Youth Peace & Justice Foundation Announces Spring 2026 Seattle AnchorPoint Launch Following Rainier Beach Tragedy
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- Feb 24
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2026
Youth Peace & Justice Foundation Announces Spring 2026 Seattle AnchorPoint Launch Following Rainier Beach Tragedy; Notes Outreach from Seattle Public Schools
Seattle, WA — In the wake of the fatal Rainier Beach bus stop shooting that claimed the lives of two teenagers and prompted renewed citywide calls for mentorship and job pathways, the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, also known as the Uvalde Foundation For Kids, today announced plans to formally launch its Spring 2026 Seattle AnchorPoint Safe House and Youth Mentoring Initiative.
Recent public reporting highlighted Seattle City Council members emphasizing mentors, economic opportunity, and prevention strategies as essential components of community safety following the tragedy. Seattle City Council leaders stressed that sustainable violence reduction requires investment in youth connection and stability — a model the Foundation says AnchorPoint is designed to support.
The Foundation also confirmed that following its initial response to the Rainier Beach shooting — including a reward offer and convening a community forum centered on youth and family voices — Seattle Public Schools (SPS) formally reached out by letter to express appreciation for the gathering and to invite continued coordination.
In correspondence signed by district leadership, SPS acknowledged the Foundation’s effort to convene youth safety dialogue and requested a designated local point of contact to maintain alignment on forums, planning conversations, and youth-focused safety initiatives. The district emphasized its desire to ensure open communication channels and collaborative participation among safety, student services, and community partnership teams.
“We appreciate Seattle Public Schools’ proactive outreach,” said Daniel Chapin, Founder and President of the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation. “Their letter reflects what prevention work should look like — communication, partnership, and shared responsibility. When districts and community organizations stay aligned, young people benefit.”
Spring 2026: Seattle AnchorPoint Safe House & Mentoring Initiative
The AnchorPoint model will establish a structured, prevention-focused safe space designed to operate during after-school and high-risk evening hours, offering:
* Supervised Safe House access
* Structured mentoring cohorts
* Youth leadership and ambassador training
* Career pathway and job-readiness alignment
* Family engagement forums
* Coordination with school and district safety teams
* Direct referral pathways to counseling and community supports
The initiative aims to complement existing Seattle prevention strategies, reinforcing the broader city conversation around mentors, opportunity, and neighborhood investment following the Rainier Beach tragedy.
“When young lives are lost, communities mourn. But mourning cannot be the end of the response. The public conversation in Seattle has rightly turned toward mentorship, job access, and sustained engagement. We agree.
AnchorPoint is not symbolic — it is operational. It creates a real place, staffed by real adults, accessible during the hours when youth vulnerability is highest. It builds trusted relationships before conflicts escalate.
We are encouraged by Seattle Public Schools’ letter and their willingness to stay in dialogue. That spirit of coordination must continue — not just between nonprofits and schools, but with city leaders, workforce partners, and community stakeholders.
Prevention requires infrastructure. It requires visibility. It requires adults willing to show up consistently. We are committed to building that infrastructure here in Seattle.”
Call for Team Leaders and Mentors
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation is now actively recruiting for the Seattle AnchorPoint launch:
* Volunteer Mentors
* Team Leaders
* Community Safety Coordinators
* Youth Engagement Specialists
* Mental Health & Social Service Liaisons
Professionals and trained volunteers with backgrounds in education, youth development, counseling, faith leadership, workforce development, and public safety are strongly encouraged to apply. Background checks and structured training will be required. Compensation will also be provided.
Ongoing community listening sessions and planning forums will be announced in the coming weeks to ensure inclusive program development.
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation looks forward to continued engagement with Seattle Public Schools, collaboration with Seattle City Council members, and partnership with community leaders across Seattle to ensure a unified, youth-centered approach to safety and opportunity.
About Youth Peace & Justice Foundation
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, operating formerly as Uvalde Foundation For Kids, is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit dedicated to ending youth gun violence through advocacy, intervention, mentorship, and community-based prevention initiatives. Its programs include Trees for Peace memorialization projects and scalable community violence prevention frameworks.
Media Contact:
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation
Uvalde Foundation For Kids
254-499-8027
Charity ID 88-3268749
