Unified Outreach Youth Arts Program

The new issue of Vibrant Entertainment & Arts is out! See what our students are writing about now. 🙂

Great stories on local artists inside! Tanya Woo and Aaron Fokus Switzer looking great on the covers!

October issue of Vibrant Entertainment & Arts Magazine. On the covers; Tanya Woo and Unified Outreach Youth Arts Program students/Aaron "Fokus" Switzer from G-Street Films.

FASHION IN THE PLAZA! It’s been over a decade since former Mayor Mike McGinn held his art-focused town hall at Seattle Pacific University. That day, on the stage, the Mayor was joined by the Director of the Office of Arts & Culture and several students from local high schools. The evening was a celebration of arts in the city and a call for Seattle residents to support upcoming levies aimed at funding arts in schools.
It was at this town hall that the seeds were planted for what was to become the work-readiness-in-the-arts program (WRAP), which would open the door to the Unified Outreach art-infused behavioral health program.
Last month, Unified Outreach celebrated 13 years of their student-led fashion & runway extravaganza, an 8-week program built around event management; specifically a youth fashion show. What makes this runway exhibition special is that it is planned, designed, and delivered by a group of middle and high school students. In previous years, the fashion show has been held at the Unified Outreach performance hall in West Seattle, with a concert-level stage and sound system. However, when the landlord sold the building, Unified Outreach was forced to relocate programming to a smaller facility, and scrambled for another option in order to keep the show on schedule. As a result, Unified Outreach chose Greenbridge Plaza as the site for this year’s show. Although the stage was much smaller than in previous years, the weather was perfect and the event was fun and educational for the class!
On stage were 20 aspiring models wearing 60 custom outfits provided by hot local designers, the Movement LLC, MAC Fashion House, and Self Made Couture. Behind the scenes were youth ages 13-18 who planned, designed, and delivered the 1-hour program. The students had received specialized training in one of four areas; Facilities/Stage Set-Up, Sound & Lighting Engineering, Photo & Video Production, or Stage Management (Models/Runway), with all students receiving training in Promotions/PR/Marketing which included graphic design and basic computer training.
But what the program architects are most proud of is providing their students with career tracks, networking opportunities, and educational direction beyond the culminating event. Additionally, each student received public speaking training, learned to create a resume, participated in mock interviews, and learned the who/what/where of event management as a career.
Over the past 13 years, Unified Outreach has welcomed a diverse array of students; often partnering with youth & family services, violence-prevention caseworkers, and special needs advocates in order to make the classes available to underserved communities. But the program has also seen it’s share of obstacles. In 2016 (then) Mayor Ed Murray defunded Mike McGinn’s WRAP program.
Sadly, former Mayor Murray’s decision eliminated funding for many art-based apprenticeship programs. Thankfully, many members of the current City Council recognize the value of art-based behavioral health programs. Understanding that court diversion programs that include art therapy can provide positive learning opportunities and viable options for first-time and low-level youth offenders caught in the criminal justice system. Councilmembers such as Sara Nelson, Rob Saka, Tanya Woo, Joy Hollingsworth, and Bob Kettle have been very accessible and open to discussions about art-based programming. Each council member has been very engaged when it comes to finding the best way to provide real and lasting public safety reforms that protect and serve while remaining alert to community wants and needs.
In fact, councilmember Maritza Rivera recently co-sponsored legislation with Mayor Harrell expanding efforts to support student safety and mental health in partnership with Seattle Public Schools. According to Seattle.gov, “The strategy includes a new $14.55 million investment – $12.25 million from the City of Seattle and $2.3 million from Seattle Public Schools – to expand resources for students and families. This includes increased access to mental health support, enhanced school security, additional school staffing, and expanded violence prevention and intervention services through community-based providers. The new investments build on the City’s annual $36.9 million investment in violence interruption, community-based services addressing root causes of violence, and youth enrichment programs like mentorship, academic support, sports, leadership development, and teen life centers.”

The best thing about the Unified Outreach work-readiness classes is that they are fun! Some students come through the program as a referral, but the majority of students are simply there to learn new skills, express their own creativity, and build something that they can be proud of. Whether it’s the Fashion & Runway Extravaganza, or the Vibrant Media curriculum, students are participating because they enjoy the journey!

We’re looking forward to next year’s event and can’t wait to see what the new class brings!

Hard copies hit the stands on October 1st. Digital copy is available now at https://vibrantart.org/

Tomorrow (Sunday) .

Send a message to learn more

July 28th, come support the arts at this free community event!

July 27th, our Youth Fashion & Runway Extravaganza is back! This year at Greenbridge Plaza in West Seattle/White Center. Do you have a teen that would like to rock the runway? Info below! Email [email protected] for more information.

Unified Outreach visits Tacoma today! https://www.facebook.com/1310217995/videos/pcb.10231009632126822/762522208869032

Our own April Goode shines in this podcast...

April King Goode - Her Light | Wild Seed the Podcast April King Goode serves as the Operations Director and Facilitator for Unified Outreach non-profit. With a lengthy history of advocating for underserved youth,...

Unified Outreach cartoon animation Unified Outreach Youth Arts Program

Unified Outreach Vibrant Cartooning Class Unified Outreach is a unique art-infused behavioral health program located in Seattle Washington. Unified Outreach Computer Lab and Cartoon Animation Studio....

Student interviews, made me kind of misty-eyed...

Unified Outreach / Vibrant Entertainment & Arts _ Student Interviews Unified Outreach is a unique art-infused behavioral health program located in Seattle Washington. Student interviews from the Unified Outreach Work-Preparedn...

What do our students say about the Unified Outreach Fashion & Runway Work-Preparedness Program?

Unified Outreach / Vibrant Entertainment & Arts _ Student Interviews Unified Outreach is a unique art-infused behavioral health program located in Seattle Washington. Student interviews from the Unified Outreach Work-Preparedn...

Fun flashback...! The Unified Outreach cartoon animation team appears at Comic Con!

Meet the Mascots - The Job Search Unified Outreach Behavioral Art Enrichment Program is a big umbrella organization, offering a wide variety of art classes, workshops, apprenticeships, and mo...

The January/February issue of Vibrant is out now! Vibrant Entertainment & Arts Magazine is published as part of the Unified Outreach art-infused behavioral health program. Seattle's ONLY full color print magazine focusing on arts throughout King County and provide FREE to readers. Find out more at www.Unified-Outreach.com

January 2024 Issue Highlights...! Vibrant Entertainment & Arts Magazine is published as part of the Unified Outreach art-infused behavioral health program. Find out more at www.Unified-Outreach.com