Seattle Seahawks Youth Achievement Center

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Youth Achievement Center

The Youth Achievement Center (YAC) is more than just a community center, it is a housing first and programming center for South Seattle youth who need a safe and supportive place to call home. YAC will offer more than 45,000 square feet of housing and services to more than 100 young people—designed for and by youth. Once built, the Youth Achievement Center will be located adjacent to the Columbia City Light Rail Station at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South & South Angeline Street in Seattle. The project is being developed by Africatown Community Land Trust and will ultimately be owned by Seattle's Community Passageways with Creative Justice as the operational and service provider.

The Seahawks' Pledge

The Seattle Seahawks announced a commitment of $500,000 to the development of Seattle's Youth Achievement Center (YAC), which will provide vital housing and resources for youth in South Seattle. The team has pledged to donate $100,000 per year for the next five years to the center, which upon completion will provide resources such as health care, childcare, counseling, and technology and financial education, in addition to housing. Commercial spaces on site will provide job training and skill building opportunities.

16 Lives

16 Lives

"16 Lives," produced with the support of the Seahawks, tells the story of Community Passageway's 30 Days of Peace Program that is trying to reduce gun violence in South King County, which has seen a 50% increase in gun violence compared to the previous 4-year average. In response, Community Passageways, with support of the Seattle City Council, made an urgent call for "30 Days of Peace" and took 16 young men at risk of gun violence out of the city.

An aerial view of the youth achievement center.

Behind The Youth Achievement Center

Learn more about the vision behind the Youth Achievement Center - designed for and by South Seattle youth.

Behind The Scenes From Photographer Quinn Russell Brown