Center for Children & Youth Justice
615 Second Ave.
Suite 275
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206.696.7503
E-Mail: info@ccyj.org

The 4th annual Norm Maleng Advocate for Youth Award Breakfast was held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Seattle on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Many thanks to the record number of guests, table captains and sponsors who, along with our inspiring speakers, made it the most successful event ever!

Our 2011 honoree was Jim Mallahan, whose devotion to poor, exploited and marginalized communities represents a family legacy of service to others. Described by civic leaders as "a true citizen hero," Jim earned the Norm Maleng Advocate for Youth Award for his life-saving support of the YouthCare Bridge Program, an innovative Seattle initiative to intervene in the lives of young victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Read more about Jim.

In the photo at right: Justice Bobbe J. Bridge (center) is flanked by Mark Maleng and award recipient Jim Mallahan at left and speakers Starcia Ague and Jose Gaitan at right.

Justice Bridge shared her perspectives on CCYJ's first five years and what lies ahead, and also sent a post-breakfast message to guests and supporters. Read Justice Bridge's remarks and message.

Keynote speaker Starcia Ague challenged breakfast guests to fight for kids like her. Growing up as the daughter of an addicted, neglectful mother and a drug-dealing father living in a meth house, Starcia had to fight just to survive. And when she made a terrible mistake at the age of 15 and was sent to youth detention until her 21st birthday, she fought for the education she knew was her only chance to succeed. "There must be reform so that juvenile mistakes won't have lifelong consequences for young people who have truly been rehabilitated like the system intends and are committed to turning around their lives," emphasized the 23-year-old Olympia native, whose compelling story captivated guests. Read more of Starcia's compelling story.