By Lucia Flores-Wiseman, The Seattle Medium
After the bell rings and the buses load, groups of students at three Tacoma School District elementaries stay behind and eagerly join together to use the power of art to express themselves. Students connect their creativity with larger topics, such as environmental justice, literacy and robotics.
Through WayOut Kids, elementary school students are able to expand their horizons in a three-hour-long after-school program that includes multimedia and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) programs. The organization recently received a $100,000 grant from The Black Future Co-Op’s 2023 “We See You” initiative, a philanthropy organization that seeks to ignite Black generational wealth, health, and well-being, according to its website.
State Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), co-founder of The Black Future Co-Op, was crucial to making the “We See You” initiative happen. The Black Future Co-Op has raised funds to provide $100,000 grants to over 20 Black-led organizations this year.
The name of the grant stands for itself, “We see you doing the work to move Black Washingtonians forward,” said Nobles. “We see you living out our mission.”
JD Davis, CEO of WayOut Kids, was a hip-hop executive at a Washington music label when a character and voice, Rodney Raccoon, popped up in his head. Rodney Raccoon led Davis to create an animated television series that uses music and art to educate youth. Since 2006, WayOut Kids has provided several art and education opportunities that center Black communities in Pierce County.
“For far too long, we’ve been excluded institutionally,” said Davis. “And it comes from so many different areas; the opportunities just seem to miss us.”
Davis said cultural barriers, assimilation and lack of social connection can prevent Black students from excelling in the education system. “Our kids aren’t dumb, that’s not it at all,” said Davis. “You just can’t connect with them. And that’s the problem.”
WayOut Kids has created a learning and curriculum to connect with Black and brown youth. WayOut Kids offers after-school programs, summer programs, community events, cartoon animation, and curriculum-based flashcards.
Davis wants to make learning accessible to all kids, which is why many programs are low-cost to families. However, this means the programs may be underfunded. The “We See You” grant and donations are helping to bring these resources to more students.
Giselle Gomillion, a student at Fern Hill Elementary School, lights up at the thought of her time learning in WayOut Kids’ after-school program. Gomillion is especially excited to learn about environmental justice, she said. Her mother, Daisha Gomillion, is incredibly grateful for the creativity, awareness, leadership and social skills Giselle developed from WayOut Kids.
“We need more of this so kids can see that they can do this regardless of where they live or what their zip code is,” said Gomillion.
One of the role models in the program for the kids is Reggie Mosby Jr., who brings his full attention and skills as an art director at WayOut Kids. He is also the lead teacher in the after-school program at Fern Hill Elementary.
It’s full circle for Mosby to be a leader for elementary students–he attended Fern Hill in fourth grade. He is proud to be part of the program and is passionate about incorporating the arts into education.
While STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is a common curriculum, WayOut Kids ensures that they add arts to their curriculum, the ‘A’ to STEAM, to instill joy and creativity in education.
“If you know what you’re doing, you can express yourself through technology, through engineering,” said Mosby. “And the only way to know that you can even do that is through the arts.”
Beyond the grant, WayOut Kids hopes to make resources accessible to as many schools, counties and kids as possible. On Dec 2., WayOut Kids will be hosting a free youth technology event that gives kids hands-on learning with robotics, animation, coding and more.
To further support arts and education to Pierce County youth, Davis and Mosby ask for support by donating, sharing their work, and even attending their events.