Mentoring Youth In King County
Now Supporting Justice-involved Youth
A Powerful Force for Change
The 4C Coalition is a community-based nonprofit founded in 1999 that helps Black and other youth of color succeed in school and in life. We offer one-on-one mentoring, group mentoring, and tutoring to 12- to 17-year-olds in King County.
Participating students are matched with carefully trained Black adults who provide support, friendship, encouragement, and advice. We want to make sure these youth graduate from high school—avoiding gangs, violence, addiction, and prison — and then go to college, find meaningful employment, and lead productive lives.
Find out the latest from 4C Coalition
- 4C Coalition awarded King County Best Starts for Kids grantThe 4C Coalition recently received a Youth Development Program grant from King County Best Starts for Kids for $400,000. The Youth Development Program supports organizations that provide mentoring, leadership opportunities and community connections to help youth learn how to establish and maintain healthy relationships and develop more positive self-identities. In 2024, grants under this program… Read more: 4C Coalition awarded King County Best Starts for Kids grant
- 4C Coalition Selected as Roland Akers Award Recipient by Sisters Who Care of King CountySeattle, WA — Sisters Who Care (SWC) of King County has named the 4C Coalition as one of the 2025 recipients of the Roland Akers Award. The award will be presented during a celebratory gathering on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., as part of SWC’s annual Juneteenth Celebration. Led by Executive Director Hazel… Read more: 4C Coalition Selected as Roland Akers Award Recipient by Sisters Who Care of King County
- A Future Without Gun Violence: Community DialogueThe Dialogue Continues Expect candid discussions and powerful conversations. We’re just getting started! Our next meeting will be Monday, May 19 on Zoom. Shifting to a virtual format will help us extend the conversation to those who could not be here tonight. The more voices represented, the more we can understand what’s at stake. Our… Read more: A Future Without Gun Violence: Community Dialogue
- 4C Sponsors ‘Building a Perfect City’ Workshop“United Way of King County is out and about in your community! We’re keeping an eye and a pulse on happenings, events, organizations, and activities throughout King County as we work side-by-side with communities and partners to achieve an equitable future for everyone. On Martin Luther King Day, we attended a workshop, “Building a Perfect… Read more: 4C Sponsors ‘Building a Perfect City’ Workshop
The 4C received a generous grant from Casey Family Programs
Founded in 1966, Casey Family Programs works in all 50 states, to influence long-lasting improvements to the well-being of children, families, and the communities where they live.
We believe:
Every child deserves a safe, supportive, and permanent family.
Every family will thrive with the support of a caring community.
Every community can create hope and opportunities for its children and families.
Every one of us has a role to play in Building Communities of Hope.
Thanks to our partners
From Quarterbacks to Cornerbacks to Running Backs—They Give Back
UW Football Players Volunteer in Group Mentoring Program
By Hazel Cameron, Executive Director, The 4C Coalition
We are huge fans of the nationally ranked University of Washington football team. We celebrate their excellence on and off the football field. Several of the players mentor youth in our 4C Coalition group mentoring program that serves youth ages 12-17. The University of Washington Athletic Department and American Ethnic Studies Department have been in this partnership with the 4C Coalition for the past seven years.
The program is designed to inspires critical thinking, skills development, and activism. The players complete our mentor training program and participate weekly. The student mentors facilitate discussions that vary from using social media to financial planning to making good decisions, and to think about their actions before they act or speak.
Student mentors get college credit for mentoring. Previous mentors have included NFL players John Ross, Myles Gaskin, and Vita Vea. The current UW football mentors are: Demario King, Michael Penix Jr., Cameron Davis, Devin Culp, Edefuan Ulofoshio, ZiaonTupuola-Fetui, and Sam Adams.
The University of Washington student-athletes leave a big impression on our kids. Our 12 to 17-year-old mentees are inspired. Feedback from parents is positive. Big hats off to the Huskies football players for their success this year. We can see their excellence on the football field… and we have first-hand knowledge of their excellence off the field.
Photographs by Rebecca Sullivan Photography
Culturally relevant approach
At 4C Coalition, we understand how race, equity and social justice impact our schools, families and communities. Our evidence-based programs start from a place of healing, acknowledging the chronic trauma that has impacted Black communities for generations. Our mentoring and tutoring programs are a proven approach to help mitigate this historic damage and show our young people a positive path forward.
Proven leader in mentoring
The 4C Coalition has served more than 2,000 youth in the past 20 years through one-on-one and group mentoring programs. Our caring staff and facilitators recruit and train Black adults from the local community who help at-risk students set and fulfill realistic educational and vocational goals. Along the way, our mentors provide support, counsel, friendship and a positive role model.
Changing lives!
Watch how Olivia turned around her life – thanks to mentoring support from 4C Coalition!
At 4C Coalition, our programs build trust, instill pride and encourage competence with the help of adult mentors from the community.