About us: African Young Dreamers Empowerment Intl. (AYDEPI) and Outta The Box are organizing a youth-led walkathon activity to sensitize the communities on Youth Initiative “The Future Is Now Campaign.” Our main goal for this Campaign is to mobilize the communities to be part of our vision of youth-led community interventions to secure funding for programs that will positively intervene in youths’ lives and provide opportunities to lead youth to schools, colleges/universities, jobs, after-school activities, mentorship, and community networking. In order for these programs to be effective the funding will also support an office space for AYDEPI & Outta The Box to provide a safe space for youth to seek services and support. Youth make decisions at their young age that often have negative outcomes due to a lack of positive role models. High rates of Sexual and Gender-based Violence, Crime/Gang Affiliation, Drug use & Alcohol, and Incarceration which intensify these challenges. For years now, mental health and poor health outcomes due to social determinants of health have adversely affected the African, African/American Youth in our society. African Young Dreamers Empowerment Intl. (AYDEPI) African, African/American The organization was established in 2019 and continues to address the needs of the African, African/American Youth in Washington State by providing services and support in; Advocacy, Youth Leadership & Mentorship Development, Service Delivery, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Partnership and Collaboration. Outta The Box mission bridges the gap between the Youth, Young Adults, and the Societal Systems by partnering with experts, institutions, businesses, and organizations to provide mentorship and community networking. We are currently partnering to implement ongoing projects intended to bring African, African/American communities together to discuss topics of mutual interest, especially those that affect our communities and might be termed as taboo and often overlooked in policy, programming and state funding, which comes across as skewed that are often taboo and overlooked. Furthermore, our partnership enhances community dialogues and conversations on Sexual and Gender-based Violence, Crime/Gang Affiliation, Drugs & Alcohol, and Incarceration. We also have focused on Youth Incarceration with various Detention Centers and other key experts through our ongoing Road to Zero Youth Incarceration dialogue series. The finding of our assessment points to a surge in crime, and violence since the onset of COVID-19 epidemic and warranting action. Our leadership reflects the youth from the communities we work with between the ages of 14 and 25. The two organizations, from their core, are centered around youth needs and empowerment. Today, AYDEPI & Outta the Box youth have 70% of the decision-making power, and 100% come from BIPOC backgrounds. They make up a team of women, men, and youth from all different parts of the world. Our mentorship programs, activities, and workshops match up youth to mentors to ensure they have guidance as they develop into men, women, and leaders of the next generation. To support this noble event, please write a check to Outta The Box or call Alex at (206) 458 0787. Thank you.