By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Aspire Growth (AG) is a mentorship program designed to connect students and young people with the resources and tools necessary to achieve success. Founded by Ty Edwards in 2021, AG aims to support youth by linking them to employment, educational programs, and holistic services that promote greater autonomy.
“AG supports connecting youth to employment, education, programs, and holistic services to move towards greater autonomy,” says Edwards.
Edwards says that his vast experience as a youth engagement specialist for the Seattle Housing Authority taught him the impact that consistent support has when it comes to positive outcomes in mentoring.
“I believe in being consistent,” Edwards emphasizes. “When it comes to mentoring, it doesn’t stop when your job or day ends. Consistency is crucial for all parties involved. I’ve had strong, consistent mentors throughout my life, which helped me become the first male in my family to go to college.”
AG collaborates with numerous city and community organizations, including Seattle Public Schools, the Seattle Housing Authority, Boeing Credit Union, and the Seattle Public Library. Despite their diverse designs and implementations, these partnerships share the common goal of providing structured support from older or more experienced individuals, such as young adult volunteers or higher-grade students.
AG serves middle school to high school students and young adults up to 24 years old. The program reaches diverse populations with various needs and risk factors, from poverty and neighborhood disadvantages to specific vulnerabilities like disability and mental health challenges.
According to Edwards, AG is youth-led, with staff primarily consisting of former participants who return to provide the same mentorship that contributed to their success.
“We support Seattle Public School middle schoolers and high schoolers, as well as students from all over King County and young adults up to 24 years old,” says Edwards. “All our staff are youth from the community, aged 16 to 24. The program is very youth-led, with cohort groups meeting virtually throughout the week.”
From the student perspective, a recurring theme is autonomy—the safe space to be oneself and exercise one’s voice unapologetically. The program offers excursions related to the academic and career goals set by the students. AG fosters a communal atmosphere akin to a family environment, providing students with life lessons beyond traditional classroom learning. These lessons include the importance of credit, homeownership, entrepreneurship, cooking, and lifestyle orientation.
“One of the things I liked best in the program is the sense of community,” says Amir, a high school sophomore. “We are constantly around each other like a family, in a safe space to speak about whatever we want. We can unapologetically be ourselves.”
“I see myself using a lot of these skills in my personal life,” continued Amir. “From simple things like introducing myself by shaking hands to impactful financial skills we learned from presentations on investing and budgeting. I would definitely recommend this program to a friend because it’s so beneficial in many ways.”
Alan, a young adult staffer, shares a similar sentiment.
“One of the many things I love about this program is the ability to be authentic and how safe the space is,” says Alan. “It allows individuals to be vulnerable and open to one another. A memorable activity was our trip to BECU, where we participated in a Financial Reality Fair. We got hands-on experience in taking out loans, budgeting, and understanding how credit is applied in different parts of life.”
Mentorship through programs like AG equips community children and young adults with the tools and skills to not only survive but thrive and find success. Edwards believes in discovering, utilizing, and sharpening individual gifts to give back to society.
“There are many talented and genius souls out there,” says Edwards. “With stewards like Aspire Growth, our children have a fighting chance.”
“Aspire Growth is important because many youth get left behind or lack access to these resources,” Edwards explains. “We have so many geniuses in marginalized communities who don’t know what’s outside of their neighborhoods. Some have never heard of Kirkland, Bellevue, or Mercer Island. It’s crucial to provide our kids with the necessary skills and empower them to be successful into adulthood.”