The Aseda Project

Rooted in Healing.
Rising in Strength.

We believe every Black child deserves free and equitable access to mental health support, safe spaces, and opportunities for emotional wellness.

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About Our Name

Aseda (ah-SEH-dah)

Aseda is a word rooted in the Twi language of the Akan people of Ghana, meaning gratitude. It is more than a word — it is an orientation toward life. To practice aseda is to move through the world with a recognition that we are held by something larger than ourselves: our ancestors, our community, our culture, and each other.

The Aseda Project was founded on this foundation — that Black youth deserve to be raised in spaces where their existence is celebrated, their wholeness is protected, and their futures are met with gratitude and intention.

The Aseda Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Thurston County that fosters therapeutic healing, mental wellness, and cultural identity for all communities of Black school-aged youth; and provides trauma-informed, culturally grounded care and programming in a community where they have historically been underserved, unseen, and undervalued. (UBI: 605 710 801) All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Wellness Support Circle

Wellness Support Circle

Our Mission

The Aseda Project exists to empower Black school-aged youth through accessible, culturally responsive mental health support, mentorship, education, and community-based programs that promote healing, resilience, and hope.

Our Vision

We envision a world where every Black child and young person feels seen, supported, emotionally healthy, and empowered to thrive.

Who We Serve

The Aseda Project is based in Thurston County, Washington, serving Black school-aged youth and their families. We center our work on those who have been most overlooked: Black children growing up in communities with little to no culturally specific programming, mental health support, or affirming spaces designed with them in mind.

We recognize that Black youth in our region do not lack resilience — they lack resources built for them, led by people who look like them and understand their experience. The Aseda Project exists to close that gap, and our impact extends into the wider community as we build a more just and equitable South Sound.

The Gap We Fill

There are currently no dedicated nonprofits in our region specifically focused on the mental health and cultural wellbeing of Black school-aged youth. Black families are navigating general youth services not designed with their cultural needs in mind, or going without services entirely. The Aseda Project directly addresses this void through:

  • Culturally responsive mental health support and wellness programming
  • Affirming spaces where Black youth can explore and celebrate their identity
  • Community connection, mentorship, and intergenerational support
  • Practical life skills training to prepare youth for independent and successful futures
  • Advocacy for equitable access to services across the South Sound region

Our Programs & Pillars

Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services

Addressing unique mental health challenges with culturally competent trauma-informed professionals. Our youth focused mental health programs and community education initiatives work to destigmatize treatment.

Youth Empowerment

We believe education is a powerful pathway to opportunity and economic mobility. Through tutoring, mentorship, enrichment programs, and leadership development, we equip Black youth with the academic, social, and leadership skills needed to succeed. By expanding access to resources and support, we help close opportunity gaps and empower young people to reach their full potential.

Youth Empowerment

Youth Empowerment

Life Skills Training

Life Skills

Life Skills

We understand that academic success alone is not enough to prepare young people for the challenges and opportunities of adulthood. To thrive in an ever-changing world, Black youth need practical skills, confidence, and access to knowledge that empowers them to make informed decisions, achieve financial stability, and build fulfilling lives.

Basic Needs Support

We understand that children cannot fully learn, heal, or thrive when their basic needs go unmet. Our Basic Needs Support program provides compassionate assistance to families facing food insecurity, clothing shortages, housing instability, and financial hardship. Through direct support, community partnerships, and resource navigation, we help stabilize households, strengthen resilience, and create the foundation for long-term well-being and success.

Basic Needs Support

Basic Needs Support

Our Values

🙏

Gratitude (Aseda)

We are grateful for every child, every family, every ancestor who made this work possible. Gratitude is not passive — it fuels our commitment to show up fully, to honor the community that holds us, and to build something worthy of those who come after us.

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Cultural Affirmation

We believe Black identity is a source of strength, beauty, and wisdom — not a deficit to be managed. Every program, every interaction, and every space we create is designed to reflect, celebrate, and affirm the fullness of Black life and culture.

🌟

Wholeness

We see Black youth not as problems to be solved but as whole human beings with rich inner lives, unique gifts, and the right to joy, safety, and healing. Our approach to mental wellness honors the mind, body, spirit, and community as interconnected.

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Community as Care

We are rooted in the belief that healing happens in relationship. We partner with families, elders, schools, faith communities, and local organizations to build a web of care that holds our youth from all sides.

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Equity without Apology

We are unapologetically Black-centered because our community deserves spaces built specifically for them. We pursue equity not as a trend but as a non-negotiable foundation — and we measure our success by the wellbeing of those most marginalized.

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Trauma-Informed Practice

We recognize that many Black youth carry wounds shaped by systemic racism, generational trauma, and community loss. Our work is guided by compassion, patience, and evidence-informed approaches that create safety before asking for vulnerability.

Our Partners & Supporters

Collaborating with trusted leaders to support youth mental health and wellness.

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Clinical Partner

Bassie Counseling & Consulting

We collaborate closely with Bassie Counseling & Consulting to provide professional, culturally responsive therapy, wellness circles, and trauma-informed clinical care for Black school-aged youth.

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Get Involved

Join the Aseda Project and help us continue our mission. Whether you want to volunteer, donate, or just stay informed, we want to hear from you.

Make a Donation

The Aseda Project is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Your contributions are fully tax-deductible.

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