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Latest Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Chris Cooper, Director of Marketing & Development
c 206.388.7775, w 206.323.6715, ccooper at firstplaceschool.org

BELLTOWN SALON OWNER GIVES BACK TO ORIGANIZATION WHICH HELPED 21 YEARS AGO

SEATTLE — In the winter of 1989 Alexandria Slider was 8 years old, living in the Aloha Inn with her mother and two sisters, and attending First Place School. Twenty-one years later she is a successful small business owner, a homeowner and a First Place volunteer and donor.
As a child, Alexandria’s parents struggled with drug addiction which led them from being an ordinary middle class family to losing everything—including their home. Between the ages of 5 and 17, Alexandria attended between 10 and 15 schools. One of them was First Place, a small start-up non-profit in the basement of a church in the Central District.

First Place, founded in 1989 as First Place School, opened during a period in time when many school districts would not let children enroll in school without a permanent address. In 1989, when Alexandria attended, it was a stop-gap program which allowed students to maintain their elementary education until their parents we able to move into stable housing. Children stayed for about 8-weeks at a time, which was often as long their emergency shelter lasted. They received meals, bus tokens, clothing, counseling and other basic needs.

Over the years First Place added a more comprehensive list of programs designed to support the entire family. If Alexandria’s family came to First Place today, the children would have been enrolled in the Pre-K through 6th grade school designed to address both the academic education of the student as well as their social and emotional growth. Student receive transportation to and from school, two meals and a snack, clothing, mental health services, plus individual tutoring and mentoring. At the same time, their parents would be working with case managers in the areas of education and training, job readiness, health and mental health, housing, life skills, and advocacy.

Even without all of these services, Alexandria’s family managed to make it. During the times when Alexandria’s mother was unable to care for her three daughters, the girls lived with their godmother who was a strong, supportive role model. At the age of 16, Alexandria made a decision to change the path of her life. She dropped out of school to get away from bad influences, obtained her GED, and was accepted into Gene Juarez Academy. From here she began to build her life and eventually her business. Alexandria now owns Soul the Salon in Belltown, purchased her first home, and recently donated $3,000 to First Place through funds raised at her business and engagement party.

“Coming from the background that I have had, and having the interrupted childhood and then turning into the strong person in my family in caring for my mom and my sisters, I feel like I’ve arrived at a place where I can give back to the community. And I feel great to say that First Place is the charity I want to focus on.” said Alexandria.

Alexandria is just one success story at First Place. Recently 11-year-old Marcelas Owens, a First Place graduate, stood next to President Obama as he signed the healthcare reform bill. Marcelas was a student at First Place in 2007 when his mother passed away, and still has family members involved. His two younger sisters attend the school and his grandmother and guardian is president of our Parent Advisory Council as well as a member of the Board of Directors.

Both Alexandria and Marcelas will be on the stage with other First Place alumni at the Annual Fundraising Breakfast on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at the Washington State Convention Center.

About First Place:
First Place is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization located in Seattle’s Central Area. Our mission is to educate and nurture children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness, where we offer housing, culturally relevant education and support services enabling families to achieve permanent stability. Our vision is hope, home and education for every child, one family at a time. First Place fundraises over 85% of their funding from private sources. Learn more at www.firstplaceschool.org.

About the Where Hope Begins Fundraising Breakfast:
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at the Washington State Convention Center 7:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m. The biggest fundraiser of the year for First Place, the event hosts 700 guests and features: a current First Place teacher; a current parent who has seen multiple successes in the program; Marcelas Owens, the 11-year-old Seattle boy who received national recognition while advocating for health care form; Alexandria Slider, a local salon owner who attended First Place 21 years ago; and Dr. Doreen Cato, Executive Director of First Place.

Interviews and photo opportunities of speakers, or other First Place clients, may be arranged through Chris Cooper, at 206 388-7775.

Media is invited to attend the event. Please let us know you are coming.

Morning of event contact: Melissa Collett, 206 660 6806.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 25, 2010

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chris Cooper, First Place, 206.388.7775
ccooper@firstplaceschool.org

Leslie Cohan, City University of Seattle, 425.709.5403
lcohan@cityu.edu

Lori Dugdale, Antioch University Seattle, 206.268.4106
ldugdale@antioch.edu

A WASHINGTON STATE EDUCATIONAL FIRST:
ANTIOCH SEATTLE UNIVERSITY, CITY UNIVERSITY OF SEATTLE AND FIRST PLACE FORM NEW PARTNERSHIP TO HELP KIDS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS

SEATTLE — Antioch University Seattle, City University of Seattle and First Place proudly announce the formation of a multi-disciplinary partnership to meet the training needs of Antioch University Seattle and CityU of Seattle students and the service delivery needs of First Place school’s students and their families. This partnership is a first of its kind in Washington State.

All three institutions anticipate the pilot will begin in September 2010. At that time Antioch University Seattle Psychology students will work with children and families on site at First Place, impacting the community while receiving course and practicum hours toward their degree. In addition, students from CityU’s Albright School of Education will begin their practicum by working with students in classrooms at First Place.

“CityU is proud to partner with First Place to provide extended opportunities for our future Education and Early Education teachers so that they may hone their skills in a collaborative and unique learning environment, simultaneously serving the needs of this special community,” comments Dr. Steven Olswang, Provost, CityU. “Our long history of providing teachers who work with special populations fits squarely with the populations First Place serves.”

“Having our Psychology students getting practicum hours working with First Place children and families will allow us to send psychologists out into the community that are trained to handle both educational and social emotional issues that are faced by many children and their families, not just homeless families,” stated Dr. Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, President of Antioch University Seattle. “This is new kind of community partnership and we are very proud to be a part.”

In the partnership, students from both Antioch University Seattle and CityU will provide clinical assessment, intervention, advocacy, classroom teaching and various support services. First Place will work with professionals and students from both universities on educational philosophy and pedagogy and the unique needs and strengths of their clients.

“CityU students will gain experience working with clinical psychologists in a classroom setting. Action research by CityU students will report on their efforts to expand teaching pedagogy through working with students coming from challenging home lives,” commented Craig Schreiber, Ed.D., associate dean, CityU’s Albright School of Education.

“First Place has a history of creating strong and lasting partnerships to fulfill our mission to provide stability and education to families at risk for homelessness,” said Dr. Doreen Cato, Executive Director of First Place. “Especially in these difficult economic times it is imperative that we work in concert with others who share our community goals. We have found just such a partner in Antioch.”

About City University of Seattle:
Founded in 1973 in Seattle, Washington, City University of Seattle is a private, not-for-profit university that has awarded over 45,000 degrees and certificates worldwide. City University of Seattle’s goal is to change lives for the good by offering high quality and relevant online and in-class education options to any person in the world with a desire to learn. The university is comprised of The School of Management, The Gordon Albright School of Education and the Division of Arts and Sciences. Headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, City University of Seattle offers classes at locations throughout Washington, Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Slovakia, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, The Czech Republic and China.
About Antioch University Seattle:
Antioch University Seattle is a bold and enduring source of innovation in higher education. Students’ passion to advance their lives, personally and professionally, is developed through academic programs that respond to the world’s needs. Students become educators, therapists and counselors, creative leaders and entrepreneurs who contribute to the common good. Together, we form a visionary community that strikes a rare—and essential—balance between idealism and experience. Learn more at www.antiochseattle.edu