Rainier Athletes

RAINIER ATHLETES MISSION IS TO AFFIRM OUR YOUTH'S SENSE OF BELONGING BY INTENTIONALLY CONNECTING THEIR CORE COMMUNITY OF TEACHERS, FAMILIES, MENTORS, AND COACHES.

MENTOR AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM: MENTORSHIP PROGRAM - RAINIER ATHLETES' UNIQUE WRAP-AROUND APPROACH TO MENTORING EXTENDS BEYOND THE TYPICAL MENTOR-MENTEE RELATIONSHIP. THE COMMUNITY OF TRAINED MENTORS BUILD AUTHENTIC, INTENTIONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EACH STUDENT'S TEACHER, COACH, AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO FOSTER HOLISTIC SUPPORT IN ALL AREAS OF THEIR LIFE. THE RAINIER ATHLETES' JOURNEY BEGINS IN 4TH OR 5TH GRADE AND TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YOUTH'S THEIR FAMILY, EACH RAINIER ATHLETE CONTINUES TO BE SERVED AND SUPPORTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION; 9 YEARS OF DEDICATED SUPPORT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BELLEVUE SCHOOL DISTRICT, RAINIER ATHLETES IDENTIFY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM RA'S MODEL OF SUPPORT. RAINIER ATHLETES RECRUIT VOLUNTEER MENTORS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE EACH MENTOR WITH ANTI-RACISM AND EQUITY TRAINING ALONG WITH ONGOING COACHING FROM RA'S STAFF.

SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING - BY FULLY FUNDING THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION AND BY SUPPORTING PARTICIPATING FAMILIES WITH REGISTRATION PROCESSES, TRANSPORTATION, AND ONGOING COMMUNICATION, RA REMOVES ECONOMIC, CULTURAL & SOCIAL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT MANY FAMILIES FROM EQUITABLY EXPERIENCING THE BENEFITS OF EXTRACURRICULAR AND COMMUNITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES. PRIOR TO THE START OF EACH SEASON, RA STAFF WORK DIRECTLY WITH PARTNERS (I.E COACHES) TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING TEAM ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE MORE INCLUSIVE OF NON-DOMINANT CULTURES AND THUS ARE MORE LIKELY TO INSTILL A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR ALL INVOLVED. SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S INCEPTION, RA HAS FORMALIZED PARTNERSHIPS WITH 40+ LOCAL YOUTH SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS, SUMMER CAMPS,AND OTHER YOUTH FOCUSED EXTRACURRICULAR PROVIDERS.

WRAP-AROUND PROGRAM - RAINIER ATHLETES (RA) WRAP-AROUND COORDINATION DEPENDS ON THE RA'S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOPED WITH LOCAL RESOURCE PROVIDERS (COMMUNITY PARTNERS). RA MENTORS AND/OR STAFF, WHO CONNECT WEEKLY WITH PARTICIPATING YOUTH AND FAMILIES, ASSESS FAMILIES IMMEDIATE NEEDS, AND THEN CONNECT FAMILIES WITH ONE OF RA'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS. IN OTHER SITUATIONS, RA'S COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDE RESOURCES DIRECTLY TO RA AND RA COORDINATES DISTRIBUTION (I.E GROCERY GIFTCARDS, COATS, MISC GIFT CARDS)

FISCAL SPONSOR -RAINIER ATHLETES SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR TO EASTSIDE YOUTH COALITION (EYC) AS THEY PREPARE TO BECOME THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT 501(C)3. EYC IS A PROGRAM COMPOSED OF AFFINITY SPACES FOR BIPOC YOUTH TO DISCUSS AND ADVOCATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AS WELL AS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES THAT HELP NURTURE YOUTH AND EMPOWER THEM TO DEVELOP SKILLS THEY WILL CARRY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. FOR EXAMPLE, THEIR GROUP CALLED EASTSIDE BLACK GIRLS FOR CHANGE'S MISSION IS "TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUNG BLACK WOMEN TO EXCEL, THRIVE, AND BE IMPACTFUL LEADERS FOR CHANGE ON THE EASTSIDE" AND THEIR GROUP CALLED YOUTH & GOVERNMENT LEADERS MISSION IS "TO HONOR BLACK, LATINX, YOUTH OF COLOR, YOUTH OF PURPOSE AS PRESENT AND FUTURE LEADERS. THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS THROUGH A DECOLONIZED LENS ABOUT ISSUES RELEVANT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES."