2021 Doorway Project Year End Report

DOORWAY YEAR END REPORT

YOUTHCARE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON JULY 2020JUNE 2021

HEALING CENTERED ENGAGEMENT

PROJECT

LETTER FROM OUR YOUTHCARE-LEAD Dear Community,

Change and progress can look like a million different ways – a hot meal or shower, clean clothes, or a simple conversation and being heard. Time after time our youth are disregarded and pushed aside, whether it is from their peers, family, larger society, or service providers. UDYC brings a different approach to the community by meeting them where they are and creating spaces for them to be who they are.

We strive to create safe environments for young people to be vulnerable and to thrive as their authentic selves. Within those millions of ways to change, we provide client-centered housing resources, CSEC case management, internships, employment, and education opportunities.

The partnership between UDYC and the Doorways Project has been an agent of change within the current pandemic and sociopolitical movement. While we are the hands and the feet, Doorways is our voice that answers our calls to action towards a common goal. Together, we envision a future for young people that ensures their stability, wellness, and safety through accessible, collaborative, and holistic programs and resources. We can assure you that when youth come to our doors, they are greeted with the understanding that their voice and choice matters, and the journey starts here.

DOORWAY PROJECT | 2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

While in community with the youth, I have learned that we are their first introduction to hope, healing, and a better life.

We are privileged to be witnesses to their individual journeys. We represent Black, Indigenous, people of color, and all marginalized youth and young adults. We put them at the forefront, walking alongside them to celebrate and advocate for who they truly are – resilient, intelligent, and the epitome of a survivor, not what society tell them they are. They are our future and their voices matter. Our acts of service are to elevate those voices through the Youth Action Board, POC Street Arts, Healing Pages, and healing engagement. Celebrating the holidays such as Christmas, Kwanzaa, Black History Month, Pride, Indigenous Peoples Day, Juneteenth, we are able to come to together in community to build the bonds needed to launch into a secure future, created through our services and support. Creative and healing engagement looks different for every person who walks through our door. No matter how you come in, we welcome you in. We don’t stumble over where you are. We embrace who you will become.

Lisa Byoune Youth-Care Lead

04

CORE STAFF AFOMIA ASSEFA

LISA BYOUNE

AMERICORP VISTA INTERN

YOUTHCARE LEAD

SEEMA CLIFASEFI

COURTNEY JACKSON

UW LEAD

ANDREA PORTILLO-PEREZ 2020-2021 GRADUATE STUDENT INTERN

2020-2021 | YEAR END REPORT

PROGRAM MANAGER

JAYELAN SPICE PEER MENTOR

05

ABOUT THE

DOORWAY PROJECT The Doorway Project is an initiative co-led by the University of Washington and YouthCare, an agency offering individualized services to young people experiencing homelessness in Seattle/King County. The Doorway Project works to address youth and young adult homelessness in the University District through centering youth wellbeing and agency in the development of emancipatory and creative programming.

We seek the knowledge and guidance of young people who live, work, or learn here in this neighborhood, amplifying their voices and following their lead through our Youth Action Board (YAB).

The work we do is intentionally openended, flexible, and continually evolving in response to what we learn.

Doorway Project programs harness the power of creative engagement to bring dignity, awareness, and healing to the complex issues surrounding homelessness. Studies conducted in other social service and clinical settings have shown an

2020-2021 | YEAR END REPORT

association between engagement in healing-centered activities (e.g. artistic pursuits, community events, gardening, playing music) and increased well-being for adults. Ending youth homelessness will require both prevention efforts and rapidly responsive trauma-informed care.

Healing-centered engagement builds on this two-pronged approach by moving beyond a focus on trauma, to strengthen the roots of well-being through the creation of programming that encourages both critical reflection and civic participation.

In March of this year, we established the University District Youth Action Board.

The YAB is a space for young people with lived experiences of homelessness to advocate for systemic change. In this program, young people speak their truth within community, city, and state-level agencies that directly impact them personally and systematically. By creating space for young people to make conscious connections between their experiences and the larger systems and institutions that impact them, we position them to move beyond survival towards a collective sense of power and responsibility to reimagine and transform society

06

MODEL OF CARE

There must exist a paradigm, a practical model for social change that includes an understanding of ways to transform consciousness that are linked to efforts to transform structures

Elements of Radical Healing

CULTURE: the anchor connecting young people to a racial and ethnic identity that is both historically grounded and contemporarily The Doorway Project aims to affirm and relevant. empower young adults harmed by multiply intersecting systems through the provision of AGENCY: the individual and collective ability to therapeutic art-based programs, system act in order to create desired outcomes and navigation, and case management grounded in transform external conditions healing-centered engagement.

These interventions are key in supporting young adults RELATIONSHIPS: the capacity to create, sustain, to connect their experience of harm to larger and grow healthy connections with others. social and institutional systems, rather than character and cultural shortcomings.

MEANING: the ability to discover our purpose, and build awareness of our role in advancing Our comprehensive and integrated wrap-a-round justice model of care is grounded in Sean Ginwrights’ Framework for Radical Healing, encompassing ACHIEVEMENT: the illumination of life's five major elements: Culture, Agency, possibilities and acknowledgment of movement Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement towards explicit goals bell hooks

www.shawnginwright.org

Optimal conditions of justice

Promising conditions of justice

AWAKENING

Elements of radical heailng

THRIVING

SUFFERING

Healing Centered Engagement

HEALING

DOORWAY PROJECT | 2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

INTAKE

Permanent conditions of injustice

INTERNALIZING

Persistent conditions of injustice

Opportunity to interrupt cycle through introduction of radical healing programming 07

LETTER FROM OUR UW-LEAD

Despite the continued toll of systemic racism and the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to disproportionately negatively impact BIPOC communities, the Doorway Project story is one of strength, creativity, activism, growth mindset, healing, and most importantly: Community. This report is an opportunity to reflect, highlight and celebrate our past year successes with you all.

In the following pages, you will read about the new initiatives we collectively launched this past year, like:

The Youth Action Board: a program

designed to train the next generation of leaders and activists to identify and work toward the social and racial justice and equity that they want to see in the world; Healing Pages: a book club developed by and for young adults with lived experience of homelessness and a weekly space for young people to come together in community and discuss literature that encourages critical thinking and deeper engagements with stories relevant to their identities; and Bloom Garden: an urban farming

All of these programs have been designed with Black excellence, liberation, healing, and joy as core values, and we are proud to be able to provide economic opportunities that are meaningful for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in our community.

You will also read about how the community identified gaps in the system—namely around transition-aged youth—and how the Doorway team took action to successfully advocate for additional resources to pilot test the implementation of a Transition Age Youth Community Care Coordinator (TAY-C3), which we will launch in the 2021-2023 cycle. We are pleased to announce also that the Doorway Project continues to receive state funding through the 2023 biennium.

This was also a year of transitions for the Doorway Project. In October 2020, we saw Courtney Jackson emerge into a newly created leadership position as the UW-Doorway Program Manager. Courtney’s steadfast vision, leadership, and can-do attitude, coupled with her strong relationships within the community has helped take the Doorway Project to the next level.

Bloom: an urban gardening internship

focused on sector skills and socio-emotional wellness for youth experiencing homelessness.

DOORWAY PROJECT | 2020-2021 YEAR END RPORT

08

In January 2021, Jason McGill, our fearless UDYC leader moved into an Executive Director position at Northwest Youth Services and Lisa Buyone assumed the position with a new and positive energy that has meant the continued success of the Doorway Project and partnership between UW and UDYC. Our long time Graduate Project Assistant, Noah Weatherton, graduated and moved on to other opportunities after serving the project for three years, and Andrea Portillo, came on board for the 2020-2021 year to help assist with many of the community connection elements, most notably helping to co-create the TAYC3 position, as well as plan our most successful Community Resource Fair on record, which was held on June 4, 2021.

We also had the privilege of welcoming our first AmeriCorps intern, Afomia Assefa, thanks to our partnership with the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center at the University of Washington.

3) Campus Engagement: Development and facilitation of University of Washington student, faculty, and campus involvement and education regarding the issue of homelessness and its structural factors.

As we close out this biennium and move into Year 5 of the Doorway Project, and as we celebrate our successes over the past year, we also want to acknowledge the continued struggle toward racial and social justice, and let you know that we are committed to this cause. We especially want to take this moment to express our gratitude to all of our incredible partners who show up for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness every day and to all of our stakeholders who support this work. The Doorway Project is successful because of YOU: our community, who is dedicated to our collective vision. Let us recommit to our vision of ending youth and young adult homelessness and striving for collective healing and liberation.

Our programming continues to be guided by our three pillars: 1) Creative Engagement: Co-creation of creative engagement opportunities alongside Emerging Leaders from the community for young people experiencing homelessness in the University District and surrounding area.

2) Community Engagement: Expansion, formalization, and improvement of collaborative events, structures and positions supporting private and public agencies working in homeless services in the University District

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

Seema Clifasefi UW Lead

09

There must exist a paradigm, a practical model for social change that includes an understanding of ways to transform consciousness that are linked to efforts to transform structures BELL HOOKS

CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT

DOOR WAY PROJECT

YOUTHCARE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 2020-2021

HEALING CENTERED ENGAGEMENT

In November 2019 we formed a Community Advisory Board (CAB) made up of direct service providers, young adults with lived experience of homelessness, and UW staff and faculty.

Through this process, we identified three main pillars of Healing Centered Engagement: Community Engagement, Creative Engagement, and Campus Engagement (see graphic above). Our approach is designed to intentionally drive young adults towards long-term outcomes through a model of healing focused support and creative programmatic engagement

WEB OF PROGRAMMING

"Bloom" Youth Led Community Garden

Transition age youth support

University District Food Bank & YouthCare Transitional Living

Youth Action Board

CREATE

CONNECT

CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

THE DOORWAY PROJECT

"Healing Pages" Book Club

HEALING CENTERED ENGAGEMENT

Pop-up Resource Fair

Informal Group Networks

YouthCare - UDYC

University District Youth Service Providers Alliance & Program Directors Meeting

LEARN CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT

Student and Faculty Engagement Opportunities (CELE)

Community Based Internships

UW Transfer Access Potentially Northwest Education Access

Readiness Trainings

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

12

As has been the case with many creative engagement organizations, the Covid-19 pandemic created unanticipated barriers to our ability to meet the urgent and growing needs of young people experiencing homelessness. The experience of homelessness has always been one of marginalization and isolation. This reality that has been compounded by social distancing measures which have temporarily restricted already limited spaces for young people to congregate and build community. We’ve spent the last year re-evaluating our programming alongside our young leadership with the goal of ensuring consistency and sustainability through crisis.

Although many of the public spaces of belonging for young people experiencing homelessness have closed (libraries, coffee shops, college campus’), homeless service agencies have maintained their hours. As we continue experiencing the ups and downs of Covid-19, our goal is to create increased engagement opportunities in spaces that will continue hosting young people experiencing homelessness.

Many of our young people lost financial opportunities that deepened their crisis with homelessness. Due to this, we’ve increased opportunities for stable income in the form of existing creative engagement opportunities such as the Bloom Urban Farming Internship, the Youth Action Board, and the Healing Pages Book Club. Our application to the Youth Healing Project to create a music production studio will add to these opportunities by allowing us the space and resources to fund paid opportunities related to music production and appreciation

01

LEVELS OF ENGAGE MENT THRIVING

THE YOUTH ACTION BOARD

02

AWAKENING

BLOOM YOUTH LED GARDEN

03

HEALING

HEALING PAGES BOOKCLUB

04

INTAKE & DROP IN UDYC

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

13

01 THRIVING THE YOUTH ACTION BOARD

YOUTH ACTION BOARD

a space for young adults with lived 02 experience of homelessness to advocate for 3 4-6 months, systemic change. For the0first we're partnering with Restorative Community Pathways to create a community-designed response to harm that focuses on healing and restoration for young people impacted by the criminal justice system.

In March of this year we established the University District Youth Action Board. The YAB is a space for 10 young people with lived experience of homelessness to advocate for systemic change. In this program, young people speak their truth within community, city, and state-level agencies that directly impact them personally and systematically. By creating space for young people to make conscious connections between their experiences and the larger systems and institutions that impact them, we position them to move beyond survival towards a collective sense of power and responsibility to reimagine and transform society.

02

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

The YAB has spent the last three months developing asset-driven strategies that consider the unique ways in which race, identity, and social marginalization influence the healing and well-being of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. During this time they have spoken on panels, partnered on projects with University of Washington students, and spoken their truth to political candidates at the Resolution to End Homelessness mayoral conversation.

14

02

BLOOM GARDEN

THRIVING AWAKENING THE YOUTH ACTION BOARD

BLOOM YOUTH LED GARDEN

02 an urban farming internship focused on sector skills and socio-emotional wellness 03 for youth experiencing homelessness.

Food deserts are identified as census tracts where residents lack access to the wholesome and nutritious foods necessary for a healthy diet. However, in a city marked by staggering rates of displacement and homelessness, prices on natural, organic, and healthy food are consistently inhibitory regardless of the larger context. This food insecurity is exacerbated by the experience of homelessness which leaves individuals at disproportionate risk of being impacted by exposure to the elements, lack of resources, and disenfranchisement. In response to the growing interest of our CAB to address this issue and reconnect our young adults to their innate belonging to land, The Doorway Project applied for and was awarded funding to develop a youth-led community garden located at the University District Food Bank.

This 10 hours per week internship was designed to support and unite existing efforts while boosting and growing food systems education throughout the city. Sector skills such as garden cultivation, harvesting, and urban farm management were complemented with weekly seminars where four young people developed theoretical grounding on social justice concepts and are given space to discuss, decompress, and reflect on what they had learned.

02

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

16

03

03

04 HEALING

HEALING PAGES

Healing Pages Bookclub

A book club developed by and for young adults with lived experience of homelessness and a weekly space for young people to come0together in community and 2 discuss literature that encourages critical thinking and deeper engagements with THRIVING stories relevant to their identities.

THE YOUTH ACTION BOARD AWAKENING

Healing Pages is a book club developed by and for young adults with lived experience of homelessness.

0at2 the BLOOM YOUTH LED GARDEN Hosted biweekly University District Youth Center, this is a space for young adults to come

together in community and discuss literature chosen by them with only minor ground rules.

Homelessness is an issue that disproportionately affects BIPOC and LGBT populations. Healing Pages reflects these demographics, open to all but purposefully choosing books that encourage critical thinking and deeper engagements with stories relevant to those identities. By allowing young adults to choose the texts, we are able to explore many types of stories while providing them with the agency necessary to not only talk about their experience but to challenge the systems that define their reality.

02

Healing Pages is a book club developed by and for young adults with lived experience of homelessness. Hosted biweekly at the University District Youth Center, this is a space for young adults to come together in community and discuss literature chosen by them with only minor ground rules. Homelessness is an issue that disproportionately effects BIPOC and LGBT populations. Healing Pages reflects these demographics, open to all but purposefully choosing books that encourage critical thinking and deeper engagements with stories relevant to those identities. By allowing young adults to choose the texts, we are able to explore many types of stories while providing them with the agency necessary to not only talk about their experience, but to challenge the systems that define their reality.

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

18

12 12

how you gon' be free without me?

AJA MONET

CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT

LETTER FROM OUR CELE LEAD Dear Community,

While we collectively confront public health crises of racism and COVID-19, youth and young adults remain at the forefront, navigating these challenges head on, during a crucial transition point in their lives.

Despite unforeseen changes in the way we live, work and play, young people consistently find ways to adapt. Students at the University of Washington participating in Undergraduate Community-Based Internships (UCBI) collaborate with the Doorway Project to find innovative ways to support community during these challenging times.

We are deeply grateful for the partnership between the Doorway Project and UCBI. Our student interns continue to learn with, from and alongside clients, staff and volunteers with the Doorway Project and University District partner organizations. Although our work has been primarily remote this past year, this community-engaged learning opportunity is unlike anything students experience through the classroom. with racism.

In partnership with the Doorway team, UCBI interns kept the community informed through social media and e-newsletter communication.

DOORWAY PROJECT | 2020-2021 YEAR END RPORT

In partnership with the Doorway team, UCBI interns kept the community informed through social media and e-newsletter communication. They interviewed Doorway staff and created virtual trainings for volunteers and UW students in communityengaged courses. They flexed their creativity by compiling a cookbook based on items available at the University District Food Bank and facilitated difficult conversations around racial equity through collaboration with the Race and Social Justice Team at ROOTS Young Adult Shelter. The dynamic landscape of COVID-19 challenged interns, supervisors and staff to center client needs and wishes, while tackling issues of accessibility, heightened health concerns, collective grief and an overdue reckoning with racism.

where we are student engagement CREATING, STREAMLINING, AND FACILITATING UW STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH HUNGER & HOMELESSNESS

Critical service learning opportunities using education and action to address housing and food insecurity in Seattle.

Involvement and advocacy efforts to address root causes and support immediate and long-term solutions for local food and housing deprivation

22

In the Community Engagement and Leadership Education (CELE) Center at UW, we strive to center authentic and reciprocal relationships in our work. It is important that our students have shared lived experiences, as well as shared values, with the community members and staff they work with through their internships. The Doorway team’s leadership, energy and steadfast commitment to clients sets the bar high for community care.

This collaboration opportunity with Doorway is often a crucial stepping stone in our students’ paths to a career in community engagement.

where we're going

We thank Doorway staff and supervisors, as well as the youth and young adults, who lead programming and steward resources for folx experiencing homelessness in the University District. We are humbled by the Doorway team’s investment in relationships, authentic feedback and community care.

educational equity ESTABLISH & SUPPORT A TRANSFER RECEPTIVE CULTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

equitable research ACADEMIC COLLABOARTION TO PROVIDE HIGH IMPACT RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS

DOORWAY PROJECT | 2020-2021 YEAR END RPORT

We extend immense gratitude to stakeholders and funders who provide the financial support that allows for this high level of collaboration to take place. It is with great pride and appreciation that we share highlights of this past year in partnership with Doorway.

Katie Wallace

Community Engagement Manager Undergraduate Community-Based OInternships (UCBI) Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center University of Washington

Transfer is the primary avenue to the bachelors degree for students who have been historically marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved.

We aim to develop a peer pathway to support these students and others from similar backgrounds.

To provide scientifically supported research, evaluation, trainings, technical assistance and community assessments on issues related to housing security and homelessness. Partnering with community leaders and contract with city and state governments, local and national organizations and nonprofits to improve the health and well-being of people living in poverty and experiencing homelessness

23

COMMUNITY

ENGAGEMENT

Group Networks "Creating and sustaining formal and informal group networks with an emphasis on information sharing within the University District Neighborhood"

12x Program directors Meetings

Monthly meetings to advance the alignment of Program Directors and community-wide coordination in preventing and ending homelessness in the University District. These meetings provide a space for strategic thinking and intersectional opportunities for collective action.

12x University District Service Provider Alliance (UDSPA) Meetings

Monthly meetings for new and experienced direct service providers to learn about key issues and common problems, hear from experts, talk with peers, and collaborate on practical solutions

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

24

Closing gaps

Ending the revolving door of homelessness by addressing the transition period of young adult to adult services

Seattle’s University District serves as a hub of services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Because of this, Doorway Project partners are uniquely positioned to identify gaps in care. One such gap identified in 2020 is the continuing need for linkages between youth & young adults and services beyond the University District. To address this gap, we have worked with community partners to advocate for the funding of a Transition Age Youth Community Care Navigator (TAY-C3).

This position will ameliorate the need to link youth & young adults to services beyond the University District in two ways: 1.

Strengthening community partnerships between Seattle University District youth service providers and adult services throughout King County by generating mechanisms for increased collaboration and information sharing.

2. Offering additional support to transitionage young people in the University District to adult behavioral services, peer mentorship, and sustainable community resources.

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

25

collaborative

events

Organizing and funding annual collaborative events that connect young adults to the help they need On Friday, June 4th, the Doorway Project held a community resource fair in partnership with over 20 community organizations and government agencies.

Our event reflects our goals to knit our community together into a permanently organized neighborhood in ending youth and young adult homelessness. There are an abundance of committed individuals working towards this goal, providing social services, and helping to foster healthy communities; we are committed to providing the space for our collective efforts to have the greatest reach possible. Community transformation results from personal transformation and committed bodies working together.

Over 250 community members came out to connect with the different resources of support that are available to them. Upon entering and signing up, each person was met with services from community partners, including: Youthcare, Sanctuary Art Center, One Health Clinic, YMCA Social Impact Center, ROOTS young adult shelter, UW Youth Clinic, Neighborcare Health, Kaiser Permanente, The Squeaky Toy, Northwest Education Access, Seattle T2P2, Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness, Seattle Community Fridge, Teen Feed, Washington State Health Department, and Orca Lift.

We hope our efforts facilitated greater connection between resource providers, educators, community organizers and community members. YouthUprising is dedicated to community transformation powered through youth leadership.

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

26

FINANCIAL

JULY 20 JUNE 21

HIGHLIGHTS YouthCare- Doorway

Administration

$39, 752.00

Facilities

$6,615.00

Program Operations Total

$203,633.00 $250,000

Facilities 3%

Administration 16%

Program Operations 81%

CELE

Intern Stipends

$31,500.00

Mentor Salary

$9,500.00

VISTA Volunteer

$7,500.00

Program Supplies Total

$1,500.00

Program Supplies 3%

Mentor Salary 19%

Intern Stipends 63%

$50,000

UW-Doorway

Salary/Wages

$119,854.00

Retirement/Benefits

$33,301.00

Scholarships/Tuition

$14,472.00

Programming Costs Total

VISTA 15%

$32,373.00

Programming Costs 16.2%

Scholarships/Tuition 7.2%

Retirement/Benefits 16.7%

Salary/Wages 59.9%

$200,000

DOORWAY PROJECT |2020-2021 YEAR END REPORT

27

Thank you for an amazing year, can't wait to see what we do together next! !

S U T C A T CON

doorwayprojectseattle@gmail.com

DoorwayProjectSeattle

@doorwayprojectseattle