In honor of our organization's 30-year anniversary, the Youth Advisory Board collaborated to design merchandise for Youth in Focus. Paloma L. found inspiration for her design from the Pacific Northwest and her experience as a youth photographer!

PROVIDING ACCESS | FOSTERING CREATIVITY | BUILDING COMMUNITY

So, what do Access, Creativity, and Community look like at YiF?

• Free Programming! We serve over 450 youth each year through FREE (or pay-what-you-can, no-questions-asked) programming.
• Increased Opportunity! As arts are stripped from schools and WA remains the 45th lowest state for arts funding, our youth are not receiving their nationally guaranteed right to an education, including the arts. The arts ARE a core subject, not just a nice to have!
• All Are Welcome! We welcome teens from across the greater Seattle area. Youth in our program represent a full spectrum of lived experiences, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, identities, languages, and religions. 
• Youth Centered! We recognize youth as inherently valuable members of our Community and champion youth voice. Collectively, we create an inclusive environment where lived experience is incorporated and appreciated.
• Risk Taking! We encourage youth to try new things and push beyond their comfort levels. This produces incredible artistic results AND builds confidence.
• Professional Development! Youth are learning how to use their creative voice to expand their professional opportunities through our Job Training programs and Internships, where we mentor youth in real photography and creative industry-related jobs. AND we pay them for their labor!