Through our partnership with Child Care Resources, FFYB provides child development training to youth ages 12-24 who support their families at home with caring for their younger siblings. In these leadership trainings, youth gain knowledge of early brain development and First Aid/CPR, and creating a safe home environment for their younger siblings. Youth also learn how the skills and knowledge gained through this training can lead to a variety of careers.
marijuana education and preventioN
Afterschool tutoring
First Five Years & Beyond has an afterschool tutoring program for K - 12th grade students who live in Western Washington. We provide youth with a safe, positive, and stimulating environment to explore learning and experience academic and personal success.
Students build skills in reading and math, get help with homework, and grow their confidence. Travel is not an issue because tutors join students virtually via Zoom. The students are wonderfully diverse, representing various cultures, special needs, and skillsets.
“I am so excited that my scholar is able to read with the tutor the way he does, because when he reads with me, he doesn’t read like that. He is very comfortable with the tutor and sounded like he was really into the book, and I’m really happy about that!”
-A pleased parent of the program
Volunteers are the heart of the afterschool program. They work with students individually or in pairs to follow each student’s individualized learning plan. Every year in August, we seek new volunteer tutors prior to the start of the school year. For more information about our volunteer opportunities, visit the United Way/First Five Years & Beyond volunteer portal.
Students build skills in reading and math, get help with homework, and grow their confidence. Travel is not an issue because tutors join students virtually via Zoom. The students are wonderfully diverse, representing various cultures, special needs, and skillsets.
“I am so excited that my scholar is able to read with the tutor the way he does, because when he reads with me, he doesn’t read like that. He is very comfortable with the tutor and sounded like he was really into the book, and I’m really happy about that!”
-A pleased parent of the program
Volunteers are the heart of the afterschool program. They work with students individually or in pairs to follow each student’s individualized learning plan. Every year in August, we seek new volunteer tutors prior to the start of the school year. For more information about our volunteer opportunities, visit the United Way/First Five Years & Beyond volunteer portal.
discoveru 2021
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10/11/21 Monday - #DiscoverLocalJobs: Ecologist Ben Roberts discussed engineering and what it means to design something to make it work!
10/12/21 Tuesday - #LeadYourCommunity: Emmanuel Dolo talked to the kids about how he mobilized a clean up effort in Liberia to reduce the amount of health hazards associated with poor sanitation in his community when he was a youth. 10/13/21 Wednesday - #ClassroomToCareer: Helena Montana's Mayor Wilmot Collins inspired young people to explore their talents and to look at failures as learning experiences! 10/14/21 Thursday - #CollegeGearDay: We took the students to Washboard and the Washington State Financial Aid Programs websites to explore the resources available to families that provide financial assistance to kids to cover college expenses 10/15/21 Friday - #FlashForwardFriday: Students shared their visions of who they will become as a professional in their future! |
During DiscoverU Week every October, educators, youth, serving organizations, families, and community leaders across South King County and South Seattle lead college and career activities that help students explore their futures. Each day is an opportunity for students of all ages to participate in fun activities and conversations that help them explore their career interests and learn about the education and skills needed to get there.
First Five Years & Beyond had the honor of interviewing an ecologist, a commissioner, a curator, and a mayor! What a fabulous week! The youth gained some valuable information, advice, and exposure to what comes next after grade school. Together, we can engage our communities to build a “beyond high school” culture and support students with their dream futures. DiscoverU puts student interests at the center because college and career planning should be driven by students who are actually going to live these futures. Explore Discoveruwa.org for additional information and resources. |
2021 YOUTH & LAW FORUMFounded 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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Summer youth program
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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.
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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) |
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growth mindset training
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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.
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.
