TACOMA, Wash. — For decades, Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood had a reputation of crime, violence and gangs. But now, with community involvement, the neighborhood has changed into an area that inspires young people.
One of the organizations investing in Hilltop is Hilltop Artists. The 30-year-old nonprofit glass-blowing studio has taken countless students under its wing, using glass blowing as a diversion for teens.
Chris Spadafore was one of those teens.
"Sometimes kids are like attracted to dangerous things, and it was just the fact that the adults trusted the kids," Spadafore said when asked why he got interested in glass blowing.
Spadafore grew up in Tacoma, in the Hilltop neighborhood in the late '80s. He said he witnessed a lot of things.
"It was just drugs, violence, just an everyday thing," Spadafore explained.
Neighbors were desperate for help to protect their kids. Their wishful thinking was captured in a KING 5 archive story from 1993. The story reads in part: "Residents of the hilltop community believe their neighborhood can some day be a peaceful place where children can play outside without the fear of violence."
A year after that story aired, in came Hilltop Artists in 1994.
They started out as a humble glass blowing studio in the heart of the historically Black neighborhood. Thirty years later, Hilltop Artists is so much more than just a glass blowing studio. They serve primarily BIPOC youth from diverse economic backgrounds. They don't charge anything for the kids to participate.
Who knew, a place that burns at 2,400 degrees would be one of the safest places a kid could be.
"I like the idea of making stuff, like instead of buying cups, I could just make the cups," Julian Hem said. Thirteen-year-old Hem is one of the students participating in glass art at Hilltop Artists. He said he also gets to work on learning communication, teamwork and leadership skills.
"Having people, like friends to help you with stuff, because it's like it's got kind of like bonding I guess," Hem said. "You're partners and you trust them with stuff to do to help you with your piece."
When Hilltop Artists started in the early '90s, the neighborhood was filled with crime tape, ambulances, and heavy police presence. Today those things have been replaced with the signs of community investment including a lively Hilltop neighborhood hub with brand new public transit. As for all of Tacoma—it saw a reduction in violent crime.
"We're down about 11% in aggravated assaults, we're down 40%, year to date in homicides," Tacoma PD Chief Avery Moore said at an April 16 city council briefing.
For all that success, there's still work to do for kids of color. A 2022 City of Tacoma report found young Black people were twice as likely to die from assault than white people.
"A lot of the things that were happening 30 years ago, are still happening to a certain degree," Kimberly Keith said. Dr. Keith is the executive director of Hilltop Artists.
Hilltop Artists thinks their work had something to do with that success story of violence reduction. At the glass studio, kids find structure and rules: to participate—you can't skip school. That's a non-negotiable rule for Keith.
"It was no class, no glass," Keith said. "So if you didn't go get your GED credits and did something to matriculate you couldn't participate in the glass. Whether it's BIPOC youth or folks that live here on the Hilltop with me, I think there is still an ethos about we need to give kids something to do."
By continuing to provide a safe space where kids have access to a historically white and affluent craft, Hilltop Artists has become the cornerstone of dreams.
For kids like Julian, he's not only safe – but also aiming high.
"I like doing this as a hobby, but my dream job what I want to be in the future is become an architect," Hem said.
And for Hilltop Artists alum Chris Spadafore, he's already living that dream. He's the principal architect, at one of the preeminent architecture firms in the state.
"The Hilltop Artists was kind of like the catalyst, the spark that I needed to get me to where I am today," Spadafore said.
Thirty years since lighting up their first furnace, Hilltop Artists is on solid footing: they've grown with the neighborhood and have continuous support from the community.
They remain steadfast in their promise to continue uplifting as many young people as possible.
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