Support more New Futures programs
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In this issue:
Letter from the Director
Sun Life Financial Award for New Futures
Celebrating Mother’s Day
Gathering place for young girls at New Futures
Two youth help improve our community
Early learning students graduate
ReachOut’s partnership with Highline Public Schools
2010 Benefit Breakfast video
Supporters
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Dear Friends,
On behalf of New Futures staff and the children and families we serve, I would like to take this opportunity first and foremost to thank our many funders and private donors for generously supporting our programs. With your partnership, New Futures provides neighborhood-based, integrated, responsive, and culturally competent services to children and families in low-income apartment complexes in South King County.
It is an honor to join an agency with a 17-year track record of success. New Futures partners with families, educators and the community-at-large to ensure that children thrive in school and in life. New Futures empowers parents to get involved in their child’s education and become advocates for their children’s success. We transform low-income neighborhoods and create safe communities where children thrive. We also help transform educational systems to better serve all students by applying our successful on-the-ground experience with diverse families to provide educators with cultural competency training through ReachOut, our social enterprise. Our staff and volunteers give above and beyond the call of duty. They are passionately connected to New Futures’ mission and work diligently to provide the highest quality programs.
As the new executive director of New Futures, I will work in collaboration and partnership with our funders and donors, schools and educators, law enforcement, city government, social service providers, and families to ensure that all children in our community can thrive. I owe my gratitude to New Futures’ founders–including teachers at Hazel Valley Elementary, the Highline School District, and the funders and partner organizations–that had the vision and invested their time and resources to make New Futures a reality.
In February 2010, New Futures’ Board of Directors adopted a new strategic plan to provide guidance, strategic direction and support to New Futures’ staff. As part of this plan, I look forward to supporting all South King County efforts to create healthy and safe communities for children and families.
In closing, let me say that my heart is always full whenever I walk into our programs because it is deeply moving to see our mission in action. Above all, I would like to thank our program participants. Their personal self-determination in overcoming social, cultural, language and systems barriers is the truest indicator of success and ensures the very best quality of life for families living in the four apartment complexes where New Futures operates.
Thank you for your ongoing support of New Futures. I look forward to working with you as New Futures continues to create communities where children thrive!
In gratitude,
Mario Paredes
Executive Director
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New Futures was recognized by Sun Life Financial’s Rising Star Awards Program for inspiring kids to stay in school.
The award included a $50,000 grant and financial literacy training materials and curriculum to give youth tools they need to succeed in life. As a regional award recipient, New Futures is now eligible for an additional $50,000 national grant from Sun Life.
As part of this award, New Futures nominated Youth Program participant Bikram Subba for a $5,000 scholarship to support his higher education. Bikram also received a New Futures’ scholarship at our 2010 Benefit Breakfast. Being the ambitious youth that he is, Bikram is getting a head start by beginning his studies this summer with an intensive college-credit course. In the fall, he will begin his studies at Highline Community College. Bikram is passionate about pursuing a career as a medical administrator and dreams of improving the health care system. Bikram says, “I want to make the system better so that people do not have to struggle like they do now.”
Thank you Sun Life Financial for making it possible for New Futures to support more outstanding youth like Bikram!
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New Futures’ hosted a joyful Mother’s Day celebration for the entire apartment community at our Heights at Burien site. In the past, the Mother’s Day celebration was held at an outside venue. Staff noticed that this limited the number of families who were able to attend, so they decided to hold it on-site this year. As a result, more than 300 children, youth, and parents gathered to honor their mothers, enjoy delicious food, and participate in a lively dance competition.
The celebration integrated various cultural traditions to reflect and embrace the rich diversity of the families who participate in New Futures’ programs. Our community includes families from Mexico, Central America, Somalia, Sudan, Nepal, Bhutan and Iraq.
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In response to a need identified by New Futures’ families and staff, three new “Girls Groups” began meeting regularly this year at our Windsor Heights and Woodridge Park sites. Girls ages 10 to 13, along with a group for older teens, met to discuss challenging topics they deal with everyday, such as friendships, parental relationships, prejudice and stereotypes, and self-esteem.
Jessica and Brenda, two girls who regularly attended one of the Girls Groups this year, stood up in their 6th grade class at school to share with their classmates information they had learned in one of the Girls Group sessions at New Futures. “Their willingness to share this new-found knowledge with their entire class really shows the self-confidence they’ve have gained from participating in the group,” noted Ellie Taylor, a New Futures academic coordinator and Girls Group leader.
According to Jessica, she now feels safe discussing a variety of issues with her peers, “Girls Group really helped me because we get to know each other and talk about our feelings. I can talk to [the girls in the group] without fear and shyness, with no pressure.”
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This year two teens from New Futures’ Arbor Heights Youth Program helped local law enforcement build better relationships with the community.
At monthly workshops over the course of a year, Genesis and Osiris Guardado worked with the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI), South Seattle police departments, and other community members to discuss the public’s perception of the police force and brainstorm methods for strengthening community relationships.
“Genesis and Osiris added a wonderfully fresh perspective to all of our discussions,” said Chief of SeaTac Police James Graddon.”Their engagement in our efforts brought with it a youthful vibrancy and hope that would not have been present otherwise. Their ability to offer thoughts and ideas without hesitation to an audience of adults was truly remarkable. I believe it speaks directly to the positive self image and attitude that New Futures fosters in their program participants. We have been the better and richer for it.”
Genesis agrees that it has been a great experience. “I have gained friends and knowledge about law enforcement in general,” she said. “I have learned about commitment and responsibility, and I have learned how to see things from different perspectives.”
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In June, 24 young children and their families proudly participated in graduation celebrations after completing New Futures’ early learning program this year. The two programs - Colorful Hands at our Windsor Heights site in SeaTac and Leamos (Let’s Read) at our Heights at Burien site — prepare 3- and 4-year-olds with the skills they need for kindergarten, while their parents develop skills to support their children’s learning and development, helping to ensure children’s long-term school success.
One of the parents who participated in the Leamos graduation program thanked New Futures staff and supporters “for the support and dedication you provide not only to our children but to the entire community.” “This is not just an educational program for our children,” she said, “but also an enormous support to all of us, their parents.”
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Highline Public Schools is serious about strengthening the cultural competency of their entire school system to better serve all students. Since 2006, ReachOut for New Futures has been a key partner in that effort. ReachOut has worked with both school-level and district-level staff at Highline to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment for diverse students and families.
Over the past three years, five departments–including administrators and seven Highline schools have participated in ReachOut’s yearlong training series, focusing on practical and specific ways to incorporate cultural competency into daily work with students.
Recently, ReachOut was honored to be nominated by Highline for the Washington Association of School Administrators’ Community Leadership Award. This nomination highlights the important partnership built with Highline staff, students, and families. This partnership is particularly meaningful because New Futures was founded by Highline teachers 17 years ago. We all - Highline, New Futures, and ReachOut - continue to work together to serve our students well.
We consider ourselves very fortunate to work with such committed educators in Highline, and are thankful to continue doing so in the future. Thanks Highline!
“You have helped my family a lot. I like how New Futures has been involved with my kids and with me, teaching me how to be involved in my children’s education - you have helped me to be a better mother.”
