Coordinated Care and Seattle Seahawks Host Annual "Strong Youth Strong Communities" Summit to Empower Washington Youth
Date: 05/21/25
SEATTLE, WA, (May 21, 2025) – This week, the Seattle Seahawks teamed up with Coordinated Care, Washington's trusted healthcare partner and wholly owned subsidiary of the Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), to host the annual Strong Youth Strong Communities (SYSC) youth summit at Lumen Field. The event brought together over 400 teens from high schools across the region. Led by Seahawks Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones, Seahawk Legend Marcus Trufant and General Manager for the Seattle Reign, Lesle Gallimore, these star athletes and professionals shared personal stories of overcoming obstacles and strategies to build resiliency. This year’s summit focused on how we can build a support network by fostering resilience, break down stigma around mental health, and empower Washington’s next generation with tools for maintaining a positive mindset.
"At Coordinated Care, we understand that mental and physical well-being are inseparable components of overall health, which is why it is so meaningful for these world-class athletes to emphasize the importance of maintaining emotional resilience," said Coordinated Care President and CEO, Beth Johnson. "Every child deserves a strong community behind them to break through isolation and create pathways to feeling empowered. That's why we're proud to host this year's SYSC summit and inspire students across the region to face challenges head on and build a happier, healthier next generation."
Mental health challenges continue to impact today’s youth at unprecedented rates – CDC data shows 40% of high school students report feeling persistently sad or hopeless. The Strong Youth Strong Communities Initiative creates a critical safe space for young people to express themselves, connect with mentors, and develop practical life skills—fostering a positive impact for both current and future school communities. This year’s summit brought together hundreds of students ages 13-18 from schools across the region, including Renton High School, Foster High School from Tukwila, Chief Sealth High School from Seattle, Mount Rainier High School from Highline, and many others.
"The Seahawks are proud to partner with Coordinated Care for the second year for their 'Strong Youth Strong Communities' summit," said Mario Bailey, vice president of community engagement and legends for the Seattle Seahawks. "Empowering youth and supporting mental wellness is something our organizations truly align on. The Seahawks are committed to destigmatizing the conversation around mental health by spreading awareness, amplifying the voices of experts in this space, and encouraging all people to nurture their mental wellness every day."
The summit featured interactive breakout sessions where students engaged in meaningful dialogue about challenges they face, connected with positive role models, and developed actionable strategies for maintaining mental well-being both in and outside the classroom to achieve their full potential.
"Growing up I faced my own mental health challenges, but what kept me going was learning to speak my truth and having mentors who believed in me," said Seattle Seahawks Legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Jones. "I'm proud to partner with Coordinated Care to bring together Washington's youth, share my personal experiences, and remind them that being strong means knowing when to reach out for help."
Founded in 2012, Coordinated Care serves over 360,000 members across all Washington counties, including 222,000+ Medicaid members with nearly half being children and youth. As Washington's largest carrier on the health insurance Marketplace exchange and the only plan serving the state's foster care system, Coordinated Care has become a cornerstone of the healthcare safety net – committed to collaborating with organizations focused on expanding access to quality healthcare services for its members.