Over 400 scholars from Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) were among the approximately 16,000 students from over 525 schools across Washington and beyond in attendance at WE Day Washington 2019. WE Day Washington is an inspirational event full of unforgettable performances and motivational speeches meant to inspire youth to continue taking action on issues such as education, poverty, bullying and to keep striving for positive outcomes for themselves and others.

Tickets to WE Day cannot be purchased. Instead, students earn tickets to WE Day by making a difference in their local and global community through service learning projects. The middle and high school FWPS scholars who attended earned tickets by leading efforts such as the WE Scare Hunger food drive held at Town Square Park on Halloween, a fundraiser to pay for an education for scholars in Kenya, and WE Clean Up the School, an environmental project to clean up the school and surrounding area.

World-renowned speakers and celebrities such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Niko Battle, Ciara, Gaten Matarazzo, Ingrid Nilsen and Kheris Rogers were among those who participated in this year’s celebration of scholars’ volunteer efforts. Scholars in attendance also heard from their peers, as local youth speakers took to the stage to share words of inspiration about important topics that impact young people across Washington.

WE Day is more than a one-day event; it’s connected to the yearlong WE Schools program that offers educational campaigns and resources to help young people turn ideas into continued action.

“A relentless focus at Federal Way Public Schools is impactful learning and leading students to create change,” said Dr. Tammy Campbell, FWPS superintendent. “That’s what WE Schools Program and WE Day has provided for our scholars: ways to make a sustained difference locally, and globally.”

The WE Schools program is in direct support of FWPS’ strategic plan Goal 2, Whole Child: Thriving, Confident, Responsible, Individuals which includes completing 24 hours of community service before graduation beginning with the class of 2021. During the 2016–17 school year, 94 percent of educators said their students felt a greater connection to their local communities and 81 percent said the program engaged previously disengaged youth.

A scholar from Federal Way Public Academy shared, “I think most of what I’ve learned is that you can make a global impact, even when you start on a smaller scale in your local community. You can make an impact.” A Decatur High School scholar said she was inspired by her favorite speaker of the day, “because she showed that as long as you have drive, you can accomplish anything.”