After a year battling gun violence, 'the work is still urgent'

Earlier this year we told you about Kelli Lauritzen and Charissa Eggleston, two moms in Federal Way.

Alarmed at an outbreak of gun violence, they decided to act.

They started a youth program called HYPE – Helping Youth Perform Excellence. It mentors teens involved with the justice system. Sometimes the teens are assigned to HYPE as part of probation. Most are kids of color.

KUOW’s Race and Equity team followed up with the program for a year-end series on stories we covered in 2017.

“One of our original members is now working. He’s going to college at Highline Community College,” Eggleston told us. “He’s discovered the power and joy of reading. He’s suggesting articles that we incorporate reading as part of our program.”

But 2017 wasn’t all success. Two kids in the program were wounded in a shooting.

“The work is still urgent,” she said.

Still, she said she hopes the program can be shared with other communities.