SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The Snohomish County Council passed a resolution on Wednesday, May 14, recognizing Lynnwood community leader Wally Webster, II, and his ACCESS Project’s Cops vs Youth Basketball character building events.
In June of 2020, the Edmonds School District discontinued its School Resource Officer position. Since 2022 South Snohomish County has experienced “heartbreaking loss” of young lives, Webster said; a total of seven lives to be precise, all lost to homicide committed by youth. Two additional youths were injured due to gunfire, as well as an Carl Bridgmon, a 70-year man who was killed by a stray bullet while sitting in his car at Deleway Park—caught in the crossfire of a drug dispute between youth.
“The ACCESS Project was in direct response to this growing crisis,” said Webster. “Our mission is to intervene early by addressing the mental health challenges our youth are experiencing before these struggles lead to criminal, violence, disruptive behavior or self-harm.”
The ACCESS Project was started in 2022 as a collaborate movement bringing together government officials, educators, faith leaders, community organizations, and wellness professionals to support and uplift youth in Snohomish County.
“When we began, we only had a vision, but we grew into an impactful community initiative,” said Webster.
One of the initiatives the ACCESS Project sponsored was to create a Cops versus Youth Basketball Game, an event purposefully designed to build trust, foster meaningful relationships, between law enforcement officers and youth.
The program particularly aimed to attract individuals who were introverted or lacked mentors who they could confide in with life’s challenges.
Webster recognized Lynnwood Municipal Court Judge Valerie Bouffiou for “planting the mustard seed that ultimately inspired the creation of the ACCESS Project.” He also thanked Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson, and specifically Deputy Marquies Moses his unwavering commitment to building connections and empathy with youth in the program.
Deputy Moses shared with Snohomish County Councilmembers that when the program first started there was some hesitancy among kids, and parents alike, believing that it was a setup to take the kids away. But they made it an effort to ensure the kids, and parents, knew that law enforcement were there to just have fun and be a continued support system for the kids.
“Having something for these kids to lean back on, whether it’s basketball, football, soccer, whatever it is for them – it’s important for them to know and realize that not only have sports to lean on, but also the police,” said Deputy Moses.
Councilman Jared Mead said the recognition to Webster, and law enforcement, was long overdue.
“That’s really what community is about. That’s how you fix big problems, it’s not going to come from government it’s going to come from the community coming together and that’s what this is,” said Councilman Mead.
Councilwoman Dunn thanked Webster for decades of service to social justice issues and civil rights.
Councilman Mead made the motion to approve the resolution, which was seconded by Councilwoman Dunn. The resolution passed unanimously 5-0.
The Cops vs. Youth Basketball Games are typically held at the Trinity Lutheran Church Gym, located on 196th Street in Lynnwood, every other Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. To register for upcoming games, visit https://www.theaccessprojectwa.org/activities.
Who is Wally Webster II?
Wally Webster II is a retired Vice President at Bank of America and a Vietnam veteran.
Webster is a staunch community servant, founding the Association for Collective Community Engagement on Safety and Security nonprofit, served on the Edmonds College Board of Trustees, is a Board of Director for My Neighborhood News Network, previously served as a Board of Director for the Lynnwood Public Facilities District, a member of the Lynnwood Chief of Police Advisory Committee, and investigated all cases involving police use of force for Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART), was a member of the Steering Committee for Volunteers of America, and is a Diamond Life Member for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Webster was awarded the Lynnwood Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year for 2024, the Companis Janet G. Newell Award for 2023, the NAACP of Snohomish County Carl Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023, the Marquid Who’s Who in America Award for 2022-2023, and the City of Lynnwood Honoring Excellence – Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in 2016.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
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