will hold ourselves and each other accountable to youth brilliance through several modalities as well as group observations of values in action.
Communal Wellness + Fostering Deep Relationships
We are moving at the speed of relationships. We are building a container for deep change while honoring that we are also a part of that container and community. To create from a true space of abundance requires supporting all to feel seen, heard, and cared for through this journey. We desire to meet people where they are by supporting opportunities for mental health supports, financial compensation, professional coaching, network connections, mentorship and training opportunities.
Transforming Power
Change is the only constant. All project groups have a specific learning and unlearning journey arc that will support that group in recognizing and shifting power. We are aiming to unbecoming the subjects of research and philanthropic endeavors for our communities by including all project participants in the co-creation of process documentation. Our project funders are a part of this journey and enter the space with the understanding that they are not the drivers and do not predetermine outcomes for us.
Timeline
Phase I – Planning
September 2023 – January 2024
Phase II – Convening
February 2024 – October/November 2024
Phase III – Cultivating
October 2024 – February/May 2025
Phase IV – Evaluation + Beta Testing
Estimated 15 months
Phase V – Implementation
Estimated 12 months