Powerful Voices

CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: The Cultural Enrichment program is both school-based and summer programs for middle school and high school age girls* and gender expansive youth of color. The school-based program is a space for participants to learn about themselves, increase pride in their identity and furthermore learn how to navigate the world around them. The curriculum is delivered through group and individual sessions. In-school programming has resumed at Asa Mercer International Middle School, the Powerful Voices office and at various community-based locations. The Cultural Enrichment programs served 36 young people of color in 2023 through trauma-informed, strengths-based healing and social justice programming, including one-on-one support, cohort programs, and self- and community-care resources.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Powerful Voices works within the community on issues that impact girls* and gender expansive of color to promote equity and make the world a more just place for everyone. Community Engagement efforts include hosting our annual Revolutionary Community Care Day where we provide self-care items and services to youth and their families, producing the annual Girlvolution Conference led by Activistas youth, providing training on Powerful Voices curriculum and practices, serving on coalitions, and partnering to provide outreach to girls of color detained in King County Juvenile Detention. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and limited staff capacity, we temporarily put our work with incarcerated youth on hold. Community Engagement programs and events distributed a dozen self-care kits, worked with 28 volunteers including Adult Allies, and engaged over 50 youth and adults at Girlvolution.

EMPLOYMENT: The Employment program offers both after school and summer programs for high school age girls* and gender expansive youth of color. Our after-school programs are experiential learning internships where participants increase their knowledge of social justice issues that impact them while building transferrable skills they can apply towards their career goals. Employment programs served 49 youth of color in 2023 (more than 2.25x last years metrics).