The Planning - Step 2

The past few weeks have been focused on refining the curriculum that was formalized by Marcia Arunga from Arunga & Associates.

Her work with the project last year gave it its necessary guidance on the mother-teacher analysis and process. Marcia balanced the planners, architect, and social services angles that were at the table and what came out of it was a great pilot project and the opportunity to stabilize the program at Yesler Terrace for at least five years is fantastic.


The inclusion of University of Washington and Seattle University students with experience (and some without) working in minority and marginalized communities is going to be in interesting learning experience, however it will also improve staff process, ensure team teaching at all times, and free-up the site manager and supervisor (new positions this year) for administration and community/schedule coordination.

Some of the staff from last year will be back this year, and we are also only recruiting from Yesler Terrace youth this year to refine and build a community youth leadership core for summer youth leader positions next year and so on...

This years focus is on design. The consulting firm, Collins-Woerman, that is developing the Yesler Terrace alternative site concepts will be the lesson tools to guide the teens through design planning, site planning, model building, community engagement, and design considerations. Though these are professional level skills development, this was found to be a way to empower teens with an understanding of government process, rights, responsibilities, and ways to explain and see more clearly what the source and meaning of the change going on around them.

This year the activities will be more hands-on and less talky. Last year we talked too much, there wasn;t enough outside time, old school design time, talking and reflection, survey and recording of their voice. That also is one of the areas of change this year.