Vita Via was a Mentor in our Group Mentoring Program when he was at the UW… 
Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea (born February 5, 1995), commonly known as Vita Vea, is an American football nose tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. University of Washington Football Players as MentorsSeveral UW student-athletes are currently serving as 4C mentors.They are participating in a 4C group mentoring program that meets once a week at Yesler Community Center. By Hazel Cameron, Executive Director, The 4C Coalition Th 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 recruited through Seattle Cares mentored youth in our partner agency 4C Coalition group mentoring program that serves youth ages 12-17. The program is designed to inspires critical thinking, skills development and activism. We’re focused on helping youth make good decisions. A University of Washington professor, Dr. Terry Scott, suggested that her students get involved in their community by becoming mentors in our program. With communication and coordination with the athletic department the U WA Student Athlete Mentoring Program was started.In January 2016, seven student-athletes agreed to participate. They completed our mentor training program and committed to our Tuesday evening mentoring group. As the year progressed the student mentors facilitated the discussions. Huskies linebacker, Azeem Victor led a discussion on using social media. He emphasized the importance of being mindful of what you put out on social media. Defensive back Brandon Beaver led a discussion on prosperity and financial planning with one of the 4C mentees and wide receiver Dante Pettis was always present with a point of view that engaged more discussion. Another group was led by Huskies wide receiver, John Ross, linebacker Ezekiel Turner, along with defensive back’s Kevin King and JoJo Macintosh. They emphasized the importance of youth making good decisions, and to think about their actions before they act or speak.Student mentors get college credit for mentoring, but as John Ross said “it’s not really about the class credit. I’m just interested helping kids, and in nonprofit organization for kids, in general, because that’s something I would like to do some time.” |
Author Archives: Harry Cartales
It Happened on Friday Night
It is the summer of 1998 and Glenston Page Anderson and his girlfriend attend a mountain campsite for the annual high school senior party.
Nearly a hundred happy partiers arrive to celebrate the end of the school year. All the high schoolers are underaged and unsupervised and many had helped themselves to a great amount of beer. Glenn is one of a few African American students at the party.
Shortly after Glenn’s arrival, a small group of drunken seniors start an ugly scene. They start pushing and harassing a younger and smaller peer, who attended the party with Glenn. Glenn sees what’s happening and steps in to deescalate the situation and protect his friend. This was Glenn’s way to protect others.
Suddenly, without negotiation, the bullies quickly turn their focus towards Glenn, making him their primary target as he leaned against a truck.
Meet Glenn Anderson
Glenn, Basketball, Friends and Mom
Glenn was born in New York City and moved here at 9 years old. Glenston Anderson grew up laughing and playing with close friends, spending time with his family, and excelling at what he did best, playing basketball.
As a young boy he slept with his basketball and dreamed of going to college and playing the game like his idol, Michael Jordan. Glenn was a good student, receiving an award in elementary school for perfect attendance. He was a tremendous teammate and a key player on the high school basketball team. He continued to spend his free time doing what he loved most … going to school, socializing with friends, and playing basketball.
Glenn’s basketball coach, Jack Madigan, said that, “His attitude was always positive.” Coach Madigan sat up a fundraiser that included sports figures, community leaders, and friends when Glenn was fighting for his life.
When he was not playing ball, Glenn enjoyed entertaining his friends and family. Those who knew him described him as excited about life. One of his friends wrote, “he was a good friend, and we could trust him. . . tell him anything and he would always be there for you. He was like a brother to us.”
He joined Young Life in high school and really loved attending the meetings and the cruise on Lake Malibu.
Glenn’s high school girl friend says, “Another thing I will always remember is how much he loved his mom. His mom was always at the forefront of his mind. That quality about him always melted my heart. There were a few times for one reason or another he was worried about his mom so I would just tell him to call her and check in. He never hesitated.” Hazel has a vivid memory of him going to the prom with his girlfriend and friends. She remembers meeting at his girlfriend Andrea’s house. “Her parents were outside taking photos before the kids got in the car to drive to the prom. This was one of my happiest moments of his life before the tragedy. “
Waiting for Justice
Hazel Cameron is Still Waiting for Justice
“I know the pain as a mother as I lost my black son, Glenston Anderson, at the age of 23 due to white men who assaulted him which led to his death,” Hazel explains.
The King County medical examiner ruled Glenn’s death was the result of a beating he suffered in May of 1998, when he and his girlfriend attended a keg party at a park in Central Washington.
Three white men were charged with manslaughter but have yet to stand trial.
Only one of the bullies was convicted of assault after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor. He served only four months in custody on nights and weekends while still attending college.
Hazel’s family is still seeking justice for the pain of the loss of their son.
Hazel Cameron is one of the founders, and Executive Director of Seattle’s 4C Coalition Mentoring organization. She is dedicated to the task at hand, raising money, hiring, training, directing staff, and recruiting youth and mentors.
Her work honors Glenn every day, the first born of her three children.
The tragedy of losing her son is what informs her work and inspires her to continue to fight for equal justice for Black youth and families by providing the much-needed support to serve our community.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month
Honoring and Celebrating Black Everyday Heroes
Don and Hazel Cameron
The Camerons give love and light everywhere they go. They lead an organization, Seattle Cares Mentoring, an affiliate of National Cares Mentoring, that focuses on healing and restoration in the Black community through evidence-based healing initiatives that unearth understanding, resilience, and faith.
The Camerons are active in the community, recruiting and training mentors to empower Black and Brown youth and their families, and that’s how I fell in love with their work.
They have taught me that it is all of our responsibility to instill hope and to give back to the community.
– Chericka Johnson, Churchome Director of User Engagement
https://www.churchome.org/bhm
Quotes by Carter G Wooden, Founder of Black History Month
“I am a radical.”― Carter G. Woodson
“I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me.” ― Carter G. Woodson
“At this moment, then, the Negroes must begin to do the very thing which have they been taught that they cannot do.” I am a radical ― Carter G. Woodson
“History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.”
― Carter G. Woodson, The Miseducation of the Negro
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