Urban Family's 100 Days of Peace: A Community-Based Approach to Youth Violence Prevention
Last week, in a special episode of The Day with Trae, Shantel Patu, co-founder of Urban Family, shared the inspiration behind their organization's work with youth and families. "We kept seeing so much of the pain in the youth that we were serving from the pain in ourselves," Patu explained. "That sense of neglect and lack of parenting, lack of feeling loved from others, from family members."
To address this pain, Urban Family has partnered with other community organizations in the Seattle Community Safety Initiative to launch 100 Days of Peace. This initiative aims to ramp up efforts to engage with youth and provide them with the support they need to make positive choices.
"The 100 Days of action kind of correlate at the same time, and it's more of a partnership where our both of our 100 days are kind of working together," Patu said. "Ours is focused from a community based perspective, where we are providing more of the relentless engagement, just ramping up our efforts with the amount of youth that we are serving, as well as the amount of youth outreach workers and community safety specialists that we're putting out into the streets to do the work."
One of the key components of 100 Days of Peace is two peace camps that Urban Family will be hosting next month. These camps will provide 50 youth with an opportunity to connect with mentors, learn new skills, and build positive relationships.
Trae Holiday, the interviewer, commended Patu and her husband for their dedication to the community. "It showcases the level of dedication that you and your husband really have had in terms of uplifting community and staying community rooted," Holiday said.
Patu shared that one of the most rewarding aspects of their work is seeing the positive impact it has on the youth they serve. "We can say that, like almost at least 50% of our current staff, our kids that used to be in our programs," she said. "So that keeps me going, knowing that we're pouring this into the next generation so they can take up this banner and keep it going."
Holiday also highlighted the importance of media coverage that focuses on the positive stories in the community. "Our role is to continue to spotlight the fact that when we show more and more stories that are inspiring, we begin to eliminate the apathy that so many people feel," Holiday said.
Patu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for more grace in the way that media portrays stories of youth violence. "They're not telling our stories the way they need to be told," she said. "Converge Media is one of the few, if only, media outlets that actually hears our stories and tells them back to the community in their truth."
In conclusion, Urban Family's 100 Days of Peace is a vital initiative that is making a real difference in the lives of youth and families in Seattle. By providing relentless engagement, mentorship, and opportunities for positive growth, Urban Family is helping to build a safer and more supportive community for all.
For more information on the 100 Days of Action campaign visit kingcounty.gov.
Tune into The Day With Trae this week at 11am for insightful discussions addressing gun violence in our communities
