ACLF Community Leaders Program 2012, Back row: (left to right) Noah Jaffe, Stanley Wong, Kyle Gotchy, Phillip Bruan, Grant Wu, Kiwai Lai, Micah Bateman-Iino. Middle row: (left to right)Melissa Atalig, Julie Kim, Jennifer Duong. Bottom row: Annia Yoshizumi, Kathy Nguyen
The Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF) and WAPI Community Services will partner to create a safe community lounge for youth in the International District. The lounge will provide a safe space for youth who are unable to visit WAPI’s new offices in south Seattle due to lack of transportation and feeling unsafe from rival gangs. WAPI Community Services and ACLF’s 13th Community Leaders Program class will spend the next six months developing and implementing a plan to reinvigorate engagement in the International District youth lounge. WAPI Community Services serves API youth and youth of color, helping youth deal with substance abuse and dependency issues. It also provides youth with healthy alternatives to substance abuse. The ACLF Community Leadership Foundation is a community-based nonprofit organization that trains and supports the leadership of Asian Pacific Islanders. (end)