DNDA Wraps Up Another Amazing Summer of Free Youth Programs in West and South Seattle!
DNDA is celebrating another incredible year of enriching summer programming with our communities throughout West and South Seattle!
The image shows a set of green plants growing in curved containers, arranged vertically on a blue bench or platform to spell out Eco Art.
Since 2016, DNDA has partnered with organizations such as Seattle Housing Authority (SHA), Neighborhood House, Seattle Parks & Recreation, Seattle Public Library, the Office of Arts and Culture, and 4Culture to provide youth with high-quality summer programming and enriching experiences at no cost to families.
Youth start their mural design process using chalk to explore different possibilities for how the finished product could end up.
This summer, DNDA delivered vibrant programs to youth aged 7 to 19 in High Point, NewHolly, and Rainier Vista. We offered a dynamic mix of arts, recreational, and community-building activities, allowing each youth to play, create, and have fun all summer. Some of our exciting summer highlights included:
- Mural-making and digital art sessions led by young instructor Samray Estifanos, where kids designed fun projects like t-shirts using iPads.
- EcoArts programming featuring blended art and environmental education activities for youth at their neighborhood parks
- Junior League Basketball with partner E&F Youth Sports. Over 50 teen athletes representing eight teams competed against one another, aiming to secure their team’s playoff spot and ultimately win the league championship.
- Our popular cooking classes, taught by Chefs Daneca Tran and Mulu Abate, encouraged youth to explore cooking as an art form. Students made (and ate!) lots of dishes like sushi, Ethiopian tibs, gyros, homemade Italian pasta, and delicious desserts.
- Our first-ever ultimate frisbee program. Thanks to partners AGE UP, NewHolly youth had lots of fun playing ultimate with their friends.
- Our Fun Fridays, which each drew over 100 attendees, brought families together for art, food, and games in Rainier Vista, High Point, and NewHolly.
- At Camp Long, we hosted EcoArt activities where kids crafted instruments from recycled materials and enjoyed a classic camping experience.
Youth explore painting at DNDA Fun Friday, an event where we provide free food, art, and games for folks to come and experience the joy of summer together.
Our Summer Youth Program (SYP) also offered a teen internship, giving 12 High Point teens their first paid job experience. Guided by DNDA, these teens supported the operation of our summer programs. They also worked on community-building projects, such as constructing wooden planter boxes for a community garden filled with pollinator plants to support local ecosystems.
High Point teen intern adding paint onto their design that celebrates the important ace of pollinators.
DNDA soccer and basketball activities were successfully led and hosted by E&F Youth Sports in all three neighborhoods. The summer concluded with the ONE LOVE Youth Soccer and Basketball Tournament, uniting youth from all neighborhoods. Over 120 youth participated, and the event celebrated a strong spirit of unity, with High Point winning both basketball and soccer.
A group of excited young athletes sit together on the sidelines of a gym, eagerly watching a basketball event and preparing to join the action.
This year, DNDA served over 350 youth across three neighborhoods. In collaboration with local partners, our free, accessible summer programs continue to foster creativity, teamwork, and a sense of community for families throughout Seattle.
Youth explore natural areas in their neighborhood- including this community chicken coop that served as an inspirational area for us to relax and unwind.
-Written by members of the DNDA Art Team, Erin Kollar, Intale Shuba, and Yeggy Michael