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Youth In Focus 

Description

We work with youth, 13-19 years of age, who face a variety of challenges in their lives on a daily basis, and who struggle with a combination of race, poverty or homophobia.  At Youth in Focus, we feel that we reach at-risk youth at a crucial time – at or before the 9th grade – when 90% of the majority of youth that drop out of high school do during that year.   Through our challenging photography classes, students gain a strong sense of what makes them unique and valuable. 

Mission Statement
Youth in Focus’s mission is to empower urban youth, through photography, to experience their world in new ways and to make positive choices for their lives. We put cameras in the hands of low income, at-risk youth and place them in a challenging environment surrounded by high quality talented teachers, nurturing adult volunteer mentors, and create a strong community of support. 

Through photography our students find their voice, identity, creativity, and gain new confidence in their worth and abilities.
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Youth In Focus
2100 24th Ave S Ste 310 
Seattle 
WA
98144-4645 
(206) 407-2122 

Ms. Trina Gadsden 
Executive Director 

Programs

Youth In Focus Programs

In our Core Classes, we offer expert training in a sequenced curriculum that covers both black and white film and digital photography. After an interview process, accepted students are given a $1000 scholarship, covering the total cost of instruction and equipment. Classes meet with their teaching artists and mentors twice a week for three hours over a nine week quarter. Students submit, display and discuss their final work during our End of Quarter Show.  

We offer our Freelance Project to advanced students to provide pre-employment and entrepreneurial training. Students shoot paid assignments for outside clients. Typical jobs include documenting events held by other non-profits in our community. The primary customers are clients of non-profit youth and family service agencies who are not normally able to afford such services.

We partner with other agencies to provide photography workshops in order to expand our reach and to enhance the partner's regular programming. We have worked with community centers, schools and other youth service agencies. We are currently partnering with Friends of the Children and Youth Care, South Lake High School and Big Picture High School, among others.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

The most useful support is general support to continue offering our classes for free to all. Some donors target their gift, to help pay for equipment, teaching artist salaries, etc. We also accept in-kind donations of gently used film or digital cameras.

Most recently, we were chosen by KEXP, Starbucks and Seattle Theater Group as at the beneficiary of The Little Big Show #5. Working together, we raised over $14,000 for our students!  

Evaluation


Founded in 1994, Youth in Focus uses intensive, high quality photography training to help disadvantaged youth.

 Accessibility and Cultural Competency
All students are interviewed prior to admission and all students admitted attend classes free of charge. Youth in Focus prioritizes teens who face more than the usual barriers. 75% are low income, 80% are people of color, 50% are from single-parent homes, 50% are from non-English speaking homes. Some are homeless, suffered abuse and neglect, have addiction issues or are doing poorly in school. Youth in Focus wants these teens to come away with the knowledge that they have important things to say and a new way to say it.

 Best Practices
Youth in Focus has served over 2500 youth over its history. This number is small compared to some organizations but they have committed to not compromising quality for quantity, there by making them a highly sought after model by similar organizations all over the country. The class sizes are small to facilitate deeper relationships between students and adults and multi-level training is part of a focus on high expectations coupled with respect and individual attention.

 Financial Health
Youth in Focus weathered the economic downturn by eliminating .5 FTE of staff and a reduction in classes. After ending 2009 in the black they implemented a budget that brought staff and class schedule back to 2008 levels. While financially stable they are looking to increase individual support while maintaining support levels in other areas.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
9/10/2012 $5,000.00support general operating expenses.
10/1/2008 $15,000.00support general operating expenses.
10/5/2006 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/17/2004 $20,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

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