In this interview, Vanessa takes us through her internship experiences with YouthForce at the Boys and Girls Club of King County. Starting her journey at age 16 with the Seattle Sounders, she went on to explore marketing with Molly Moon's and True North Gear. Amidst the pandemic, Vanessa reignited her passion for community advocacy, supporting students in a role back at the Boys and Girls Club. Now at 22, Vanessa reflects on how these experiences shaped her life and advocates for the continuation of programs like YouthForce.

In this video, meet Afzal, a refugee from Afghanistan who arrived in King County in 2021, after being evacuated from Kabul as the country fell to the Taliban. After connecting with Neighborhood House and enrolling in services blended from local (VSHSL), state (EcSA) , and federal (WIOA) resources he was able to find a job, receive training, and cover basic costs like rent and transportation. Afzal's story showcases the potential of community-based programs and the impact they can have in helping refugees and other vulnerable populations find stable employment and build a new life.

But they weren't supply chain workers. Staff at Open Doors for Multicultural Families made it their mission to deliver vital resources, including rent relief, food, and health information.

Gabe was “in a tough spot,” according to case managers with King County Community and Human Services: Children, Youth and Young Adults Division. After becoming paralyzed from gun violence, he was at a crossroads: continue down the same path of destruction or transform his life for the better.

Matthias was laid off from his job at a major hospital in 2017 as part of a restructuring. In some ways this was fortunate, as injuries to his feet and joints had left him unable to pursue a career in healthcare. Constant daily pain and the inability to walk one hundred yards without a break forced him to reconsider his career options. He had little money but a strong desire to move into the technology sector, so he applied for Training Benefits from the Employment Security Department.

Li Xiu emigrated from China in 1996. She had less than a high school education, her English was very limited, and she possessed few digital literacy skills. When she settled in Seattle she didn’t have much time for her own education because she was a busy single mom working sewing jobs to raise her two children. In July 2019 she was laid off, and she became “very depressed worrying about her living.”

Leilah survived domestic gun violence and fled to Seattle, where she sought refuge with YWCA and enrolled in domestic violence (DV) services, and later the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). After getting urgently needed safety services, Leilah worked with her career navigator and DV advocate to review her strengths, background, employment history, and career goals, and came up with a plan to achieve them. She also created a safety plan, received mental health support, and joined a survivor’s support group.

After losing his job and eventually losing his apartment, Jordan became homeless and began living inside his car. He realized that he needed some help, and reached out to Neighborhood House for job search assistance and help finding housing.