Category: News

The India Association of Western Washington recently donated $2,500 to the 4C Coalition to provide incentives to youth.

“We are blessed beyond words for the support of the people from the India Association who have stepped up to provide tutoring for 4C youth,” said Hazel Cameron, executive director, 4C Coalition. “This wonderful organization and the tutors it provides have been life savers for our youth.”

During the pandemic, many students have gotten behind in their course work and struggled to keep up. Tutors from the India Association have provided support in language arts, math, science and other core classes as well as help students access classes and complete their homework assignments.

Jayshree Krishnan, a former mentor and board member of the 4C Coalition, was instrumental in introducing the 4C Coalition to IAWW. Thank you, Jayshree!

Learn more about the work of the Indian Association of Western Washington.

The 4C Coalition was recently awarded a grant of $50,000 from the Seattle Foundation. The grant is part of the Seattle Foundation’s commitment to focus more on racial equity by targeting grants to Black-led nonprofit organizations in King County who are serving the Black community.

Founded in 1999, the 4C Coalition is a Seattle-area nonprofit that matches King County youth with mentors recruited from a pool of dedicated and conscientious adults. Its programs have been a powerful force for change, surrounding young people with the care and attention they need.

“This grant will enable us to continue our important work to serve Black and other youth of color in King County,” said Hazel Cameron, executive director. “We are grateful to the Seattle Foundation for this award.”

In order to apply for the program, nonprofits and community groups had to be composed of predominantly Black staff, leadership and boards that served the Black community. The funds will provide resources to build political, economic and social power to ensure that the Black community in King County thrives.

In 2019, Seattle Foundation embarked on two projects to cultivate deeper relationships with Black-led organizations. One of these was a survey targeting 41 Black-led organizations in King County, in which 18 Black nonprofit leaders were interviewed. The researchers hoped to gain better insight into the work and experience of Black-led organizations and their leaders. Researchers asked these selected Black organizations about priority issues as well as their strengths and funding challenges. The Foundation’s report, “The Case for Investing in King County’s Black-led Organizations,” is available on the Seattle Foundation website. 

At this moment, as we wait for the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial, I am experiencing grief, sadness and anger over his death and the continued killing, with no prosecution and no apology, to Black men, women and children. Like most of you, I am outraged but encouraged by the powerful movement we see not only in Seattle and Minneapolis but across this country and around the world.

I am encouraged change will come if we do not let up, and we continue to protest, contribute and support organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Obama Foundation, Roland Martin Unfiltered, National CARES Mentoring Movement, Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement, Black Lives Matter Seattle King County, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, The National Urban League, or one of the many other African American organizations fighting for order and  justice.

I know the pain so many are feeling as a mother. My son Glenn Page was assaulted by white men at the age of 23; this attack led to his death. It is taking years to fully charge the four white men who were charged with manslaughter.

I hurt for George Floyd’s mother and the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and all the other Black Americans who died at the hands of police. I am in full support of action to convict renegade police officers.

But I am also moved and encouraged by the solidarity of people, young and old of all races, who have come together on the streets coast-to-coast and across the world. Change must come — in policies, changes in leadership and change to the system.

I am with all those who cry for justice and protest injustice in policing, legal system, incarceration, under-resourced schools, lack of quality housing, unequal health care and inequality in employment opportunities.

I join my brothers and sisters in this time of change, and I vow to be part of the action to create this change.

Hazel Cameron, Executive Director, The 4C Coalition