Innovative Change Makers, Tacoma, WA Videos

More from our camping trip! #innovativechangemakers Camping2024 #changestartswithyouth #youthempowerment

🎨 Join Us for our Youth Paint & Vibes Event🎨 🗓 Thursday, August 22nd 🕒 Time: 6 PM - 9 PM 📍 Location: Stewart Middle School 💰❌ FREE FREE FREE FREE Innovative Change Makers is excited to host another vibrant Paint & Vibes event, led by our talented youth peer mentors! 🎉 In honor of Black Philanthropy Month, we’re spotlighting local philanthropists with inspiring guest speakers. Plus, Wynn Records will be in the building to share their commitment to the city and details about their upcoming Throwback Summer Festival at the Tacoma Dome! 🎟‼️Ticket Giveaway Alert‼️ Be there for a chance to win tickets to see Keisha Cole, The Game, Lil Boosie, and more! 🎨 Young artists come show off your artistic flair! We’re offering CASH PRIZES for the top 5 projects during the painting portion of the evening. 🎶 Music by DJ SeanTheShaman 🎤 Hosted by BoeBlast & Lil B 🌀This event is for Middle & High School-aged youth🌀 Don’t miss out on this amazing night of creativity, music, and inspiration!

For his 18th birthday @_briangatewood_ requested to make his allegiance to ICM permanent! We are proud of the young man you are and we look forward to all the great things you will accomplish!! #ChangeStartsWithYOUth #InnovativeChangeMakers #BeTheChange

Our entire team took a 36 hour Certified Peer Counselor training facilitated by @northwestcrediblemessenger! Without question one of the best classes we have all been apart of! Bonds were strengthened, Friendships were made, Lesson’s were learned. Looking forward to our continued growth and elevation.

Two years ago today, I drove down to Olympia with a powerful idea to make a positive impact on my community, starting with youth and their families. I envisioned a collaborative effort that would provide innovative alternatives to hazardous lifestyles, focusing on mentorship, peer mediation, job readiness training, and a modular curriculum that emphasizes the essentials of a healthy, legitimate, and prosperous life. Today, as we celebrate our second anniversary, I am proud to say that we are doing just that! Today our entire team is participating in training to become certified peer counselors, further equipping us to support and uplift our community. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to my circle, those who have poured into me and to this incredible community for embracing, trusting, and supporting all that we do. Two years down and many more to go! Here’s to the future of Innovative Change Makers ✊🏽 #InnovativeChangeMakers #ChangeStartsWithYOUth

Innovative Change Makers was highlighted this evening on Q13 Fox News show Back2Besa! They did a recap of the SouthSound Music Festival, where we brought 17 of our youth peer mentors to interview all the performers after their performances. This opportunity allowed our youth to gain confidence in themselves and their abilities, learn how to communicate effectively, develop interpersonal skills, enhance their interviewing techniques, and build a professional network within the music industry. At Innovative Change Makers, we strive to empower our youth to become the best versions of themselves by guiding them into new and enriching experiences and giving them the tools necessary to be successful! Huge shout out to @wwconverge and @dampeyalife1 for the spotlight! Also, @ssmusicfestival and @i_shotcha! 🙌🏽 #InnovativeChangeMakers #ConvergeMedia #SouthSoundMusicFestival #Back2Besa #Seattle #Tacoma #ChangeStartsWithYOUth

Today, Innovative Change Makers showed up 17 people strong at the South Sound Music Festival! 🎤 Our incredible youth volunteers assisted with event setup and conducted insightful interviews with artists, hosts, and community leaders. Takeaways: - Practiced patience and teamwork. - Built strong bonds and connections. - Gained valuable real-world experience. Youth Outcomes: - Enhanced communication skills. - Boosted confidence in public speaking. - Developed a deeper understanding of event management. Proud to see our ChangeMakers in action! #InnovativeChangeMakers #SouthSoundMusicFestival #YouthEmpowerment #CommunityEngagement #ChangeStartsWithYOUth

Today, we brought together youth from five different Tacoma schools for a day of paintballing! We had an incredible time! More importantly, our youth had the chance to form new friendships, with some overcoming their fears and being cheered on by their teammates. Bringing together youth from various areas to bond and have fun significantly reduces violence in our communities by fostering unity and helping them see each other as friends rather than strangers. #YoungKings #TUL #Tacoma #OperationPaintball

2nd Annual Fish Tacoma 🎣
2nd Annual Fish Tacoma was fire! 🎣 The community came out in full force and had a blast. Lots of smiles, huge trout caught, and countless memories created! 🐟✨ #FishTacoma #CommunityFun #MemoriesInTheMaking

June 7th we hosted an unforgettable evening at the People's Center for our Paint & Vibes Teen Late Night Edition! Our youth had a unique opportunity to channel their creativity with guidance from the talented @Pickasso, while enjoying the comedic hosting of BoeBlast and grooving to tunes by DJ2X. The event was not only a fun-filled night with food, games, and prizes but also a meaningful experience as we dove into important conversations on mental health, self-care, and self-reflection. Through art, our teens explored and express their inner selves, gaining valuable skills in emotional expression and self-awareness!

Huge shout out to our friend, Washington State Senator @twinanobles! Her presence at our girls group was nothing short of transformative. Senator Nobles engaged with our youth and parents in a unique game, allowing them to make assumptions about her based solely on appearance. Once the assumptions were listed, she confirmed or denied the assumptions, then opened up about her upbringing, hardships, and triumphs, sharing her journey to becoming the remarkable woman and mother she is today. We laughed, cheered, and connected with the person behind the title of Senator. We have been receiving all positive feedback, with many highlighting how impactful it was to see someone they could relate to, who shares their interests, dreams of traveling to the same places, and a shared vision of a better community. This group of future leaders saw firsthand that imperfections and challenges are part of the journey to achieving one’s goals. Senator Nobles’ story empowered our girls to dream big and believe in their own potential to succeed. Thank you again, T’wina, for inspiring and empowering our youth! #InnovativeChangeMakers #FutureLeadersOfToday #GirlsGroup #YouthEmpowerment #Tacoma #SenatorNobles

From straight back and box braids, to dollar signs 💰, our talented students are weaving magic under the guidance of our incredible instructors! Every twist and turn they make is a step closer to mastery. Huge shoutout to our team for untangling the secrets of stunning styles and making them so easy to grasp! #BraidingWorkshop #InnovativeChangeMakers #BigBrothersBigSisters #Entrepreneurship #Tacoma

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Joyce Humphries, a local hairstylist with a heart of gold! Joyce generously volunteered her time and talent to ensure that our girls looked absolutely stunning for The Girls Hearts on Fire 7th annual First, Love Yourself Gala. Thanks to her expertise and dedication, our young queens felt confident and beautiful, ready to shine at the gala! We also want to express our immense appreciation to Cecily Croskey for inviting our Innovative Change Makers girls and accommodating them with a table at the event. Cecily’s kindness and inclusivity ensured that our girls had a truly unforgettable experience, surrounded by love and support. This heartwarming display of community coming together for the sake of our youth embodies the essence of our work. Seeing the smiles on their faces and witnessing their joyful dance moves, it’s clear that the evening left a lasting impact on each and every one of them. Thank you, Joyce Humphries, Cecily Croskey, and everyone involved, for your unwavering dedication to empowering our youth and spreading love and positivity in our community. Your generosity and kindness have touched our hearts and made a difference in the lives of our youth. Here’s to many more moments of empowerment and joy together! #InnovativeChangeMakers #GirlsHeartsOnFire #Community #HairByJdiamond

Crafting custom pins adorned with diverse Kente patterns, Innovative Change Makers highlight the profound role of community as our greatest asset. This Black History Month and beyond, let’s engage in a dialogue about the rich history and culture of our people, transcending the US borders. Please share some history that you have learned to be featured in our next video as we weave together a tapestry of collective stories. “Woforo dua pa a na yepia wo!” Inquire about where to pick up your free pin! #History #KingsAndQueens #innovativeChangeMakers #ChangeStartsWithYOUth #Kente #Community

“Grateful for the support of the first 10 orders on InnovativeChangeMakers.Com! Each order represents a believer in our mission and a new member of the ICM family. As we grow, so does our collective impact. Join us on our journey for positive change!” #ICMFamily #InnovativeChangeMakers #ChangeStartsWithYOUth Link In Bio‼️

Shout out to @jellyroll615 for utilizing his platform to bring awareness to the fentanyl crisis! If you have a few free minutes listen to him speak. #FentanylAwareness #SaveAlife #Changemakers #ChangeStartsWithYOUth

Thank you Lincoln Abe’s Wrestling Team for allowing Innovative Change Makers to speak to the athletes about youth violence and for creating a safe space where youth voices can be heard. The youth shared about what THEY think is necessary to rid our communities of youth violence and brain stormed ideas of how we can work towards violence prevention as a community. We are stronger together ✊🏾 #InnovativeChangeMakers #LincolnAbes

Innovative Change Makers wanted to present a profound and relatable visual of how disasters are actually happening in our community. We want to bring awareness and inspire action to ensure a safer community for our youth and families. Opioid-related overdoses are the most common cause of accidental death in Pierce County, taking more lives than traffic or firearm fatalities, and affecting younger people at faster rates across Washington state, according to the Department of Health. Fentanyl is deadly. It’s almost impossible to detect, and it’s often disguised as an additive in other recreational drugs. It’s the second leading cause of injury deaths for people 15–24 years old. • It’s never too early to talk to your kids about drugs. • Remember, emotional well-being is key to your child’s overall good health. • If you or your child needs mental health help, substance services or resources, contact Pierce County 211. • You can also contact Kids Mental Health Pierce County (kidsmentalhealthpiercecounty.org) and/or Washington Therapy Fund Foundation (therapyfundfoundation.org/therapyfund) •Naloxone/Narcan is available at many locations for FREE. Everyone should have some available in case of an emergency. Directed by: @psphotographyandfilm Starring: Brian Gatewood Jr, Gio Gatewood, Brad Amsden and Regina Bembry. Please #Share to raise awareness. #InnovativeChangeMakers #PierceCountyHealthDept #MentalHealthMatters #FentanylDangersAreReal #FentanylAwareness #SAYNO #Tacoma #Washington

We utilize the water in a glass exercise to create a visual representation of things we go through in daily life that accumulate stress. Continuing to pour the water even when asked to stop represents how how stress can continue even when you try to avoid it, or ask people to stop saying or doing something that is overwhelming. The water spilling represents when we get to the point that we respond in a negative manner, have an angry outburst, or lash out physically. We can “overflow” and make a mess in the space that we are in. At this point in the exercise we reveal the metaphor of the glass and the water. We recognize that the glass is us, and the water is the stress and emotion that we encounter each day. Then we collectively explore ways to manage and deal with some of that negativity, stress, pressure, and emotion. With that question, we allow our youth to share their insights on ways we can decompress, or “pour out” the waters of overwhelm. While the glass is being emptied, it gives them a visual to see that positively expressing themselves, thinking about reasons and consequences, or finding some space to calm down and think, can make a huge impact on their overall well-being. This is a great exercise for the behavioral health of our students. #YoungKings #TUL #MIP #Tacoma #ICM #BehavioralHeath #ChangeStartsWithYOUth #RepresentationMatters

WEEK 4 of our ICM Youth Summer Program!! This week’s Saturday Activity with Purpose was a Team Building Exercise: Puzzle Scavenger Hunt! The Youth were split up into teams, then assigned a number and had to follow the Scavenger Hunt clues. There were 8 different envelopes with their number on it. The clues required critical thinking and teamwork — challenging the youth to think outside of the box! Each envelope held a puzzle piece 🧩 as well as a task that each team had to complete. The tasks promoted team building, creativity, and healthy communication! Each team had to present all the completed tasks to an ICM Facilitator. The FINAL part of the Scavenger Hunt included putting the puzzle together as a Group— with ALL teams puzzle pieces! 🧩 The youth could NOT start the puzzle until everyone completed the Scavenger Hunt, because TEAMWORK is what makes the dream work and we need ALL the pieces to put any puzzle together and all members of the team! We talked about the importance of perseverance, teamwork, helping one another, and what being a team really means! It was an awesome day! 🤞🏽🎉 All teams walked away with prizes for their engagement and dedication to completing tasks! #innovativeChangeMakers #ChangeStartsWithYOUth #TeamWork #TUL #Tacoma #WeAreStrongerTogether