Focus on the Future is Youth in Focus’ project to solidify our current operation and build our ability to offer a life-changing experience to more and more disadvantaged youth in our community. This three-year project will be guided by a newly completed strategic plan that was developed over an eight-month process. We will focus on six specific issues:
- Mission and program: Offering the most meaningful, most relevant experience possible to youth in our community
- Financial stability: Ensuring YIF is able to do this work for years to come
- Evaluation: Making sure we understand the impact of what our students experience and how to make improvements
- Communication: Helping our community to hear and understand what our students achieve
- Infrastructure: Making sure we have the right facilities and tools to support our program
- Board development: Ensuring strong leadership well into the future
Over YIF’s 13-year history, we have demonstrated the positive impact that high quality photography training, coupled with supportive adult relationships, can have on a young person’s life. We envision that 2011 will see an even stronger, more vital Youth in Focus, making an even deeper impact on our community through support and encouragement of our students and through helping our students to make their stories seen and heard.
Look at a summary of our plan here. 
Want to Help?
If you’re inspired by what happens at YIF and want to help us, we need you!
As always, we need many mentors every quarter to work with our students by reinforcing what they learn in class and acting as a positive adult presence. You'll find lots more detail about mentoring here (link to our current volunteer page; we need to revise this page soon to highlight opportunities other than mentoring)
As we execute our new strategic plan, we are looking for talented people to work with our standing committees and on ad hoc projects. Right now, we’re especially interested in connecting with people who have these skills and interests:
- Marketing and public relations: Help build awareness of YIF around the area and online
- Corporate relations: Help build support from businesses and corporations
- Event management and execution: Help produce our annual auction and/or smaller fundraising and friendmaking events
- Writing/editing/proofreading: Help us produce grant proposals, press releases and news articles
To find out more about any of these opportunities contact Bob Perkins at bobp@youthinfocus.org
In my photos I explain that this clearly isn't the place that I want to be. Working and going to school to get my high school diploma and watching my older brothers who are supposed to be good role models for their younger sister. I go home every night to open a refrigerator that is always empty and staying up until midmorning because my brothers are downstairs with friends talking about nonsense. Every time I tell this story, there’s this angry part of me that wants to break down and cry. What makes me happy is making my mom happy. Being her first kid to graduate high school and go to college. Being with friends and family that lift my spirit is what makes me really happy. I'm going to make it to where I want to be in life and it all starts here.
The Beginning to My End
I am from the eyes of a mother that works two full time jobs.
But I am the daughter that suffers from a heart that throbs.
As I lay my head down to sleep,
Something keeps me from my dreams.
I think about all the unsolved,
And lay there wondering how the world can still revolve.
I'm doing what I have to do,
And I'm proving that I don't need you.
I'm wondering about these situations,
But they all start miss leading to penetrations.
You can’t call this depression.
Just more like Usher and these are my confessions.
The emotions that I show won’t hide what I feel.
Because I know deep inside it's the real deal.
When will this curiousness come to a stop?
And I soon figure out why I'm in a knot.
I realize which one's a true friend.
The one that'll stick with me till the end.
I know how to prioritize.
Now that I have no time to mesmerize.
I notice who really matters to me.
And if they don't they usually get up and leave.
I face the world looking down at my feet.
And start walking down this lonely street.
Only once have I looked up.
That's when I screamed "I DON'T CARE!
And started walking with my head up high.
I take a step back and spun around just to wave my past good-bye.
– Vanessa M.
Beginning Basic B&W/Intermediate B&W/Beginning Digital
Summer End of Quarter Exhibit
Youth in Focus Gallery
2100 24th Ave. S., Suite 310, Seattle, 98144
On exhibit August 28 – November 21, 2008
Reception August 28, 5-7pm
Adobe Youth Voices
Advanced Digital
Summer End of Quarter Exhibit
"Hello, my name is... , An Exploration of Culture, Identity, and a Higher Power"
Tougo Coffee House
1410 18th Ave., Seattle, 98122
206.860.3518
On exhibit September 1–31, 2008
Reception September 11, 6-7pm
Advanced Black and White
Summer End of Quarter Exhibit
"HUMANS"
Triangle Art Gallery
Downtown Seattle YMCA
909 Fourth Ave.
Seattle, 98104
206.382.5003
On exhibit September 1–31, 2008
Reception September 4, 5-6:30pm
www.seattleymca.org
Through the generous support of Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, South Park PhotoVoice 2008 in partnership with Youth in Focus, the Associated Recreational Council (ARC), and Denny Middle School presents: "CHANGES" – an exhibit of images and voices from South Park.
South Park PhotoVoice 2008
"CHANGES"
An exhibit of images and voices from South Park
South Park Community Center
8319 8th Ave S., Seattle, 98108
206.684.7451
South Park PhotoVoice 2008 "CHANGES" will be on tour at the following locations:
South Park PhotoVoice 2008
"CHANGES"
An exhibit of images and voices from South Park
at the South Park Branch Library
8604 8th Ave. S. at South Cloverdale St.
Seattle, 98108
206.615.1688
On exhibit September 5-30, 2008
Reception September 13, 3-5pm
South Park PhotoVoice 2008
"CHANGES"
An exhibit of images and voices from South Park
at FareStart Café located in Rainier Valley
2100 24th ave N., Seattle, 98144
On exhibit October 1-31, 2008
(No reception)
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