YO SPD - Youth Outreach

WHAT IS THE POLICE YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM?

The Youth Outreach program (YO SPD) has two liaisons, Detective Kim Bogucki and Officer Adrian Diaz who are dedicated to working with at-risk youth and children. The program also spends time in positive community activities to reach young people from diverse communities or cultures that historically distrust police.

The activites of the Youth Outreach program is quite varied, from athletic activities to role-reversal seminars, to working with gang members to working with homeless youth. The guideline of the program is to make sure the activites are meaningful, instead of "another boring lecture". The specific programs are often developed with direct collaboration between the officers and the youth they work with to create activities that are truly interesting, interactive, and relevant to the real lives of modern young people.

RECENT ACTIVITIES

West Side Story Project

Using the West Side Story as the point of reference, over 300 youth attended summits on gang violence, participated in gang prevention workshops, presented the project to the Police Executive Research Forum in Chicago, re-created the 21st century story at Ballard High School, Little Theater, and had the opportunity to tour back stage to meet the cast members and watch the professional performance at the 5th Avenue Theater. There was also an adult community dialogue hosted by Town Hall Seattle to discuss youth violence prevention in the Seattle community. [Visit Project Page]

Donut Dialogues

This is partnership that was initiated by the Seattle Police Department and Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets to bring police officers, business and community members, and homeless street kids. Together, they have an open and honest dialogue about preconceived notions, explain civility laws, and discuss ways to build relationships based on mutal trust and understanding. The recipients of these dialogues have also included the LGBTQ youth.

Life Choices & Law Summits

This was a conference to provide kids with as much information about choices, role reversals and decision-making on law enforcement situations and scenarios such as marijuana, party scenes and traffic stops, including presentation on anti-gang and drug programs. The summits were a partnership effort with the East African Community, Denny Middle School, Rainier Beach High School and the African American Academy.

Gang Prevention in Refugee Communities

The department partnered with the National Crime Prevention Council to hold a conference and provide information on gang prevention to the East African community. The conference included 140 service providers, law enforcement and members of the Seattle community.

Truancy

In this project, the officer liaisons monitor and mentor a group of truant youth, and collaborate with human and social services to reduce truancy and improve academic success.

Athletic Activities

Officer liaisons have been involved in over 20 sporting events, interacting with over 1,620 children and youth of diverse backgrounds.