Word Is Bond

WE WORK WITH YOUNG MEN AGES 15-20 YEARS OLD AND DO LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, CAREER EXPLORATION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.

RISING LEADERS IS OUR DYNAMIC RITES-OF-PASSAGE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN IN THE GREATER PORTLAND,OR METRO AREA. THE PAID SIX-WEEK INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS OPEN TO YOUNG BLACK MEN AGES 16 THROUGH 21. WE HAVE CURRENTLY DEVELOPED THE FIRST AND SECOND YEARS OF THE PROGRAM.RISING LEADERS HAS BEEN HOSTED ANNUALLY SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2017. THE PROGRAM CURRENTLY CONSIST OF TWO COHORTS WITH THE FIRST YEAR COHORT FOCUSING ON ON-CALL MER EXPLORATION. RISING LEADERS IS A ONE OF A KIND PROGRAM FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN FOCUSED ON THEIR CULTURAL IDENTITY, STORYTELLING, AND EXPERIENCES THAT EXPAND THEIR WORLDVIEW. YOUTH LEADERS IN RISING LEADERS ARE KNOWN AS COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS AND ARE RECRUITED FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS THE METRO AREA.

WORD UP IS OUR SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM RUNNING FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY ANNUALLY. WORD UP HOSTS COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECTS LED BY OUR YOUTH LEADERS INCLUDING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS TRAININGS FOR LOCAL, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TRAININGS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TRAININGS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE TRAININGS ON OUR SERVICES PAGE.AMBASSADORS ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OUR MENTOR PROGRAM AND ENGAGE IN ALL PRO SOCIAL EVENTS THAT SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH AND EXPAND THEIR WORLDVIEW. FUTURE PROJECTS FOR OUR WORD UP PROGRAM INCLUDE A SPRING BREAK LEADERSHIP TRIP.

INAUGURAL WORD IS BOND SPRING LEADERSHIP FORUM IS A SEVEN DAY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE FOCUSED ON PUBLIC POLICY AND COLLEGE EXPLORATION. THE FORUM WILL TAKE 10 AMBASSADORS TO WASHINGTON DC FOR A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE WHERE THEY WILL COLLECT RESEARCH TO DEVELOP A PUBLIC POLICY PROPOSAL TO IMPACT A SPECIFIC ISSUE HERE IN PORTLAND. THEY WILL CONNECT WITH LOCAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY STUDENTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE TRIP. AMBASSADORS WILL ALSO LEARN ABOUT COLLEGE OPTIONS FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO TRADITIONAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.THE GOAL OF THE SPRING LEADERSHIP FORUM IS TO EXPAND THE WORLDVIEW OF AMBASSADORS, INCREASE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK HISTORY, TEACH THEM ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AND APPLIED RESEARCH, INSPIRE TO PURSUE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND EMPOWER AMBASSADORS BELIEF IN THEMSELVES. THE SPRING LEADERSHIP FORUM IS ORGANIZED INTO DIFFERENT DAYS, EACH WITH ITS OWN FOCUS. ON ANCESTORS DAY, AMBASSADORS WILL VISIT THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM INCLUDING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND A MUSEUM OF THEIR CHOICE. DURING GOVERNMENT DAY, AMBASSADORS WILL VISIT THE US CAPITAL AND THE WHITE HOUSE.