Empowering Youth Firearm Outreach Program Visits the Black Media Matters Studio
The EYFO cohort and the Converge team pose in the Black Media Matters Studio last week. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
Emotion and solidarity consumed the Black Media Matters Studio last week when Converge Media hosted the Empowering Youth Firearm Outreach Program (EYFO) cohort. Primarily composed of students from Rainier Beach and Garfield High Schools, the group visited the studio to witness the impact of Black-led media firsthand.
The visit carried a solemn weight as the group is currently navigating the tragic loss of a fellow participant, Traveiah Houfmuse, who was killed two weeks prior near Rainier Beach High School.
Guided by founder Mook Smallwood, Ericka McCraney, Marcus Stubblefield, Sgt. Matthew Roberson, and Professor Keith Hullenaar, the EYFO program is a partnership between the University of Washington and the Seattle Police Department. In response to this loss, EYFO has heightened its wraparound support, providing safe transportation via Uber rides and holding dedicated sessions for students to process their grief.
To ensure a safe collaborative environment, the program also utilizes "beef mapping" to prevent conflict among students from different neighborhoods, all while holding participants to high standards of accountability through stipends and professional development.
Hosts Deaunte Damper and Besa Gordon address the EYFO cohort in the Black Media Matters Studio last week. (Photo: Erik Kalligraphy)
Beyond firearm trauma resources and situational awareness, EYFO equips young leaders aged 16 to 24 with essential tools like digital literacy to navigate their world with intellect and intuition and use social media platforms for positive change.
The visit served as a mentorship opportunity where the youth met with the Converge Media family, including Besa Gordon, Trae Holiday, Deaunte Damper, Ashleigh McCurdy, Erik Kalligraphy, and The Big O. The team shared insights on representation, accountability, and professional growth, aiming to inspire the students with a glimpse of what is possible when they take control of their own narrative.
EYFO’s visit demonstrates Converge’s commitment to uplifting the next generation. Between sharing professional and personal guidance to telling the youth’s stories with incredible intention, Converge is dedicated to putting power behind the young minds in the Northwest to move toward a safer community.
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