The SEAD Initiative
What is the District Project?
The 2023-2024 District Project is The SEAD: End Youth Houselessness Initiative. SEAD stands for Support, Empower, Act, and Destigmatize. Chosen by this year’s District Governor, Nola Stenstrom, and approved by the District Board, the SEAD Initiative aims to guide Key Clubbers in serving their community by addressing the widespread pattern of Youth Houselessness within the PNW. Our goal for this District Project is to provide Key Clubbers and Kiwanians with resources, knowledge, and inspiration to make a direct impact locally. The District Project is not limited to specific organizations, so all Key Clubbers can find unique and impactful ways to serve. Some good ways to begin volunteering are hosting a food or collection drive, holding a fundraiser, and volunteering at shelters or food banks. As a District, we hope to raise $15K for local nonprofits addressing youth houselessness and serve 10K hours.
The Current State of Youth Houselessness
Indigenous youth have more than double the risk of experiencing homelessness than other youth.
Children need stable environments, access to quality food and education, and security for their development.
Organizations to Consider Supporting
YouthCare
“Help Build Bright Futures for Youth Experiencing Homelessness”
YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. They envision a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled.
HomeAid
“Building a Future Without Homelessness.”
HomeAid is a leading non-profit developer of housing and programmatic facilities for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, operating through a network of 19 Affiliates in 13 states. Their mission is to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness build new lives through construction, community engagement, and education.
Covenant House
“Providing Shelter for Youth Facing Homelessness”
Covenant House provides housing and supportive services to youth facing homelessness. They help young people transform their lives and put them on a path to independence. In 34 cities across five countries, more than 2,000 young people sleep in a Covenant House bed each night. No one is ever turned away without support of some kind. And their services and programs are available at no cost.
How the PNW District Will Be Involved
Service
Volunteer at your local shelter, donate cans or meals, create packages of basic necessities, and give clothes to youth in need.
Fundraising
Host a food collection drive, miracle minute, money collection drive, raffle, movie night, walk-a-thon, or showcase. Donate all proceeds to your local youth shelter.
Education
Host a guest speaker from a local organization, launch an informative social media campaign on your club’s Instagram, and destigmatize youth houselessness by debunking myths and providing accurate statistics.
Please contact District Project Chair Amy Tran at project@pnwkeyclub.org if you have questions about the District Project.