Thousands of Tacoma youth have nowhere to go this summer as COVID-19 decimates programs
Don’t be surprised this summer if you see more young people out and about.
COVID-19 is upending summer plans across the state, including costing Tacoma youth around 4,000 in-person programming slots, from overnight camps to cooking classes, according to a study by the Foundation for Tacoma Students.
“COVID has forced everyone across the globe to rethink the way they do programming — Tacoma, Washington, is no different,” Tafona Ervin, executive director of the Foundation for Tacoma Students, told The News Tribune in a Zoom call this week.
“We may see more students and youth walking among our streets of Tacoma that perhaps have never walked before, or have not been seen in great populations — and I mean that in groups of five or 10, where it may pique residents’ curiosity over why they’re there,” she said.
The foundation typically tracks activities of students over the summer months, and estimates that an average of 6,000 to 8,000 participate in summer programs. This year, after a quick check with its partners, the foundation found that there would be 3,000 fewer in-person slots available, and half of those would be virtual.
“At least half of the programs we think are going to be available are not,” Ervin said.
Young people from kindergarten to 12th grade will see the loss of nearly 2,000 summer programming slots, according to the foundation’s data.
The majority of lost spots come from the Boys & Girls Club, which typically has 2,000 spots but is down to 475 this year. The Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Metro Parks Tacoma and Tacoma Art Museum will also see capacity decreases.
“We completely understand that people will be disappointed about some services that we are unable to provide this summer,” Shon Sylvia, Metro Parks executive director, said in a news release at the end of June. “While we know this is temporary, COVID-19 is continuing to erode revenue sources the district depends on for annual operations.
“We’ve had to make some very difficult choices as we work to reduce our revenue gap while serving the most people and the greatest needs.”
Tacoma Public Schools is also seeing a loss of in-person programming capacity this summer, reducing from 1,458 students enrolled in 2019 to 1,007 in 2020, a difference of 451 students. A majority of the loss comes from Camp Discovery and English Language Learner programs.
“Reasons for lower numbers: No in-person learning, schools closed, virtual programs, technology barriers, all (high school) students passed (second) semester, high schools more focused on Credit Retrieval and not enrichment,” James Neil, director of athletics and activities in the Office of Student Life, said in an email.
The district has not yet determined the losses for its middle-school summer programs, which start July 27, or its Jumpstart program for kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades.
“In 2020, many partners have reduced offerings or did not offer programming with the closures of school buildings,” Neil said.
The loss of summer programming could lead to a number of things, including fewer opportunities for enrichment learning and the ability to build trusting connections with adults.
Foundation for Tacoma Students launched a Community Commitment to Safe Youth initiative in connection with Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards’ Compassionate Tacoma campaign. The initiative encourages residents and businesses to positively engage in youth by creating a welcoming environment and stopping to talk and listen.
The guidance is especially important for Black and brown youth, Ervin said, as conversations and protests around police brutality and Black Lives Matter continue around the nation.
“My fear, Tafona’s fear, is that when you see a group of youth, particularly Black and brown youth, who are walking through a neighborhood that they may not live in ... that the assumption is that they’re up to no good, and that the response is to call law enforcement,” Ervin said.
Woodards hopes people will be mindful when they see young people together at malls, walking through business districts or at bus stops.
“It’s an awareness campaign,” Woodards said. “It causes us to think about others before we draw any conclusions.”
People can make the pledge and learn more at graduatetacoma.org/safeyouth.
