COMMISSION 
AGENDA MEMORANDUM                        Item No.          11a 
BRIEFING ITEM                              Meeting Date:      January 25, 2022 
DATE:     12/11/2021 
TO:        Stephen P. Metruck, Executive Director 
FROM:    Bookda Gheisar, Sr. Director, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division 
Gail Muller, Economic Development Division and Office of EDI for the Opportunity
Youth Initiative 
SUBJECT:  2021 Opportunity Youth Initiative Briefing 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
On May 11, 2021, Order No. 2021-05 directed the Executive Director to allocate up to $2.0 million
from the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to support the Port of Seattle's 2021 Opportunity Youth
Initiative. 
While workers in nearly every sector of Washington's economy have been adversely affected by
the COVID-19 pandemic, low-skilled workers with high school degree or equivalent education
between 16 to 24 years of age have been hit the hardest; in particular, people of color living in
south Seattle and the south King County area have the highest number of unemployment claims
per capita. To stimulate economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with an equity lens on
communities of color most disproportionally affected, the 2021 Opportunity Youth Initiative
provides short-term youth internship training opportunities in Port-related jobs and careers in
aviation, construction, green jobs, and maritime. Four contracts were executed - Seattle Goodwill
Industries, Partner in Employment, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, and Seattle Parks
Foundation.
BACKGROUND 
On May 26, 2020, the Port of Seattle Commission directed the Executive Director to adopt the
Opportunity Motion of up to $1.5M for short-term employment opportunities for youth ages 16 
- 24 that enhance the mission of the Port of Seattle and support economic recovery for the
residents of King County as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
During the same timeframe, the Port experienced unprecedented impacts and shutdowns in the
airline and cruise industries, took extraordinary measures to protect its workforce, and reduced 
its budget by $70 million for 2020. The impacts of the pandemic on every aspect of life at home
and work were extreme. 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 2 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
Due to the COVID-19 related shutdown in 2020, the Port acted quickly to address the extremely
high youth unemployment rate, the disproportionate impacts on communities of color, and the
lack of public or private summer youth employment/internship opportunities, by expediting 
contracts for qualified organizations to address these issues.

In 2021, the following four community organization short-term contracts were executed in
July-August: 
(1)   Seattle Goodwill Industries (SGI) 
Contract NTE amount            $678,979.00 
Total number of youth           90 
Industry focus                     Maritime, Environmental Sustainability
and Green Jobs, STEM, Aerospace and
Manufacturing 
(2)   Partner in Employment (PIE) 
Contract NTE amount            $458,385.00 
Total number of youth           66 
Industry focus                     Environmental Green Jobs with Mid
Sound Fisheries and Aerospace
Manufacturing with Machinists 
Institute 
(3)   Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) 
Contract NTE amount            $539,289.02 
Total number of youth           83 
Industry focus                     ULMS' Priority Hire Construction
Readiness; Apprenticeship &
Nontraditional Employment for
Women (ANEW) with subcontractor
Love-To Construction Preapprenticeship
; and YouthBuild
Seattle's Construction Preapprenticeship
Program 
(4)   Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF) 
Contract NTE amount            $309,071.00 
Total number of youth           40 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 3 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
Industry focus                     Environmental Green Jobs with
Cultivate South Park; Friends of
Georgetown History and Industry;
Green Jobs and Maritime with
Duwamish Valley Youth Corps and
Duwamish Valley Sustainability
Association 

Overview - Program 
Youth participants were primarily Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Interns were
paid a stipend of $15/hr. and Mentor Lead Interns were paid a stipend between $16/hr. - $20/hr. 
Each contracted organization was required to submit comprehensive monthly reports, a final
summary report, and encourage youth participants to take a survey at the end of their training. 
Overview  Partner Organizations 
1.        Seattle Goodwill Industries (SGI) (aka Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington) 
is a non-profit organization founded in 1923. This organization has a long history of providing
student-centered culturally competent programs within King County  and beyond. Seattle
Goodwill has three dynamic programs: Youth Maritime Program (YMP); Youth Aerospace
Program (YAP); and Youth at Work (YAW) which centers on youth development designed to help
youth identify their strengths and set goals. Seattle Goodwill, in collaboration with its partners, 
provided internship training and career support to connect youth with career opportunities
within port-related industries. 

2.        Partner in Employment (PIE) has strong ties with communities in South King County,
experience with workforce development, and expertise in youth employment. The organization
works to guarantee the long-term economic stability of newly arrived refugees and immigrants
in King County by providing tailored assistance in language acquisition, housing stabilization,
workforce entry, and job training in higher-wage industries. As part of PIE's existing Green Cities
partnership with Forterra, youth employed through this program worked at job sites located
within City of Tukwila Parks, City of Burien Parks, City of Des Moines Parks, and White Center
Parks to conduct park forest restoration. PIE also partnered, with Mid Sound Fisheries, which
provides youth internship training in the environmental green jobs sector, in park restoration at
Angle Lake Park in SeaTac and Sonju Park in Des Moines. Finally, PIE partnered with Machinist
Institute Youth Academy to teach youth participants basic manufacturing concepts, how to safely
use power tools, and to support youth in earning their Certified Manufacturing Associate
certification. 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 4 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
3.       Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) was established in 1930 to become one of
approximately 90 affiliates of the National Urban League. Today, ULMS implements its mission
within its Seattle/King County service area through advocacy, direct programming, community
outreach, and coalition building in five major pillars of focus: housing, education, workforce
development, health, and policy. 
ULMS, along with Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW) (and
subcontractor Love-to) and YouthBuild Seattle prepared and employed youth to help build tiny
cottages for the homeless. This project will add skilled labor and diversity to the construction
trades workforce, which underrepresents people of color. ULMS, ANEW, and YouthBuild 
educated  and mentored  youth to receive hands-on construction readiness training (with
appropriate COVID-19 safety measures) that prepared them for a living-wage career in the
construction trades. 
4.        Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF) brings community leaders, donors, and public partners
together to create a thriving, accessible and connected system of public space for the health and
happiness of all people. This organization was the cluster lead and fiscal sponsor for four grass
roots organizations  Duwamish Valley Youth Corps, Friends of Georgetown History, Cultivate
South Park, and Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association. This funding structure helps smaller
community-based organizations, led by people of color, navigate the onerous perception of
governmental process and legislation. These programs provided youth with internship training
for green job and maritime careers.  Training topic examples include concepts of an inclusive
green economy, environmental remediation, permitting, green storm water infrastructure,
creatively solving environmental issues within communities, habitat and riparian restoration, and
historical preservation. 
All four organizations have executed contracts that ended on December 31, 2021. The following
is a summary of expenditures as of January 7, 2022: 

YEAR END CONTRACT EXPENDITURES  as of 1/7/2022 
Year-end contracts
total submitted
payments and accrual   Year-end contracts
for payment amounts  remaining amount 
Seattle Goodwill Industries               $673,739.01               $5,239.99 
Urban League of
Metropolitan Seattle                 $471,245.90             $68,043.12 
Seattle Parks Foundation               $278,376.90             $30,694.10 
Partner in Employment               $283,776.43           $174,608.57 
TOTAL:          $1,707,138.24           $278,585.78

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 5 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 

Seattle Goodwill Industries (SGI) 
Activities 
August: 
Youth in the SGI Aerospace program completed Composite CT 101, learning college level
information about a variety of construction materials. In "AeroBiz," youth created an Aerospace
product, researched, and conducted a presentation. AeroBiz competition allowed students to
explore their skills and knowledge to develop their own companies with very real products for
the Industry. SGI Maritime partnered with Relevant Engagement to provide weekly sessions on
self-awareness, social justice, and homage to native land. Students also explored the US Naval
Undersea Museum, learning how to fish at the Springbrook Trout Farm, and created their own
projects and presented them through "MariBiz." In SGI STEM, students learned about different
careers from guest speakers, including the Health field and manufacturing. 
September: 
Youth in SGI Aerospace attended professional career panels and did mock interviews. The
program collaborated with Everett Community College and facilitated an interactive workshop
on earning college credit in high school, and how to apply for college. In SGI STEM, staff supported
students in their transition back to in-person school. Students also participated in a virtual career
day panel with other youth programs. In SGI Maritime, youth did workshops in person and
virtually, and were introduced to YMP student government to gain more leadership skills within
the program. 
October: 
Maritime and Environmental Sustainability youth participants were provided resources for fun
hands-on activities, provided by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), such
as how to 'build a boat' or 'ocean in a bottle'. In the process of planning, students completed the
registration for the upcoming Pacific Marine Expo and participated in a survey of student
interests for the expanded cohort partnership with Maritime Blue - kick-off event at The Center
for Wooden Boats. Aerospace and Manufacturing interns participated in a virtual job shadow 
interactive workshop on sustainable farming with GSI technology and the use of the latest
technical skills and tools in increasing crop profitability. Interns learned about geospatial
information analysts, or GIS analysts, and geographic representation of data. Interns explored
data collection, geographic components, and generated maps. Interns also volunteered at the
2021 NW Model Hobby Expo where they learned about radio control equipment and new
products in their ongoing career exploration and networking efforts. Students in the
Environmental and STEM program received scholarship information and Washington College
grant information. Students networked with professional guest speakers and learned budgeting
and finance planning skills as well. 
November - December: 
At an event, located at the Center for Wooden Boats, Maritime and Environmental Sustainability
youth participated in activities such as learning vessel locations, terms, and overall maritime
lingo. A speaker from Maritime Blue facilitated maritime themed icebreakers and presented

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 6 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
information on maritime apprenticeship training opportunities. Youth attended the First Ever
Your Money Matters Youth Summit  Bridging the Gap Between Financial Knowledge and
Literacy. The day was filled with learning how to manage money and connect with potential
financial mentors that help graduating high school youth and college youth. Goodwill youth along
with almost 100 youth from other organizations got to live a day in the life with a made-up career
and budget.  Youth registered and attended the 2021 Pacific Marine Expo. YMP youth
collaborated with Maritime Blue of the Youth Maritime Collaborative to schedule a day full of
exploration of this amazing event. Youth got to explore numerous aspects of the maritime
industry and network with industry professionals while learning about innovative technology and
resources. Aerospace and Manufacturing youth participants received OSHA training certification,
CPR, and flagger certification. Environmental and STEM youth participated in weekly virtual
assignments which included STEM career cluster, social skills, hard and soft skills. Students
continue to be informed on available scholarships and Washington College grant information, as
well as continue to network with prior guest speakers and industry representatives. 
Challenges 
August: 
Youth in SGI Aerospace were not able to go on various industry tours due to a COVID outbreak.
Transportation costs was another challenge, since many interns and families faced economic
hardships, as well as facing other issues in their home lives, including coming from single parent
homes, poverty, and issues of addiction. 
September: 
All of SGI's programs were impacted by COVID-19, and several events had to be cancelled for
safety. Many interns also faced economic hardships and couldn't afford transportation costs.
Readjusting to school schedules was a challenge for some interns. 
October: 
Transportation continues to be a challenge for interns. In person industry tours, due to Covid-19
restrictions  and  precautions,  were  a  challenge,  since  many  industries,  companies  and
organizations are limiting in-person capacity or have completely canceled industry tours. Staff
provide group and one-on-one tutoring since the majority of interns struggle with meeting gradelevel
mathematical and/or English competences. 
November - December: 
Many interns faced economic hardships and could not afford driver's education, car ownership,
and/or transportation and/or food costs. Due to COVID, industry tours were either cancelled or
had limited in-person restrictions. Many of the interns struggle with academic grade-level
mathematical and/or English competences. 
Successes 
August: 
All youth in SGI Aerospace learned how to create resumes, cover letters, and interview. They
learned financial literacy as well. Students in Maritime gained a new appreciation for Native land
and learned hard skills useful for Maritime industries. In SGI STEM, instructors worked hard to

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Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
engage with students about their future careers, and brought in speakers from relevant fields,
which students really appreciated. 
September: 
Interns became adept at researching and conducting project presentations. Additionally, youth
were supported in career path exploration and learned how to apply to colleges in all programs. 
October: 
As examples of two individual successes, one maritime and environmental sustainability intern's 
efforts, as a result of his trusted staff support relationships, made a turn-around on his grades to
not only receive full credits, but to graduate on time. His hands-on activities of creating an 'ocean
in a bottle' and knot tying expanded his curiosity to explore maritime career opportunities.
Another youth aerospace and manufacturing intern, a recent immigrant, earned a certificate in
composite foundation from his local community college, continues to improve his GPA and
continues to map out his career goals. On career panels, he asks thoughtful questions and follows
up with thank you notes to guest professional speakers. 
November - December: 
Many interns earned certifications empowering their confidence and boosting their skill set.
Vendors at the Pacific Marine Expo were amazed with youth sharing their Youth Maritime 
Program experiences, which provided youth more time to network with career professionals. 
Partner in Employment (PIE) 
Subcontract organizations: Mid Sound Fisheries and Machinists Institute 
Activities 
July-August: 
PIE onboarded and trained crew (interns) during a summer of record heat. Crew members 
learned plant ID, best practice restoration work, including removal of invasive blackberries in
Tukwila, Burien, Des Moines, White Center Parks, and created planting plans for multiple
environments and practiced communicating their knowledge about plants to others. Besides a 
field trip to the Burke Museum to learn about local Indigenous people, youth learned of job and
career opportunities from several environmental green career professionals and attended a
virtual career panel hosted by King County Wastewater. Mid Sound Fisheries focused on
production and solidifying a groundwork of environmental knowledge, while also establishing
avenues for career advancement in the environmental green jobs sector. Youth learned about
safe tool operation, workday planning, and exceeded their goal in the process of removing 
invasive plants. Numerous speakers included a group of immigrant stormwater specialists and a 
Sierra Club representative for the Pacific Northwest. The Machinist Institute Youth Academy
(MIYA) students learned how to use power tools, as well as basic manufacturing concepts, and
were given the opportunity to earn their Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA). In addition,
youth participated in an interactive virtual industry tour. 
September: 
In September, PIE recruited new youth participants and worked in Angle Lake Park in SeaTac. In
person training allowed for better team building and gaining new skills in plant identification and
restoration. Mid Sound Fisheries finished the summer cohort, where youth were able to create

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 8 of 16 
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a video commemorating their experiences and began the Fall cohort. They also coordinated a
successful field trip to the smolt trap on the White River to engage students in hands-on salmon
work. The Machinist Institute also ended its first cohort and began its next one. Students had the
opportunity to do an in-person industry tour to Laser Cutting Northwest, and students learned 
about machining, safety, shop math, lean manufacturing, metrology, and inspection. Several 
students also participated in a Mentorship Matters workshop in which those participants also
received an additional certificate.
October: 
In addition to finishing a week of restoration work at Angle Lake Park in SeaTac, youth crew
worked at Sonju Park in Des Moines to remove ivy and prepare the site for planting. Professionals
from SEA Potential and Green Cities Partnership spoke about the space youth were creating for
BIPOC communities and about maritime jobs and careers. As part of the Green Des Moines Day,
youth assisted community members in installing native plants. On October 16th the crew
participated in Green SeaTac Day. In addition to working with volunteers, several youth led
planting demonstrations to teach volunteers how to install plants. This experience was a great
opportunity for the youth to share their knowledge and practice public speaking. A total of seven
guest speakers talked about green jobs and career opportunities. Youth learned about green
stormwater infrastructure, salmon lifecycles and needs, plant biology and creating planting plans,
intertidal ecology and introduction to marine environments, ecosystems, and climate change.
Interns with Machinists Institute worked on projects, toured a machinist factory, and participated
in lab activities. Staff also added an electronics component to the curriculum, so students also
worked on electronic chips, programming and have been able to add soldering as a learning
experience. 
November - December: 
Youth interns helped host the Green Seattle Day event and sharpened their native plant
identification skills in the process of restoration work at Westcrest Park, Kubota Natural Area,
Hilltop Park, Tukwila Park, and Arbor Lake Park. In addition, youth participated in a field trip to
Seahurst Beach and met with SEA Potential founders to learn about marine ecosystems and
career paths. In mid-November, youth collaborated with Earth Corps to do restoration work,
discuss career paths, and create a video on how to remove ivy. Youth participants received
technical skills training that would prepare them for any number of job opportunities on
restoration crews, municipal parks departments, outdoor maintenance crews, trail crews, or
nurseries.  Youth  were  connected  with  environmental  professionals  who  offered  their
connections and assistance in the fields of environmental and experiential education,
restoration, outreach, volunteer coordination, maritime fields, environmental non-profit work,
and farming. Multiple youth who have participated in PIE's training program have gone on to
apply for jobs using the connections and skills they gained through the program. The Machinists
Institute youth interns expanded on their skills in CNC machining through hand programming
activities and electronics through soldering and assembly. At the graduation celebration,
students were given the opportunity to showcase their skills in the lab along with giving
testimonials as to what the program training meant to them. 
Challenges 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                                Page 9 of 16 
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July-August: 
One of PIE's greatest challenges was transportation, with youth coming from a variety of places.
Hiring enough crew leaders quickly to fill needed positions was also a challenge. Mid Sound
Fisheries staff leaders struggled with developing engaging educational programming, which was
solved by hiring an education coordinator. Machinist Institute struggled with equipment and
supplies arriving at the right time. 
September: 
It was harder for PIE to recruit during the school schedule, and it was more difficult for students
to balance the program with their additional school homework. Mid Sound Fisheries had to adjust
to a new cohort, and with the changes in weather, including heavy winds forcing cancellation of
the first in-person crew day, created an additional challenge. Adapting to youth school schedules
in the Fall and retention were challenges for the Machinist Institute. 
October: 
One challenge this Fall was adjusting the training schedule with youths' school schedules.
Another challenge was the weather, especially for outdoor training. 
November - December: 
The main challenge of work in late Fall was the weather. 
Successes 
July-August: 
The Youth Restoration Training Crew was refined from last year, with participating youth getting
more educational activities and connections with environmental professionals in a wide variety
of jobs. One big success this month was the number and variety of guest speakers who came to
share their stories with the youth. Another success was the youth level of participation in all
aspects of the program. Mid Sound Fisheries' youth became a cohesive team and learned about
how the internship can be used as a career steppingstone. The Machinist Institute benefitted
from its instructor, an experienced machinist who engaged and inspired students. 
September: 
PIE was able to recruit new youth and had some individuals interview for jobs with the
Washington Conservation Corps. Mid Sound Fisheries was able to celebrate a successful summer
cohort and received valuable feedback to help improve the program. Students in the Machinist
Institute learned how to program G-code into the computer, and how to use a CNC router to cut
out metal strips and learned how to create intricate designs. 
October: 
Two PIE interns applied for positions with the City of Burien and one summer intern was offered
a position with Washington Conversation Corps. A total of 3,530 square feet of invasive plant
species were removed and a total of 1,106 native plants with 800 square feet of mulch were
installed in October. There was great crew dynamics amongst the youth. Volunteer events and 
work completed helped youth understand the inter-relationships of creating sustainable natural
spaces for the surrounding community. 
November - December: 
Staff was able to provide a surprising number of educational activities for the last cohort, which
had some of the most consistent attendance. Several youth expressed interest in continuing with

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                               Page 10 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
PIE's crew in 2022. Having mentor leads to pair up with helped to support many youth interns' 
confidence and success in the program. 

Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) 
Subcontract organizations: Apprenticeship & Nontraditional Employment for Women (ANEW) 
and YouthBuild Seattle 
Activities 
August: 
Youth in the ULMS program gained many hard skills, including general blueprint reading, trades
math, identification of tools and materials, framing, the use of hand and power tools, and various
job readiness and safety measures. ANEW's students participated in a 280-hour program and
received training in professional development, trades math, construction skills, apprenticeship
competency evaluations, physical fitness and received industry certifications. ANEW, together
with LOVE TO, provided additional construction skills training prior to building a tiny house for a
local tiny house village. Additionally, interns learned about construction trades apprenticeship
programs and how to apply for them. YouthBuild students received similar training in tools,
safety, and measurements, as well as financial literacy training. Students unloaded, conducted
inventory, and identified materials and tools that will be utilized to build a tiny home. 
September: 
ULMS' training included basic construction skills, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship career
paths, union apprenticeship, work ethic, and various hard skills. The focus of this month was on
transferable skills and discipline, including punctuality, perseverance, and positive attitude.
ANEW facilitated a training cohort where students continued work on the tiny house. YouthBuild 
students learned about fence building, bridge building, and deck building. Participants also
worked to build a large compost bin which will be donated to a gardening program. Youth also
went on two site visits, one to an aviation hangar with Powell Ryka and another to an Amazon
build with Howard S. Wright. 
October: 
ULMS' construction trades training program provides youth with basic construction knowledge,
safety, skills, and work ethics. Training includes tape measure reading, blueprint reading, trades
math, tool and material identification, job readiness and safety measures, trade certifications
(CPR/ 1st- Aid, Road Flagging, 40hr Hazwoper, OSHA-10, HAZCOM, Bloodborne Pathogens), basic
carpentry, and use of hand and power tools. Cohort 2 students had access to hands-on training
completing the Tiny House that started in Cohort 1. YouthBuild interns training included
completion of building a compost bin, which was donated to a community garden program, prior
to working on the construction of a tiny home. Most of the students completed their OSHA10
training and have received their certificate. Students have tackled major projects in tiling,
blueprint reading, and tiny home construction. Staff are tracking mastery of tools, skills, and
measuring. All of the interns are advancing in these areas. ANEW enrolled youth for a new cohort
in early October and started training on the safe use of hand and power tools and began
interacting with apprenticeship coordinators and contractors. Those interns who completed a

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prior training having received their certifications, learned tape measure, hand tools and power
tools and are currently working on shop projects. 
November - December: 
ULMS' training cohort specialized more on hands-on- training. In the process of building a tiny
house, students learned to identify and safely use hand and power tools, tiny house materials,
conduct measurements, blueprints, window installation, painting, and roof installation.
ANEW/LOVE TO students completed a tiny house as their main construction project, completed
their professional development skills, and started working on applying to their trades of interest. 
ANEW students completed their shop projects and went on a job site tour to see how a
construction site operates. YouthBuild students worked to complete building a tiny home in shop 
and participated in a workday with Habitat for Humanity. They also attended two job site tours
in the month of November - one of which was hosted by DPR Construction. The students were
able to visit a lab space that was being constructed in South Lake Union and learned a lot from
this visit. The other site tour was with Skanska Construction. Students had the opportunity to
meet with further industry professionals. Members from the Local 45 Electricians Union held an
information session at YouthBuild. This was a very informative conversation and at least three
youth were interested in pursuing this path. Students also participated in Flagger's training and
earned certifications. 
Challenges 
August: 
ULMS challenges included behavioral concerns with students, how to efficiently provide food for
the students, gun violence in surrounding communities, and not having enough hours for the
students to participate full-time. ANEW faced issues in which some certifications, such as forklift
and flagging certifications, couldn't be offered to students under 18 years old. Some youth in
Youth Build struggled with homelessness, juvenile detention, difficulty with online learning, and
family financial struggles. 
September: 
One of ULMS' challenges was the timeliness of the construction material deliverables. Another
challenge was adjusting to school schedules in the Fall and re-aligning staff efforts to compensate
for the loss of one staff. ANEW, with LOVE TO, experienced a challenge for one cohort regarding
balancing the facilitation of professional development curriculum with construction skills within
a short amount of time. The largest challenge for Youth Build was two positive COVID-19 cases,
which required the clients who tested positive to leave the program for two weeks. 
October: 
One challenge was to remove barriers for new incoming interns so that they can successfully
apply to the trade of their choice at the end of their training. Two YouthBuild interns were unable
to complete the OSHA10 training; however, staff arranged an alternate OSHA10 training for
them. There was some challenge in recruiting enough new youth to start a new cohort within a
short time frame. 
November - December: 
Weather was a challenge for students working outside. Staffing turnover was another challenge.
Housing was a challenge for one youth, to which YouthBuild offered assistance. 

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Successes 
August: 
For each student in the ULMS program who did not return to high school received their OSHA-10
(Occupational Safety and Health Administration), CPR, 1st aid, Road Flagging, and 40hr. Hazwoper
certifications. Several participants also applied to work for local laborer's unions and construction
trades. ANEW successfully recruited two cohorts of students for training. YouthBuild succeeded
in teaching students and helping them build four walls and the floor of a tiny home in a relatively
short amount of time. 
September: 
Four of the ULMS graduated interns  were deciding between enrolling into Local 242 as
apprentices or open shop CITC (Construction Industry Training Council). ANEW graduated 100%
of all youth participants  many of whom were placed in construction jobs, have applied for
apprenticeships, or are in the pipeline to get a job. Two new students joined YouthBuild and there
were great strides made in training youth how to enter or re-enter the workforce. All youth are
advancing in the mastery of tools, skills, and measuring. 
October: 
ULMS successfully recruited new youth interns for Cohort 2. One intern who completed his
former course training returned to give back to the program's success as a mentor lead for the
new students. He's also studying to pass his apprenticeship license. YouthBuild has seen very
consistent attendance from the youth cohort this month. One youth intern, referred by his case
manager, has shown great respect and engagement in the program. He shows up every day, on
time, and with a positive attitude. He has shown to be a good example to the other students and
staff can see him as an emerging leader. He aspires to be an electrician, and staff are hopeful that
he will enter the Local 45 Apprenticeship after training. In summary a total of 14 youth interns
have been placed in trade jobs and are working. One female intern who entered construction
training in October realized she needed and wanted to complete her high school diploma, took
the initiative to seek out guidance from staff, has consistently maintained great attendance, and is
on track to graduate in November. 
November - December: 
Eight YouthBuild students participated in interviews with a construction company, and all eight
were offered to join the company as a part-time paid intern. ANEW placed eight graduates in
installer and apprenticeship positions with two local trade unions. ULMS' provided relicensing
assistance for two students, by removing barriers to enter the trades. One of the two received
their license. Three cohort students applied to the union or non-union apprenticeship program,
with one student landing an interview. 

Seattle Parks Foundation (SPF) 
Subcontract organizations: Friends of Georgetown History & Industry, Duwamish Valley Youth
Corps, Cultivate South Park, and Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association 


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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                               Page 13 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 

Activities 
July-August: 
Friends of Georgetown History youth conducted research on the environmental history of their
neighborhood, developed their writing, public speaking, and social media for business skills. In 
the process, interns were introduced to the concepts of an inclusive green economy,
environmental remediation, permitting, and green storm water infrastructure. They also learned
light construction skills on how to use power tools, measure, and cut plywood. Duwamish Valley
Youth Corps learned skills both in maritime and green jobs, working on the Duwamish River
Festival in the South Park neighborhood. Youth learned how to engage community by designing
fliers, helping organize, and advocating for volunteer cleanup. Youth taught festival attendees
about stormwater and the negative impact of trash going into the Duwamish River and Puget
Sound. Interns also participated in a four-day activity with Sound Experience where they learned
about and sailed on the Adventuress. Cultivate South Park interns learned about placemaking
and artistic trends to creatively solve environmental issues and were introduced to the idea of
completing an innovative community development project. They learned about the current
sustainability practices of businesses. Youth also learned about habitat restoration at Marra farm,
including the history on daylighting the creek. Interns learned how to construct shade structures
and compost bins, and how to transform trash into art for the community. Duwamish Valley
Sustainability Association was split into two groups: green jobs and maritime industries. The
groups had orientation, field trips to the Delta Marine and Acceler8, a career panel with BIPOC
workers in the marine field, met with the Seattle Kraken, received an introduction on
Stormwater/Riparian Restoration/ Duwamish Site History, and went kayaking on the Duwamish. 
September: 
Friends of Georgetown History youth training ended in August. The curriculum and goals for
Duwamish Valley Youth corps was focused on learning about jobs in the maritime industry/green,
community organizing, environmental justice, and career readiness. Duwamish Valley Youth
Corps youth designed project ideas based around the prompt of having $10,000 to make change
in the Duwamish Valley community related to environmental and climate justice. The youth
presentations were judged by a panel of industry professionals and community members who
provided constructive feedback. Cultivate South Park provided youth training on the best
methods for sustainable composting and recycling on both large and small scales. Youth took
banking and financial literacy courses, as well as researching a variety of careers in the green jobs
sector. Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association's focus for the youth after their foundational
training in circular economy and waste management was applying green job career training into
projects. Youth learned project planning skills, created flyers in tools like Canva, developed
electronic surveys, and collaborated as a team. They also met with Impact Bioenergy for training
in a lab setting. 
October: 
Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association youth interns received two green jobs trainings from
Impact Bioenergy; one on biodigestion systems and training on aspects of selection and
classification of organic waste. In the field, the youth learned how to take samples of organic
waste from both residential and commercial sites to compare findings. A site visit to Impact

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                               Page 14 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
Bioenergy's manufacturing center in Auburn, allowed interns to see their smaller scale H.O.R.S.E.
digester and learn what happens to samples at a test site. Duwamish Valley Youth Corps staff
continued to prioritize career and green job pathways for the youth interns; for example,
attending lectures related to budget development for youth projects, participating in multiple
community cleanups efforts, and participating in a very successful career panel that brought
about 16 panelists (professionals, tradesmen, and community leaders of color) and about 30
youth. Interns had the opportunity to talk with the panelists, ask questions, and receive advice
and feedback. Youth interns also continue to work on their project presentations. 
November - December: 
Cultivate South Park interns learned various art forms used in public placemaking and
environmental sciences from professional facilitators, as well as led research and planning on a
project. The focus for Duwamish Valley Youth Corps interns was on exploring green job
opportunities as a career path and provide networking opportunities as they presented their
projects to professionals and community leaders during a Presentation Day event. Youth
attended a field trip, from South Park bridge to Lake Washington Ship Canal, to learn about the
importance of bioswales. A few youth were inspired by the mechanics and benefits of the
bioswales and are considering looking into careers where they can design them. Interns practiced
their presentation skills and knowledge of their community; thereby increasing their comfort and
confidence with public speaking. On Project Presentation Day, interns presented their work in
front of their younger peers from the DVYC program, professionals, and community leaders who
acted as a feedback panel. Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association interns participated in a
site visit to Vashon Island's bioenergy farm  the most comprehensive bioenergy system in the
State. A strong partnership with Impact Bioenergy was established  an organization which not
only demonstrated confidence in the professionalism and capabilities of the youth, but also had
a strong, respectful, and well-performed work practice. Key learnings included biofuel systems,
circular economies in a regional setting (Vashon Island), incorporating local farms, restaurants,
and a biofuel site, as well as a circular tool library and zero waste network on the island;
processing and evaluating waste samples; m onitoring waste output for restaurants and
households; p roject management skills, communication skills, and networking/professional
development. 
Challenges 
July-August: 
One challenge for Friends of Georgetown was a delayed start for a summer internship, time
management and project reporting. Duwamish Valley Youth Corps was challenged by a lack of a
physical space, COVID, and summer heat waves. Cultivate South Park was challenged with
consistency in attendance, as well as individuals who dealt with issues such as teen motherhood,
financial struggles, and family conflicts. 
September: 
The lack of physical space continued to be an issue for Duwamish Valley Youth Corps. Attendance
and timeliness was a challenge for some Cultivate South Park youth participants. Timing was a
challenge for the Duwamish Valley Sustainability Association with regards to youth availability
with school schedules and youth family financial issues. 

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                               Page 15 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
October: 
Weather was a challenge for outdoor activities and there was some challenge working with some
small businesses to clarify the correct way to classify organic waste. One of the most significant
challenge continues to be the lack of access to a physical space. Another set of challenges are
related to access to mental health and teen parenthood support services. 
November - December: 
One challenge included coordinating various schedules and conflicts for a site visit on Vashon
Island. Another challenge was not having a fixed location to store equipment and process the
organic waste collected from the participating sites. 
Successes 
July-August: 
Friends of Georgetown History youth connected as a team and worked together on creating a
walking tour. They were asked to support Duwamish Tribal Services develop a new tour at the
Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. Duwamish Valley Youth Corps interns engaged in
conversations related to stormwater drainage and waste disposal facilitated by Seattle Public
Utilities (SPU). Youth also learned the responsibilities of a sailboat crew, marine navigation, and
rope work. Cultivate South Park youth were able to successfully start a zero-waste initiative with
South Park Businesses, as well as benefit from increased direct access to career opportunities
and professional development mentors in various green fields. Duwamish Valley Sustainability
Association had great participation and attendance in all their workshops, and homework
assignments generated good ideas. They also gained followers on social media. 
September: 
Duwamish Valley Youth Corps interns researched and presented on their own project ideas on
how to improve the quality of life in the Duwamish Valley, and gained confidence in public
speaking skills. Cohort 1 completed the Cultivate South Park program despite challenges, and
staff was able to begin a new cohort with new curriculum and youth. Duwamish Valley
Sustainability Association interns selected community participation sites and began fieldwork
implementation planning. Staff moved forward with Impact Bioenergy to complete the second
training, including sample evaluation in labs. Youth selected five restaurants and ten houses to
participate in a project evaluating waste production. They also finalized the lab assessment
process to evaluate organic waste collected by the participating sites. 
October: 
Staff witnessed excellent teamwork this month, consistently building off the previous months of
the program training. Duwamish Valley Youth Corps' career panel event was the highlight of the
month. The one-on-one interaction with professionals who look like the youth interns and had
similar experiences inspired even the shyest of the interns and empowered them with the tools
to make informed decisions and pursue their own career success. 
November - December: 
Overall,  staff  have  found  this  project  to  be  highly  effective  and  successful,  exceeding
expectations, in terms of community engagement and the youth performance in their tasks. The
site visits helped the youth realize that they could meet new people who will help them begin a
search for new personal and professional opportunities. Two of the interns have already seeded

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COMMISSION AGENDA  Briefing Item No. 11a                               Page 16 of 16 
Meeting Date: January 25, 2022 
new career opportunities in environmental community action, based on relationships they
gained while doing their project. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
(1)   Presentation slides 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
May 11, 2021  Order No. 2021-05 for 2021 Opportunity Youth Initiative Funding 
December 8, 2020  2020 Opportunity Youth Initiative Commission Meeting Summary Briefing 
June 23, 2020  Motion 2020-18 adopted by the Port Commissioners 
May 26, 2020  Motion 2020-12 was amended and adopted by the Port Commissioners 













Template revised September 22, 2016.