This past Sunday, the Youth Achievement Center hosted a fundraiser seeking $100,000 to support at-risk youth impacted by housing instability. The event, a block party meant to highlight the community involvement of the organization, brought people to the streets of Columbia City to enjoy music, food and art. Dominique Davis, Founder and CEO of Community Passageways (the organization which along with Creative Justice is spearheading Youth Achievement Center effort), said the community support to reach their goal was breathtaking.

“I am inspired, because it makes me understand how real this is,” Davis said. “When we see the support that came through and the people that were ready to just put their money where their mouth is, put some skin in the game, it made me realize that we really have something here even bigger and stronger than I even imagined.”

The Seattle Seahawks were a major supporter yesterday, donating $31,000. The football team’s support drove the organization towards their goal, motivating others to get involved as well.

”That's a huge push,” Davis said. “That is a inspiration for the politicians that can make decisions on how buckets of money will be spent.”

Along with the $31,000 from the Seahawks, Nikkita Oliver said the organization has raised $20,000 from the community in the past week. At the time of publishing this article the donations total $51,000, leaving $49,000 to go towards the goal.

Councilmember Girmay Zahilay said the development will provide critical resources to youth in need.

“We have a lot of kids who are growing up in low income situations who don’t have housing stability,” Zahilay said. “That’s what we’re trying to provide them here. A safe place to call home, with all of the services to unlock their full potential.”

The money raised will go towards YAC’s new buildings on Martin Luther King Jr Way S and S Angeline St, where they seek to create safe spaces for youth to learn and grow in a nurturing environment.