Press Releases

Mayor announces new funding for community centers and youth violence prevention
Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative expanding, community center hours increased to support at-risk youth

SEATTLE - Mayor Mike McGinn today announced new investments to support at-risk youth in Seattle. The funding will allow 450 more youth to participate in the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. The mayor's budget will also add after school and late night hours at seven different community centers, selected due to their ability to improve public safety by providing at-risk youth with additional safe outlets outside of school hours. The community centers were selected through a data-drive analysis of existing services and needs. Five of the selected community centers are already connected to existing Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative activities. The Ballard and Northgate Community Centers' hours will expand to allow access to more late night recreational programs to teens in the north and northwest sectors of the City."

"Protecting public safety means giving young people a safe place to socialize and services to help them succeed," said McGinn. "With this budget we can make some targeted investments to help build safer communities."

The mayor's budget includes $1.68 million to expand the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. Established after an increase in gun violence in 2008, the Initiative provides youth enrolled in the program with activities, mentoring, case management, employment services, and other targeted support. The new funding will help enroll 450 more young people in the program, bringing the total enrollment to 1,500.

McGinn's also budget includes $276,000 to add hours at Ballard, Delridge, Miller, Northgate, South Park, Van Asselt, and Yesler Community Centers. Each center will be open for 10 additional hours after school and late at night in order to serve young people. These seven centers were chosen by a data-driven analysis that included crime statistics and existing partnerships with the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.

McGinn will announce the complete details of his 2013-14 Proposed Budget on September 24.

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Office of the Mayor