Before snow fell last Friday, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife, pop star Ciara, surprised a group of students from Foster High School at the Tukwila Library.<\/p>\n
The duo were there with members of their Why Not You Foundation in partnership with the King County Library System, the KCLS Foundation and JPMorgan Chase to announce a new campaign – DREAM BIG: Anything is Possible.<\/p>\n
The DREAM BIG campaign encourages high school students to utilize the wide range of teen programs and resources offered at community libraries, a media release stated.<\/p>\n
To keep students out of the know before the event’s surprise guests arrived, the students were asked to write down their dreams.<\/p>\n
Students wrote down anything from make-up artist to model to becoming a singer.<\/p>\n
Ciara later read a handful of the student’s dreams, including Foster senior My’Keal Mosby – who wrote down make-up artist.<\/p>\n
“When she (read mine out loud), I started crying,” Mosby said. “It was like I can do anything if I put my mind to it.”<\/p>\n
A couple of volunteers also got up to discuss what it means to “dream big.”<\/p>\n
Foster student Lamar spoke that to dream big is to do something you wanted to as a child. It means to influence you not to give up, to be excellent at your craft.<\/p>\n
Foster student Muhammad said dream big means something you are hungry for, that you won’t give up. Try your best and prove them wrong, he continued.<\/p>\n
“Being here is a public library, gives attention to the great work we do,” said Lisa Rosenblum, KCLS executive director.<\/p>\n
One of the programs available to high school students is Teen Voices. The program that was piloted in 2017-2018 at the Tukwila Library will now branch out to five other locations – Auburn, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Kent and Renton.<\/p>\n
Teen Voices helps to instill valuable and translatable skills for future success including project management, collaboration and leadership skills.<\/p>\n
Rosenblum added the Teen Voices program also gives student the opportunity to learn public speaking and budgeting.<\/p>\n
The pilot program at the Tukwila Library included 145 student participants who earned community service credit for participation.<\/p>\n
The students also planned a Teen Voices Summit that focused on discussion topics from immigration, racial equity to bullying and mental health, the release continued.<\/p>\n
Phyllis Campbell, chair of JPMorgan Chase Northwest Division, spoke to the attending students Friday on the potential she sees in them.<\/p>\n
“I see a connection with libraries, education and employment,” she said.<\/p>\n
Campbell told attendees when she was growing up in Spokane, her mom used to take her to the library weekly.<\/p>\n
Russell and Ciara approached the mic and spoke with attendees about their vision with this new campaign.<\/p>\n
Russell began by explaining why their foundation is named Why Not You. He told students it was a question his dad used to ask him.<\/p>\n
He said his dad would ask “Why don’t you graduate early?” or “Why don’t you play professional baseball?”<\/p>\n
Russell added we should ask ourselves that verbally – ask “Why can’t I be successful?”<\/p>\n
He added that successful people don’t just ask that question, they find the answer to it.<\/p>\n
Ciara stepped up next and told guests, “All it takes is one person to believe in you and that’s you.”<\/p>\n
Along with the announcement of the new campaign, the Wilsons unveiled two limited edition library cards. The cards were created by artist Keegan Hall and feature Russell and Ciara.<\/p>\n
The library cards are available at all 48 KCLS locations and all 83 JPMorgan Chase branches throughout King County. The cards will be available through June while supplies last.<\/p>\n
Hall designed the library cards to fit side by side like a puzzle. The cards include dream-inspired images floating above Russell and Ciara – the dream images include a Super Bowl trophy, a Grammy and other things near and dear to the Wilsons.<\/p>\n
To end last Friday’s event, Russell and Ciara announced $100,000 in Why Not You scholarships to help students achieve their post-high school educational dreams, the release stated.<\/p>\n
Their foundation in partnership with the College Success Foundation is currently looking for students in King County to be a Why Not You Scholar.<\/p>\n
Eight scholars will be selected this spring – four will receive $20,000 ($5,000 per year for four years) to attend a four year public institution and four other students will receive $5,000 ($2,500 per year for two years) to attend a community college or trade school.<\/p>\n
Setting up this scholarship, Russell and Ciara said, is dreaming big for them.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a blessing,” the Wilsons said.<\/p>\n
The duo wants to help students get to college. “It’s a dream for us,” they said.<\/p>\n