Skyway Youth sparks grant: midpoint check-in
A photo taken from Skyway Rising’s “Spring Bling” event
Earlier this year, we awarded six recipients via our Youth Sparks Grant Project.
The Youth Sparks Grant Project is youth-centered and youth-inspired. Our organization is honored to be entrusted with this process and are excited to share some midpoint updates!
Each organization’s programs have varying timelines, but we’d love to share some of the updates we’ve received so far!
In March 2026, BELONG Partners launched the program with the Legacies of Love workshop, creating space for families to reflect on their hopes and dreams for their children and begin building connections with one another.
This was followed by an Introduction to Parenting with Courage and Connection workshop, where families explored brain science, parenting styles, and practical tools to support their children at home. In the following months, the six-week Parenting with Courage and Connection series launched.
Perhaps most meaningfully, families have been able to build something rare: a genuine community. They showed up for one another, shared vulnerably, celebrated each other's wins, and left with pride in their own growth. The shared language they developed around regulation and repair between home and school gave parents tools they could use immediately and see results from right away. We are proud of what this group built together and are excited to carry that momentum into the fall.
Renton School District (RSD) - Native American Education Program (NAE):
RSD NAE program focused on grant initiatives of increasing cultural identity and awareness, supporting at-risk students, and improving academic achievement through gatherings, focus groups, and field trips.
The program lead comments on one of NAE’s largest, most attended events, “Our end-of-year event was a success and we were able to hire traditional bearers to share song, story, and dance with our Native families.”
Urban Family Center Association dba Urban Family:
Urban Family built the runway for a strong Skyway youth leadership season. During the midpoint period, they moved from grant planning into launch readiness by: organizing staff roles, designing youth leadership labs, coordinating with school and community partners, preparing materials, and began outreach to youth and families. The biggest win is that the project is no longer just an idea on paper. It now has a structure, a budget, a youth engagement pathway, and the practical support young people need in order to show up.
Our work is centered on Skyway youth on the Hill who need consistent adults, safe spaces, leadership opportunities, and a reason to believe their voice matters. We used Sparks funds to support mentoring, workshop preparation, youth stipends, food, transportation, service project supplies, and evaluation tools.
Those investments remove common barriers and help youth participate with dignity.
Skyway Rising:
Skyway Rising successfully hosted Spring Bling, welcoming 263 rising fifth-grade students and their family members as they prepared for the transition to middle school. Families enjoyed a shared dinner, toured the school, and connected with local organizations and resources to support a successful transition.
One of the highlights of the evening was the leadership demonstrated by Dimmitt Middle School students. The event was planned in partnership with the Associated Student Body (ASB), whose members welcomed families, led school tours, and participated in a student panel where they answered questions submitted by incoming fifth graders.
A student DJ and the Double Dutch Divas created a joyful, welcoming atmosphere that reflected the vibrancy of the Skyway community.
Projects in the works:
At the Root LLC is in the final stages of planning for their Healing Connections for Mothers and Daughters event. This project serves two cohorts of mothers and daughters, with parents, youth, and children attending sessions both individually and together to learn and practice new skills.
Dare2Be has hosted several youth-centered events this year, with a handful more in the works, such as the Boom Pow Collective Transformer night in August.
