From the CEO: FFTS to Enter a Period of Strategic Pause
The Foundation for Tacoma Students is entering a period of strategic pause and recalibration. Continuing our current level of operations is no longer financially sustainable, and maintaining the status quo would compromise the integrity of our mission.
Local Organizations Receive $800,000 for Youth and Cultural Programming
When over 12,000 residents cast their votes in Tacoma’s participatory budgeting process, their message was clear: invest in our youth and celebrate our cultures. Today, that community vision becomes reality as the City of Tacoma and the Foundation for Tacoma Students announce the recipients of $800,000 in funding for locally-led programming that will transform District 4’s eastside neighborhoods.
Community at the Table for Student Success
At last month’s Charting Our Future conference, hundreds of community leaders and advocates gathered to reflect, connect, and reimagine a path forward. One message echoed across every panel and conversation: […]
The Power of Us in Practice: Insights from Charting Our Future
Charting Our Future 2025 saw our community come together to share stories, spark ideas, and strengthen a shared commitment to youth success. As we return to our everyday roles, the […]
Community, Courage, and The Power of Us
At the 2025 Charting Our Future conference, Dr. Tafona Ervin delivered a powerful opening address that met the moment with clarity, courage, and conviction. Acknowledging the weight of today’s political […]
Centering The Student Experience By Design
This year’s Community Impact Award recipient, Clover Park Technical College (CPTC), demonstrates what’s possible when student experiences are placed at the center of institutional efforts. By redesigning its approach and […]
Culturally Responsive Strategies for Financial Aid Access
Financial aid, a critical resource for college access, remains largely untapped by thousands of students in Washington each year. A complex process filled with unfamiliar terminology, confusion around eligibility, and […]
From the Executive Director | Taking A Sabbatical
After 15 years of dedicated service in education, I am taking a much-needed sabbatical. I’m deeply grateful to the BIPOC ED Coalition, the Foundation for Tacoma Students Board of Directors, […]
Pathways to Possibility: Supporting 1,840 More Students to Success
During last week’s State of Public Education (SOPE) symposium, Foundation for Tacoma Students Executive Director Dr. Tafona Ervin set forth a clear vision: supporting 1,840 more Tacoma students to post-secondary […]
How Pierce County Partners are Connecting Students to Postsecondary Opportunities
In Washington state, the journey from high school to college is rarely straightforward, varying across cities and school districts. Despite diverse paths, every young person has the potential to succeed […]