News

4C Coalition awarded King County Best Starts for Kids grant

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The 4C Coalition recently received a Youth Development Program grant from King County Best Starts for Kids for $400,000.

King County Best Starts for KIDS

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 reached some 5,000 King County youth.

“For 25 years, we’ve served youth of color in highly effective, evidence-based mentoring programs, partnering with King County schools,” said Hazel Cameron, executive director, 4C Coalition. “With this new King County grant, we’ll be able to expand our Ubuntu group mentoring program –currently serving 25 youth each year — to reach more than 200 middle and high school students annually.”

Project Ubuntu is a mentoring program that helps Black youth overcome the toxic stress caused by family dysfunction, poverty and structural racism. In the Zulu language, Ubuntu means “I am because we all are” – a reflection of the 4C’s commitment to building community and enhancing cultural connections.

The 4C Coalition, along with the other grant awardees, was spotlighted in a recent blog post from Best Starts for Kids. Read more here.

4C Coalition Selected as Roland Akers Award Recipient by Sisters Who Care of King County

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Seattle, 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 Cameron, the 4C Coalition has spent more than two decades uplifting vulnerable youth, particularly Black and other youth of color, throughout King County. Founded in 1999, the 4C Coalition provides culturally responsive one-on-one and group mentoring, as well as academic tutoring for youth ages 12 to 17. Central to their mission is pairing young people with trained Black adult mentors who offer support, encouragement, and guidance.

“We are deeply honored to receive the Roland Akers Award,” said Hazel Cameron. “This recognition affirms our belief in the power of community, mentorship, and investing in our youth.”

Sisters Who Care (SWC) began in 2016 as a small circle of African American women working within King County’s Juvenile Justice Departments. Since then, it has grown into a vibrant support network that uplifts Black women professionals through shared culture, history, spiritual care, and community impact.

One of SWC’s key initiatives is the Roland Akers Award, named after a passionate advocate for youth of color involved in the legal system. The award honors individuals or organizations that reflect Akers’ values of empowerment, leadership development, and equitable access to resources.

For more information about the 4C Coalition, visit www.the4ccoalition.org.

Media Contact:
Hazel Cameron
Executive Director, Clergy Community for Children Youth Coalition (4C)
(206) 354-4139

Juneteenth flyer

A Future Without Gun Violence: Community Dialogue

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The 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 goal: To build momentum that leads to lasting change. An all-new slate of speakers in May will include educators, faith leaders, social service experts, government officials, and community members just like you.

Save The Date! MONDAY, May 19 6 pm – 8 pm

Register here for this important Zoom session. Register online to attend virtually

Expect candid discussions and powerful conversations.

Voices for Change is an ongoing series to help us navigate our challenging lives and changing communities, organized by Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement and the 4C Coalition.

4C Sponsors ‘Building a Perfect City’ Workshop

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United Way of King County

“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 City,” sponsored by nonprofit organizations 4-C Coalition and Seattle Cares Mentoring Movement at Seattle’s Garfield High School.”

Anti-Racism in Oncology

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The video emphasizes the critical issue of anti-racism in oncology by showcasing the personal stories of Black women and their experiences within the healthcare system. Among the speakers is Charrita Tatum, a former 4C mentee and a current staff member of Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement’s Rising program, contributes her perspective.

Hazel Cameron Honored

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Hazel Cameron, founder and executive director of the 4CCoalition, has been selected as the recipient of the Sound Generation’s 2024 Inspire Positive Aging Award in the Intergenerational Impact category!

Chosen from a pool of thirty nominees, Hazel impressed this year’s judges with her community impact and her embodiment of positive aging.

Hazel will be honored in person during the luncheon awards ceremony at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM.

Friends and associates are encouraged to attend the event to celebrate Hazel’s achievement.

Learn more here

Hazel Cameron

Project Ubuntu

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SCMM and 4C’s Project Ubuntu is a mentoring program for Black youth. Once a year mentees, UW student-athlete mentors, and parents get together to celebrate! We watch a video on African American history, and we have a panel discussion.

When these middle schoolers go to high school, they join the virtual Monday night Project Ubuntu group. This group focuses on having deeper conversations about life’s challenges and how to navigate them.

The 4C Coalition partners with Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement and the University of Washington to implement 4C’s Project Ubuntu.

Underwritten by Seattle city’s Best Start for KIDS, 4C’s Project Ubuntu is a mentoring program to help Black youth overcome toxic stress caused by family dysfunction, poverty, and structural racism.

Ubuntu is a Zulu word that loosely means, “a collection of values and practices that people of African origin view as making people authentic human beings.”

These middle school students graduated from the Seattle CARES RISING program. They attended the 2023 spring football game at the University of Washington.