Boys & Girls Clubs Of Portland Metropolitan Area

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO DISCOVER THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS CARING, ENGAGED, RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA OFFER YOUNG PEOPLE ROBUST PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING, COMPETENCE, USEFULNESS, POWER, AND INFLUENCE THAT BUILDS CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND FUTURE SUCCESS. BGCP CONTINUES TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF PROVIDING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR PORTLAND YOUTH-SERVING THREE COUNTIES IN THE PORTLAND METRO AND OVER 6,400 YOUTH. OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER ALL YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO NEED US MOST, TO DISCOVER THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS CARING, ENGAGED, RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM OUR BIPOC COMMUNITIES. OUR APPROACH TO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REFLECTS THIS MISSION AND UNIQUELY POSITIONS US TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS HISTORIC UNDER-RESOURCING OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, OPPORTUNITY DESERTS IN WHICH WE OPERATE, UNFINISHED LEARNING, SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS, AND COVID RECOVERY AND HEALING WITH THE RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCES WE PROVIDE TO FAMILIES. MANY OF OUR YOUTH FACE BARRIERS THAT CAN INCLUDE LIVING IN POVERTY; FOOD INSECURITY; GUN VIOLENCE; ABUSE, RACISM, AND GROWING UP IN A FAMILY WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE PROBLEMS. TOXIC STRESS FROM ACES CAN CHANGE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND AFFECT HOW THE BODY RESPONDS TO STRESS, AND ARE LINKED TO CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN ADULTHOOD. STUDIES SHOW THAT FAMILIES WITH INCOME BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL> PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE AT A GREATER RISK OF EXPERIENCING 4 OR MORE ACES - 89% OF OUR MEMBERS QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, AND 85% ARE KIDS OF COLOR. TODAY'S CONTINUING INEQUALITIES IN EDUCATION, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, WEALTH, AND REPRESENTATION IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. AT BGCP IT IS OUR MORAL IMPERATIVE TO DO THE WORK TO DISMANTLE THE SYSTEMS THAT CREATED THE SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND RESPOND WITH THE SUPPORT REQUIRED, ULTIMATELY ENSURING THE SAFETY AND DIGNITY OF THE KIDS AND FAMILIES THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH EVERY DAY. AS A RESULT, OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDE HIGH-QUALITY 8-HOUR PROGRAMS FOR ELEMENTARY-AGED YOUTH WITH A STAFF TRAINED IN IMPACTFUL MENTORSHIP, TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES, AND RACIAL EQUITY TO ENSURE WE MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN COUNSELING, AND COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTION, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS THAT PROVIDED COVID TESTING AND VACCINATIONS AT NO COST TO THE COMMUNITY OF PORTLAND THAT TARGETED OUR BIPOC COMMUNITIES AND OUR FAMILIES AND YOUTH THAT ATTEND OUR CLUB SITES ACROSS THE PORTLAND METRO.IN ADDITION, OTHER PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS FISCAL YEAR INCLUDED:1. NAMING RIGHTS PARTNERSHIP. BGCP ENTERED INTO A NAMING RIGHTS PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE CAREOREGON, A LEADING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO BIPOC COMMUNITIES IN OREGON. OUR PREMIER CLUB AT THE NOW NAMED CAREOREGON AT ROCKWOOD CLUB WILL ALLOW US TO HOST HEALTH CLINICS AND OTHER HEALTH-RELATED EVENTS CRITICAL TO UPLIFTING HEALTHCARE AWARENESS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. 2. CONDUCTED NUMEROUS COVID VACCINATIONS AT OUR CLUBS IN PORTLAND: HTTPS://WWW.KOIN.COM/NEWS/PORTLAND-CLINIC-HOPES-TO-BOOST-VACCINES-IN-BIPOC-COMMUNITIES/.3. HOSTED A KWANZAA CELEBRATION/COVID VACCINATION EVENT & RAFFLE AT OUR CLUBS. HTTPS://WWW.KOIN.COM/AM-EXTRA/BOYS-GIRLS-CLUB-HOSTS-KWANZAA-CELEBRATION-VAX-CLINIC/4. INCREASED OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORT TOWARD THE BIPOC COMMUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY OUR STAFF AND PROMOTE A STRONGER DEI CULTURE. SEE BGCP RECRUITMENT ADS TV & RADIO: HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/MANAGE/VIDEOS/XXX-XX-XXXX AND HTTPS://VIMEO.COM/MANAGE/VIDEOS/XXX-XX-XXXX. SO, MORE THAN 20,000 KIDS, AGES 6-18 ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA THAT FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING CORE CATEGORIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES DISCUSSED RELATED TO OUR MISSION AND PROGRAM FOCUS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT OUR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES CONTINUE TO TARGET CORE AREAS OF NEED, SUCH AS: A. CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIPB. EDUCATIONS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENTC.HEARTH AND LIFE SKILLSD.THE ARTSE.SPORTS, FITNESS AND RECREATION