Our History
Community for Youth was founded in 1985 by a group of Seattle residents who were concerned about the number of young people who were heading to jail and dropping out of high school. The group was committed to the idea that all students, if given the support of a dedicated community of adults and peers, had the ability to complete high school successfully and become productive members of their community.

In 1989, the first CfY program began at Rainier Beach High School. We added Cleveland in 1994 and in 2000 we brought the program to Chief Sealth. Steps Ahead - a one-year program for high school freshmen - and Steps Beyond - the follow-up program for sophomores, juniors and seniors - are now the largest youth development and mentoring programs in the Seattle high school system. Each year, some 170 students participate in the program.

Community for Youth is more than a mentoring program, more than a dropout prevention program. For many students, it becomes a lifeline to their future, showing them that success in school and in life is in their hands.

What makes Community for Youth unique:

• We build a community of support for students and mentors
• We teach and instill core concepts focused on personal growth and accountability
• Students and mentors are involved in the selection of their match

• 90 - 100% of students in our programs stay in school (compared to 78% of Seattle Public High School students)
  
  
• 90%+ of those students who stay in our programs graduate from high school (compared to 58.9% of Seattle Public High School students)
  
  
• 83% of our students positively changed their behavior and/or achieved their goal
  
  
• 93% of our students reported that they benefited from our program
  
  
• 86% believe they gained a sense of personal accountability
  
  
• 97% feel connected to the community