Junior League of Tacoma to Host 2nd Annual Youth Homelessness Summit in Pierce County

Tacoma, Wash. – Junior League of Tacoma is hosting its second annual Youth Homelessness Summit in Pierce County at 3 p.m. Sunday, January 31 at the Stadium High School Theatre (111 North E Street, Tacoma).

The summit will provide community education and awareness about youth homelessness, which plagues an estimated 3,000 youth in Pierce County, according to Pierce County Community Connections. It will also feature an expert panel discussion on youth homelessness, a screening of the mini documentary True Grit which interviews six homeless youth from the Puget Sound, and a call to action to have audience attendants sign advocacy letters to the City of Tacoma for homeless youth. 

“Junior League of Tacoma’s goal for the summit is to educate the community about Pierce County’s state of youth homelessness in order to develop community advocates which will help seek change for this important topic,” said Caitlin Stork, Community Council Director of Junior League of Tacoma and event chair of the summit.  “We feel that this event helps satisfy our greater vision at JLT of promoting volunteerism and improving the community through effective action, especially given the severity of this important issue that needs the support of the entire community,” said Stork.

The youth homelessness panel discussion, to be moderated by LaMont Green, Senior Policy Analyst for the City of Tacoma, will dive into topics including understanding and preventing homelessness among youth; defining McKinney-Vento and the barriers experienced by these students; and an update on the temporary and upcoming new Young Adult Shelter and Day Center in Tacoma. Expert panelists include Linda Seferian and Linda Martin, McKinney Vento Liaisons for Tacoma Public Schools; Kurt Miller, Executive Director, Community Youth Services-Pierce County; Cathy Nguyen, Co-Organizer for Tacoma Stands Up; and Simone Gamble, a previous youth that experienced homelessness and an Organizing Member, Tacoma Stands Up.

The summit is free to attend and guests can RSVP by emailing Community@JLTacoma.org. Guests are encouraged to donate $15 to the Junior League of Tacoma to help support the upcoming Tacoma-based youth shelter, the Young Adult Shelter and Day Center directed by Community Youth Services.