Yesler youth from the Multimedia Resources and Training Institute’s Summer Youth Internship Program celebrated a summer of storytelling, learning and community at the Yesler Stories: Past, Present and Future showcase on Aug. 13 at the Yesler Community Center.
The event marked the end of MMRTI’s six-week Summer Youth Internship Program, which gave about 40 youth the opportunity to explore Yesler’s history and transformation through interviews, photography, video and oral histories.
The program has roots going back to the beginning of SHA’s redevelopment of Yesler.
“We launched the Yesler Summer Youth Program in 2012 in partnership with Seattle University and MMRTI, intentionally aligning it with the start of SHA’s redevelopment,” said SHA Digital Equity Coordinator Asfaha Lemlem. “Our goal was to document and archive the story through the eyes of SHA residents, led by youth leadership. It is bittersweet that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the program—still going strong and continuing the work we envisioned from the beginning.”
During the celebration, youth shared their work with family, residents and community partners. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson also presented Team Player Awards to youth participants, recognizing the teamwork and support they showed one another throughout the program.
Mayor Wilson also recognized Asfaha and SHA Community Builder Ben Wheeler with certificates of recognition for their longstanding partnership with MMRTI, community service and commitment to supporting young people.
“Youth voice is important because it, like other groups, is often marginalized,” Ben said. “It is important to create safe spaces where youth can share their experiences because it goes a long way toward fostering a sense of belonging while uncovering unattended blind spots.”
Ben also emphasized that youth don’t have to wait until they are adults to be leaders.
“I routinely share with the group every year that we are not waiting on their leadership tomorrow, but we need it today to broaden our ability to cultivate collective change," said Ben.
The celebration brought generations of the Yesler community together to recognize its history while encouraging a new generation of storytellers to share their experiences and help tell Yesler's next chapter.
Watch the videos