Saving Lives through Youth Guidance & Development

For the past few years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portand has worked hard to improve the attendance of teens in our Clubs because for teens, out-of-school time can be filled with many negative opportunities.  By creating programs that interest teens in a healthy, safe environment, teens can find a positive way to spend those hours after school.

One of our most successful programs for teens is YouthForce.  This is a unique employment and career development opportunity for teens that provides job readiness training, employment opportunities and overall career planning.  Teens participating in the program work at the Portland Timbers and Thorns professional soccer games.

Another program offered helps prepare teens for life after highschool.  Recently Teens from our YouthForce program and the Blazer’s Club visited Oregon State University in Corvallis.They were given an in depth look at several of the key buildings on campus in addition to the variety of majors OSU offers. They visited the Student Experience Center, the Memorial Union Building, and the Dixon Recreation Center. After the tour Zachary, one of our YouthForce interns, said, “I am highly interested in this school… this college is definitely on my top 5 list”.

OSU freshman and YouthForce alumni, Henok and Adrianah, met up with the group to share their experiences at Oregon State so far.  They got to see their dormitories, dining halls, and the engineering makerspace. After, they had lunch at one of the restaurants in the quad and learned all about clubs, research opportunities, bridge programs, and cool outdoor activities available at OSU.

Gia, from the Blazer’s Club, shares her first impression of Oregon State with us after her visit, stating “this college tour has opened my eyes to a possible new learning experience.”