Senior Synthesis Project Series: Pillar 3 - Diversity

**Due to seasonal allergies and a small cold, this article was posted on 5/16/24 instead of the planned posting date of 5/13/24. Thank you for your patience and grace.

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    As the youth programs manager at The Center for Wooden Boats (CWB), I have worked with many incredible organizations and programs. Many of these organizations are working towards creating more inclusivity and accessibility through the maritime industry and maritime or marine experiences. 

    Initially, the Siebel Sailing program through US Sailing changed at The Center for Wooden Boats to the Young Mariniers Initiative in mid-2022. I am so proud to be a part of the founding of this program. The goal of the Young Mariniers Initiative, or YMI, is “to ensure youth and adolescents in the Puget Sound region, especially those from underserved communities, have access to enriching maritime experiences that build essential skills, foster growth, promote inclusivity, and support the future of the blue economy through exposure to maritime careers while contextualizing the rich maritime history of the Pacific Northwest” (The Center for Wooden Boats, www.cwb.org/ymi). Through YMI, in the summer of 2022, CWB gave roughly $38,000 in scholarships, and in the Summer of 2023, roughly $23,000 of scholarships for youth to participate in sailing and woodworking programming. While scholarships to CWB’s youth sailing and woodworking are a large part of YMI, this program allows for many different types of students. YMI also encompasses youth job and skills training on the CWB docks through our junior instructor program and partnerships with internship programs such as Teens In Public Service and Youth Maritime Career Launch Program. Youth Maritime Career Launch has allowed for an active diversification in the Seattle maritime industry, “The Youth Maritime Career Launch Internship Program is a 3-month PAID internship that connects youth and young adults ages 18-24 to permanent employment opportunities with employers in the Maritime Industry. Our goal is to establish an employment pipeline to diversify the maritime workforce and get young adults into entry-level jobs in the industry!” (https://urbanleague.org/youth-maritime-program/). Working with high school interns throughout each season is always a highlight of my work. Through internships, students can discover if working in the maritime industry suits them. Internship experiences at CWB strive to allow young adults to work on the water and in the shop to learn carpentry basics related to boatbuilding and restoration. While there is still room for growth, CWB's work for the Young Mariniers Initiative is unique and innovative for students looking to build connections in the maritime industry. 

    Working with Sea Potential has been one of my most incredible experiences. Sea Potential's Mission is to “[cultivate] a full cycle of Black Indigenous People Of Color representation in maritime. Through healing activities and ocean justice conversations, we focus on fostering youth appreciation and connection to marine ecosystems and transforming the maritime industry with inclusive workplace culture” (Sea Potential). They are an organization run by incredible people. Savannah and Ebony, the cofounders of Sea Potential, have put in the effort to make an incredible organization and were recently on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Seattle local list and the 30 Under 30 Education list. Most recently, our successful collaboration on a program for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth ages 15-18 named ‘YAWL READY!? Sailing 2024’ in April 2024 was a testament to our shared commitment to diversity and inclusivity. This program allowed students to get on the water and experience sailing their own boats, learn about multicultural sailing and voyaging history, and build individual model boats. Sea Potential should be the standard in accessibility. Students who participated in this program were given support in multiple ways. They had an in-person Spanish translator, students were paid a stipend upon program completion, students and staff were provided a meal during each day of programming from local BIPOC chefs, and transportation support or a gas stipend was made available for every student. I believe all organizations with a goal of accessibility and inclusion should make choices to be able to support their students in as many ways as possible. Providing just free programming is simply not enough. 

    There are many different ways for people of all backgrounds to participate in on-the-water activities. I am proud of the work I have done and will always continue to do, whether I am employed in maritime or not. The maritime industry should be a place where people, regardless of background, should be welcome to work, play, and socialize on or near the water.

How to Get Involved: 

• Sea Potential 
• Youth Maritime Career Launch
• Teens In Public Service (TIPS) 
• Evergreen Goodwills Youth Maritime Training Programs