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CityClub’s 2009 Community Matters Campaign (CMC) focused on education and economic opportunity – two issues of particular urgency in our community today. In partnership with The Seattle Foundation, we hosted public dialogues grounded in the findings of the Foundation’s newly released Healthy Community Report www.seattlefoundation.org. Over the course of CMC, we convened hundreds of participants – both online and face-to-face – to discuss what we can and need to do individually and communally to overcome barriers and achieve positive results. We invited participants to vote for their top-priority community investment to make educational and economic opportunities available for everyone in King County. They responded 2-1 in favor of the following two strategies outlined in the Healthy Community Report:

• Involve families and communities in student achievement and aspirations
• Increase support for high-quality public schools

The CMC Steering Committee – made up of representatives from CityClub, Communities Count, Executive Service Corps, The Seattle Foundation, Seattle Works, The United Way of King County, and the YMCA of Greater Seattle – chose 6 winners based on these two strategies. Our winner selection demonstrates the ecology of community engagement needed to make a difference. The 2010 People’s Choice Awardees represent a spectrum of organization format, scale and focus. One is a recently emerged organic and quickly changing organization formed by and for youth. Another unites youth and parents. Others bring diverse community sectors together to foster change and opportunity. Still others work on the systemic level through policy development and advocacy. It’s together – across these various modes of organization and action – that change can be created and sustained in our community.

We invite you to join us in celebrating the diverse and dynamic organizations that make up the 2009 People’s Choice Award winners on the evening of November 16 from 6-8pm at City Hall in Seattle. For more information visit www.seattlecityclub.org

4C Coalition – 4C is an acronym for Clergy, Community, and Children/Youth Coalition. In partnership with King County Superior Court, 4C provides mentors to young persons involved in the juvenile justice system. The 4C Coalition is not a program to solve a problem, but a process to provide possibilities: mentors to youth, church and community resources to families, and a united voice to the community and government agencies to educate and effectively address youth issues.

4C Coalition Receives Two Community Awards
Mentoring Program Seeks to Eliminate Violence Among African American Youth

SEATTLE – The 4C Coalition Mentor Program has been recognized with two community awards for its outstanding work with at risk youth in King County. On October 30, Bank of America presented its prestigious “Local Hero Award” to Hazel Cameron, executive director of the 4C Coalition Mentor Program. Cameron was nominated as this year’s recipient by the Washington State Mentors organization, and received the award during a breakfast ceremony at McCaw Hall. Bank of America also contributed $5,000 to the 4C Coalition Mentor Program to help the organization continue its work in the community.
The 4C Coalition Mentor Program also received a “Community Service Award” from First African Methodist Episcopal Church. The Seattle-based youth mentoring program is the first organization to ever receive this award from the church. “In the past, many individuals have received this award. It is such an honor to be the first organization to be a recipient,” said Cameron.

First A.M.E. Pastor Reverend Cary Anderson presented the award on November 2, at First A.M.E.’s “Notorious B.I.C.” (Brothers in Christ worship services) Men’s Day 2008. The church also contributed $1,000 raised during the 1000 Man March last month to 4C Coalition Mentor Program, and encouraged members of the congregation to serve as mentors for the many at-risk youth who are dying daily in our streets and falling through the cracks in our educational system.

“Mentoring is such critical work. I have seen how it impacts youth in the juvenile justice system, and those at risk of entering it. I am humbled to receive the recognition through these awards as I live my mission doing what I have been called to do. This movement is near to my heart, especially after losing my son to an act of violence,” Cameron expressed. “The recent tragic killings of two more of our youth this past week is proof that we need to act fast. We must work together to change the statistics”.

About the 4C Coalition Mentor Program
The 4C Coalition Mentoring Program provides committed mentors to youths, ages 13 to 17, involved in the court system. This movement is in response to the high number of youth that suffer with issues such as substance abuse, emotional, mental despair, crime, and poverty. The 4C Coalition Mentoring Program recruits, trains and supports people from the community who volunteer their time to act as a mentor for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The mentor acts as a role model and support for the youth as he or she navigates the court system, drug court and back to the community.

In March 2008, the 4C Coalition Mentor Program helped launch the Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement, part of a national movement
spearheaded by Susan Taylor, editor emeritus of Essence Magazine. The 4C Coalition Mentor Program is also teaming up with mentoring organizations across Washington State to engage in collaborative efforts to end youth violence.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peggy Gray (425)416-2033

BANK OF AMERICA AND WASHINGTON STATE MENTORS CELEBRATE THE 4C COALITION, COMMUNITY FOR YOUTH AND INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE

SEATTLE, Wash. – Three mentoring programs, the 4C Coalition, Community for Youth and International Rescue Committee will be honored by Lieutenant Governor Brad Owen and executives from Bank of America and Washington State Mentors (WSM) at a festive event at King County Superior Court (1211 E. Alder, Third Floor Conference Room) on Thursday October 4th at 2 p.m. Community members are encouraged to attend the event and celebrate the good
work these mentoring programs are doing in King County. Refreshments will be provided. Each organization will accept a $5,000 grant from the Bank of America Mentoring Initiative and Washington State Mentors.

The initiative which is funded by Bank of America and administered by WSM supports quality mentoring programs that are serving youth living in poverty, said Lt. Gov. Owen, who is co-chair of the Issaquah-based non profit. The Bank of America Mentoring Initiative funded twelve programs in Washington and one in Idaho.

“Mentoring is a potent agent for positive change in society,” Lt. Gov. Owen says. “Research has shown that a structured and trusting relationship between a young person and a caring adult is related to reductions in youth pregnancy, violence and substance abuse. At the same time, mentoring is associated with improved academic performance.”

“As one of America’s largest corporate philanthropies, Bank of America is excited to direct funding to help mentor children across Washington state,” said Peter Joers, President of Bank of America in Washington. “There is simply no better investment in our future than strengthening the minds and spirit of our youth. We are proud to partner with Washington State Mentors to help make this happen.”

Washington State Mentors is an umbrella organization for the state’s mentoring community, providing assistance with training, recruitment, resource development, data collection, public awareness and public policy. WSM is supported by Costco Wholesale, the state Department of Social and Health Services.

For more information go to www.washingtonmentoring.org, or contact Peggy Gray at 425-416-
2033 or pgray@wamentors.org.