Connecting Pierce County Youth to Education, One Bus Ride at a Time
This October, Northwest Education Access (NWEdA) is honored to be featured as a Nonprofit Partner by Pierce Transit! 🚍 Keep an eye out — the faces of our amazing students and dedicated staff will soon be featured on buses and shelters across Pierce County.
This spotlight comes as we celebrate 6 years of serving and supporting Opportunity Youth in the region — young people ages 16–24 who are navigating barriers to education and employment.
🌟 Our team may be small in Pierce County, but we are fierce advocates. Jerry-Lee Bulala and Haley Edwards, Program Specialists, have supported hundreds of students in Tacoma and Pierce County — providing one-on-one mentorship, financial aid guidance, and a clear path toward college and career success.
Through strong partnerships with local organizations such as Fresh Start, Tacoma Community College, Willie Stewart Academy, The REACH Center, Goodwill, Pierce College, and the Franklin Pierce School District, we’re creating real, lasting change. And the need is only growing — especially in rural parts of unincorporated Pierce County.
📊 At a recent Sound Reengagement Collaborative meeting, we shared a powerful (and concerning) stat: 4 in 10 youth with a high school diploma or GED are disconnected from both postsecondary education and work. This number has continued to rise since 2019 due to the lasting impact of COVID.
That’s why partnerships like the one we have with Pierce Transit are so crucial. Not only are they helping us raise awareness — they’ve also provided bus tickets for our students at a discounted rate to our organization, breaking down transportation barriers and helping them reach their goals. Learn more about their Human Services Agency Ticket Program.
💙 You can be part of this movement — and help more young people across Pierce County access opportunity, stability, and a future they deserve.
👉 Here’s how you can support:
Together, we’re building brighter futures. Let’s keep going. 💪
