Youth Speaks Seattle

Written by Monique Courcy

Seattle has long been a hub for innovative and transformative youth arts programming. But behind every impactful program are youth workers — teaching artists, mentors, and advocates — who often go unseen and under-supported. That’s where the Seattle Creative Youth Development Network (SCYDN) comes in.

Over the past year, TeenTix and the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture convened a dynamic task force of local leaders to explore how we can better support the adults who make creative youth work possible. What we learned confirmed what many already know: youth workers are holding immense responsibility with limited resources — all while navigating a landscape shaped by a youth mental health crisis, shrinking arts funding, and rising community needs.

Our research revealed that:

• Youth workers need a space for connection, learning, and care — not just professional development, but true community.
  
• Burnout is real, and too often youth workers leave the field just when their impact is deepest.
  
• A healing-centered, well-resourced network could radically improve retention, wellbeing, and outcomes for both workers and the youth they serve.
  

These insights were informed by a year of work, including six task force meetings, a national scan of peer networks, interviews with leaders from five creative youth development initiatives across the U.S., and a local survey of youth workers and arts administrators in Seattle. This mix of qualitative and quantitative input grounded our recommendations in the real-time experiences and aspirations of the field.

As one survey respondent put it, “We all have the same goal of supporting youth. By pooling thoughts, ideas, challenges to overcome, and goals, a collective can share resources, support, and practical solutions.”

We’re now taking the next step: building the SCYDN as a dedicated support system for Seattle’s CYD workforce. In the months ahead, we’ll be working to secure funding, grow a Steering Committee, and launch programming that centers equity, connection, and care.

This is just the beginning — and we invite you to join us on this journey. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for the creative future of our city.

Questions? Please contact:
Monique Courcy – courcyconsulting@gmail.com
Tina LaPadula – tina.lapadula@seattle.gov

With gratitude to the SCYDN Task Force:
Antonesha Jackson – Arts Corps
Carina del Rosario – ArtsWA
Cat Martin – Paul G. Allen/Vulcan
Cecelia DeLeon – Youth Advocate/Youth Worker
Elaine Simons – Youth Advocate/Youth Worker
Meilani Mandery – Wing Luke
Nancy Chang – Beyond Base Advisor / Youth Advocate
Rayna Mathis – Seattle Public Schools / Earshot Jazz
Reese Tanimura – Northwest Folklife
Shana Bestock – ACT Theatre / Penguin Productions
Simona Zappas – Gates Foundation

City of Seattle Task Force Advocates & Administrators:
Ashraf Hasham – Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
Kristi Woo – Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
Monique Courcy – Former Executive Director of TeenTix, project facilitator
Tina La Padula – Seattle Office of Arts & Culture