$5 million announced to support creative youth development programs across Washington state
Three area nonprofits were announced as recipients of a record investment for creative youth development programs in Washington.
Mi Chiantla, The Bridge Music Project and UTOPIA Washington received funding to advance their work in Thurston County, according to a news release from Allen Family Philanthropies.
The nonprofits are part of a cohort of 10 organizations statewide to receive funding from Allen Family Philanthropies as part of an effort to increase access to creative youth development programs in Washington state.
Creative Youth Development (CYD) is a structured approach to youth learning that combines hands-on artistic skill building and life skill development to foster wellbeing. Participants and alumni of CYD programs show significantly higher rates of civic participation, self-expression and youth leadership, the news release stated.
Mi Chiantla's funded project will focus on supporting an annual photography program, including youth-led research and storytelling to enable the civic engagement of dynamic cultural communities and serve rural and Hispanic youth across Grays Harbor and Pacific counties.
The Bridge Music Project's funded project will support youth-led music programs incorporating arts entrepreneurship modules, performance showcases and industry-standard equipment to strengthen community connections and serve youth at state-run juvenile rehabilitation facilities within Grays Harbor and Lewis counties.
United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance Washington's funded project will focus on and support cultural and interdisciplinary arts programs rooted in Pacific Islander heritage that incorporate cultural mentorship, performance and experiential learning to strengthen civic engagement for QTPI, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ youth annually across Thurston County as well as King and Pierce counties.
More information can be found at https://tinyurl.com/bdcj8bcz.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.