In 1993, teachers at Hazel Valley Elementary in the Highline School District were concerned that a significant number of their students were failing.

The teachers realized most of these students lived in one of the lowest-income, highest-crime apartment complexes in King County — the Juanita Apartments in White Center. They rented an apartment and started an after-school program.

The children’s school work and behavior improved, but the teachers soon realized that while the kids needed help with homework, the families struggled just to get by. They needed support with basic needs like food and clothing. They needed help finding higher-paying jobs. Chilren need strong families to succeed. In the next years, New Futures added community development activities, because in order to thrive children also need cohesive, safe neighborhoods.

New Futures combines educational programs for children and youth to ensure that they succeed in school, support services to help families meet urgent and basic needs, and community-building programs to help residents create informal support networks.

New Futures now has learning centers in three South King County apartment complexes. Currently, we impact the 3,500 individuals in the apartment complexes in which we are located with services that include translation, advocacy with management and schools, support with basic needs like food and clothing, community-building events, outreach, increased social cohesion, and reduced crime.

If you want to help make brighter futures for New Futures’ kids and families, become a volunteer.