As Seattle students prepare to head back to school, one local organization is working year-round to make sure young people of color have the support they need to succeed.

The 4 C Coalition, which stands for Clergy, Community, Children-Youth Coalition, has been mentoring Black youth in King County for more than 25 years. Led by Hazel Cameron, the program specifically targets kids ages 12 to 17.

"Twelve, 13, 14 — that age is when kids are transitioning from elementary to middle school, and this is when they seem to kind of start getting in trouble," Cameron said.

Cameron said the secret to the program's success is matching kids with mentors who truly understand their experiences.

The 4 C Coalition recruits adult volunteers and carefully pairs them with students they can relate to. Came

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