The City of Seattle has announced the awards for the Summer Opportunity Fund, a $75,000 fund created to support community-based projects that address and help reduce violence against young adults. The fund was open to community organizations, groups, and businesses to apply.

To be considered, projects needed to focus on education, employment, justice, violence prevention, health, or a combination of these topics. The City also sought community-based ideas and projects that leveraged other resources such as community partnerships, in-kind donations, and existing resources and services.

The awarded organizations and projects are:

• $15,000 to 180 Program to provide peer training and leadership development for young men of color focused on healing circles, peacemaking, and a UW lecture and campus tour, along with mentoring, job placement and social services connections.
• $14,985 to Multi-Communities for the Men’s Circle Journey Project, a facilitated support group for East African and African American men to foster and enhance emotional intelligence, increase self-esteem and respect, provide a safe place to talk, learn and heal, and foster authenticity in actions.
• $14,995 to Somali Family Task Force for a three-month program designed to promote and empower 18-24-year-old East African young men’s healthy development and transition through emerging adulthood by providing mentoring/mentorship, educational preparedness, and job readiness skills building.
• $15,000 to Guiding Academic Motivation for Excellence for a leadership development, empowerment, and community awareness project for 15 East African and African American males to include a walk-a-thon/community march, a community education rally and cookout, and a youth talent and fashion show produced by the participants.
• $15,000 to Brothers United in Leadership Development to host BUILD the Hood events that highlight culture, healthy lifestyles, and environmental and social activities, and a resource fair for young black men and their families; in addition to a barbershop series to bring issues around education, justice, employment, and health to cultivate inter-generational relationships.

All projects will begin this summer and will be completed this fall. The Summer Opportunity Fund is funded by the Seattle Human Services Department and administered by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.