by guest blogger Antonio Raphael

My name is Antonio Raphael and I am a Journalism student in my senior year at the University of Oregon. This summer I decided to push myself outside of my comfort zone to find an internship where I could hone some of the skills that I have been learning in school. I grew up in Los Angeles, California so my original plan was to find work there. But that all changed when I walked into a career fair at my school’s student union and discovered the UO Portland Internship Experience, a 10-week summer program connecting students with over 50 nonprofit organizations in the Portland area.

After being accepted into the program, I had to choose: which nonprofit would offer me the opportunity to serve the community while also giving me the autonomy to explore my work as a photojournalist and videographer? I received several offers, but Elevate Oregon immediately stood out to me as a program in alignment with my values and also a place where I could be given the space to improve my skills.

Getting Acclimated 

Elevate Oregon is a mentoring program serving at-risk youth within Parkrose School District schools. With only 19 employees, the staff is small, but that made it easier to connect with the team. My supervisor helped me to understand how nonprofits work and helped me set goals for the entire summer. 

Still, I had some anxiety and apprehension as to my ability to achieve my goals with Elevate. While I do have considerable experience working as a photojournalist and videographer, there was a learning curve for me as to how to work in a professional environment. I was used to being a freelancer. And I was just getting acclimated to Portland, a new city for me. What if I failed? 

In order to get rid of my fears in this new environment, I just had to immerse myself and try to create. 

For the first month of my internship, Elevate was deep in summer programming. I spent hours every day at Parkrose High School and Middle School, testing my ability to capture photo and video. I became a well-known face during Elevate’s 4-week transition programs for incoming 6th and 9th graders, making friends with the staff, showing Elevate kids my equipment, and talking to them about my chosen career. This helped a lot with my anxiety, but more importantly, it got me inside the frame… the more kids knew and trusted me, the better my photos and videos of them.

At Elevate’s one-week Community Basketball Camp in August, I really got it that the positive effects of mentoring on these students is real. I observed first-hand how Elevate Teacher/Mentors are supporting and empowering students. These kids see their mentors, people who look like them and understand what they go through, striving for excellence and setting the example of how they can live their best life.

Working Off-Script

  As I got to know the Elevate program, I began to have specific goals for the images I wanted to get. I really looked to capture those one-to-one interactions between students and their mentors. Real moments, rather than trying to create a situation or stage an interaction. That became much easier the longer I was around, and the result was some of the most warm and spontaneous photos I’ve ever taken.

Another one of my goals at Elevate Oregon was to create two professional-quality promotional videos featuring the work of Elevate Oregon. The audio from an interview I did with the Executive Director, Donell Morgan, quickly became the story line for the promo.. Using the hours of video I’d taken with Elevate students and their mentors, I was able to lay powerful mentoring moments over his words, rather than creating a script.

Setbacks… and Pushing Through

On the first Friday of my internship I was working out at the gym when I started to feel some significant pain in my back. After a week with no relief, I decided to try physical therapy. Three weeks later, it was only getting worse, and I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning. There were moments when I couldn’t put my shoes on, couldn’t get off the couch. At times the pain in my calf and glutes was excruciating. That is when I realized it was time to get an MRI.

The MRI showed that, at the age of 21, I had a disc herniation in my lower back. This was very disheartening. As a videographer and photographer we have to really extort our bodies in weird and uncomfortable positions in order to get the shots we want. I was worried it would just be too much for me.

But at that point I was 6 weeks into my internship. I decided I was not going to quit. I told myself that I am a very strong person and that I could still live my life despite this. I got up everyday knowing that there would be some pain but also that I was working towards something truly special. 

Creating Something Special

I’m not going to lie. There were many times during the summer when I wanted to quit because of my injury. But I stayed the course and was able to provide some impactful work over time. I built content for both promo videos throughout the entire 10 weeks. It was very satisfying to see all of my hard work connect in creating something meaningful when I finished editing the videos. 

I documented the program from the inside, honing my technical skills and developing my instincts. I figured out that I have a talent for working with kids. And I created content for Elevate that they can use all year by remaining flexible in my approach and adapting my original project ideas to the flow of the program.

Being able to be a part of a special nonprofit like Elevate Oregon was very impactful for me. There were a lot of kids who were interested in my work and showed curiosity in how I became a journalist. This gave me a whole level of fulfillment. I was serving as a role model and hopefully influencing the next generation of journalists. I now have a new idea of my role as a creator and understand that I have the ability to change someone’s life for the better. The person that I am now is completely different from who I was 10 weeks ago and I truly thank Elevate Oregon for helping me grow my career forward. 

The post The Intern Life: My Summer at Elevate Oregon first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

by guest blogger Antonio Raphael

This past month 98 Parkrose students took part in the annual Elevate Oregon basketball camp at Parkrose High School. 1st through 8th graders learned basketball and life skills from Elevate high school leaders and staff. Coach Xavier Dupree created an atmosphere to get kids active and engaged with their peers. We hope this gives you inspiration to send your child to next year's Elevate Oregon Basketball Camp!

Bringing excitement to the Parkrose community through sports and togetherness

Elevate Oregon’s Community Basketball camp is not your typical week long summer camp. This is a free camp for the entire community. Rather than focusing on all the nitty gritty aspects of basketball, Coach Dupree set up a week of pure enthusiasm by making it fun and building long-lasting character. As each day passed, we saw kids build on their excitement to play basketball and make new friends.  

Learning from a professional

Coach Dupree, currently an Elevate Teacher/Mentor, brought his experience as an overseas professional basketball player to lead this year's camp. Coach Dupree is an entrepreneur by nature as he runs his own streetwear brand called Loyalty Love. But he also has a passion for serving the community and was able to do so through leading this year’s camp. “We’re bringing excitement to the Parkrose community with sports and togetherness,” said Xavier. Elevate Oregon was very lucky to have him leading the camp with his level of basketball IQ and his love for the game.

What did they learn?

Teamwork is one of the most important elements of successful basketball. Elevate coaches supported kids in learning each others’ strengths and working together to achieve a certain outcome. Additionally there were a lot of moments for growth as kids were given real advice from staff and mentors on what they need to work on in the sport of basketball. 

After a week at Elevate Oregon’s Basketball camp your child may come back home with a different perspective on teamwork and staying fit. This is truly a unique experience that is creating a lot of buzz for the Parkrose community. I recommend checking out Elevate Oregon’s website to learn more about how we are building relationships with youth to promote education, self-reliance and achievement in the Parkrose School District.

Antonio Raphael is a Journalism student in his senior year at the University of Oregon. Find him on Instagram, website coming soon!

The post Elevate Oregon 2022 Community Basketball Camp first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

Damarcus and Jaelen

“What is your big goal?” Jaelen Blake asked his after-school class of Elevate kids a few weeks ago, “and what is the purpose of that goal?”

All the other kids immediately wrote down their goals, but Damarcus’s paper was empty. “I don’t know how to do it,” the 4^th grader said. “I don’t understand the question.”

Jaelen was surprised, because five minutes earlier, Damarcus told the class that his goal in life is to be a professional football player. He said he wants to finish high school, get into a good college, spend some time on a college football team, then make it to the NFL and get rich. And not so he could buy himself nice things. His big goal is to pay all his mom’s/grandma’s bills and buy them both separate houses. “I don't want them to stress or worry ever again,” he said.

YOU CAN HELP

Stress and worry are a consistent reality for many of our students. When you support Elevate Oregon, you are giving a boost to fantastic kids who have big plans for the future but face too many hurdles and inequities to achieving their goals.

Saying his goal out loud and putting his thoughts on paper were two different tasks for Damarcus. He and his 4^th grade teacher were bumping heads. His core classwork was at a 2^nd grade level. He knew the answers, but refused to speak or show his work, glaring or kicking the floor. He couldn’t take accountability for his actions, and got very upset if he was reprimanded.

His teacher knew that Jaelen had established a great relationship with Damarcus. They’d been meeting daily outside the classroom, so that Jaelen could learn more about him and why such a smart kid behaved the way he did. When Damarcus called his teacher a liar in class, she reached out to Jaelen for help.

Jaelen met with Damarcus for almost 2 hours that day. Damarcus shared that his dad was not in the picture. His mom and grandma both worked a lot, so he spent a lot of time at home alone. He believed the world was against him, and that there was no one he could trust.

As a man of color and a former Elevate Oregon student himself, Jaelen was someone who Damarcus trusted. Jaelen talked to him about how to deal with these strong feelings: “If there’s a problem you can’t process, take a few steps back before you speak, before you blow up.”

Then Jaelen asked why he was struggling with schoolwork. “My brain doesn't work. It’s off,'' Damarcus said. Jaelen told him that his brain is always running, even when you sleep, and Damarcus replied, “I don't sleep. I can’t.''

Together, Jaelen and Damarcus’s teacher called mom. They explained the difficulty he was having in school and how being sleep-deprived might be part of it. They talked about the effects of stress, and some sleep aids to explore. Jaelen shared about how he had similar trouble sleeping as a kid. After the call, Damarcus’s mom decided to try giving him a safe remedy.

Jaelen arranged for Damarcus to join extra support groups inside school for math, reading, and writing. Two days a week, Jaelen reinforced their mentoring session with Elevate’s after-school program, teaching the character qualities and life skills that are at the core of our curriculum.

Within a few weeks, the change in Damarcus was dramatic. He was doing his school work, participating in a lot of class activities, and looking really happy. Jaelen saw him trying to be a leader, encouraging people, and sharing his newfound positivity with others. When Jaelen asked him how he's been doing, he replied that he was sleeping like a baby. Damarcus thanked Jaelen for caring. “I appreciate you always looking out for me,” he said.

We’ll be sharing four more stories during this Season of Giving that we hope will convey how important your support is to us. Each year, Elevate is a bridge to success for over 500 vulnerable Parkrose students. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by December 31. If everyone reading this post gave $125, or $250 per family, we would reach our goal. It’s that simple!

DONATE NOW

Whether or not Damarcus makes it to the NFL, together we can help him make it to the next level. Give today and level up the lives of Parkrose youth.

The post Damarcus and Jaelen first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

The last Dream Reachers gathering of the 2021 school year was an intimate family circle. TeacherMentors Sarah Dougherty and Shannon Petrina asked each student to do an overall check-in about how life is going for them and also tell the group one role model they have and why. Most of the young ladies spoke about their parents as the people they look up to, and each for different reasons.

“After that we got into a conversation about the increase in gun violence in our city,” said Sarah. “The girls spoke about how it affected them, either directly or indirectly. Most of the young ladies have been aware and have been careful not to put themselves into any situations they should not be in. Some ladies shared they are scared to leave the house and even hang around their friends and others shared they are too busy working and focusing on school to get caught in any trouble.”

Dream Reachers is one of Elevate Oregon’s two monthly gender-specific after-school groups. In alignment with our mission, the group takes advantage of Portland-area events and opportunities focused on career preparedness for girls. They also enjoy fun outings together, i.e., the Oregon Zoo Lights or a trip to the bowling alley. But our “family circle” times are special… the meetings deepen Elevate’s impact by directly supporting our students’ socio-emotional health and strengthening their peer groups’ bond.

“We let them know that they themselves can be role models for friends or other family members, even someone they may not know is watching them,” says Sarah. “I shared how proud we are that they are staying safe and that they can also help remind their friends to make smart decisions this summer as well.”

“We also extended reminders that both Shannon and I are here and available to hang out with this summer,” Sarah added.

The post Dream Reachers Family Circle first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

Our inaugural awardee and award namesake Marcy Bradley served as Elevate’s Executive Director from 2015-2018, and now serves as the Program Officer for Black Student Success at The Oregon Community Foundation.

This amazing leader in our community has been advocating for children in the Portland and Oregon for more than 25 years. This annual award will inspire and award Excellence, Community Service and Outstanding Accomplishments in young Black women and girls, and in all of us!

The post Announcing… The Marcy Bradley Impact Award first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

Soon, Laticia says, “Talking to parents became a lot easier. Parents have gotten used to me calling and checking on them. I always reassure them that I have their back as well as their kids’. One set of parents relayed to me that they appreciate the amount of communication and follow-ups, and how easy it is to access me when they have questions.”

In a very short time, Laticia — a former Elevate Oregon student herself — has established herself as an ally, facilitator, and connector to services for the Parkrose youth and families we serve. She advocates directly for youth in Student Assistance Teams, communicating results and connecting parents with teachers and counselors.

But her work goes further. Laticia is helping struggling families apply for financial assistance through the Trail Blazer resource page. She alerted her families to a Parkrose Community Discussion forum about COVID-19 Vaccines, and emailed about available resources during the power outages that occurred during the ice storm.

We couldn’t be happier with her work, or more proud of this Elevate Oregon grad! Elevate and Laticia are a trusted resource inside and outside the schools, supporting Elevate families so that kids can better focus on their homework, their grades, and their future plans.

The post Supporting Families—A Success Story first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

Growing up in the Black community and dedicating my career to the Black community is significant. And, as I watch events unfold on television and social media, I question will we ever see change? Will we ever see justice?
In my role as the Executive Director of Elevate Oregon, I am committed to providing mentorship opportunities to young Black and Brown youth, yet right now, it is difficult to focus on the lessons we constantly teach them—be respectful, be humble, be polite to everyone. How can we teach these things when there is so much hate manifesting itself in this country? —At the hands of individuals who are sworn to protect us. It is difficult to teach these lessons as Black people continue to die at the hands of police in this country. What will our lessons look like moving forward? How will our mentors continue to instill these values and at the same time acknowledge that being a kind, polite, and responsible person doesn’t necessarily mean that you might not lose your life?

While we will never condone violence as a solution, we won’t stop our fight. We won’t stop empowering and educating our youth. We won’t stop helping them process their feelings and frustrations as we all try to make sense of what is happening around us. We remain committed to Elevate youth and the community.

In the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

The post We Will Never Stop – from Donell Morgan, Elevate Executive Director first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

First and foremost the health and safety of the Elevate team, the youth we work with, and our community is at the top of our minds. In light of the community effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we have asked Elevate employees to work from home during the Parkrose School District closure. We are closely monitoring what is happening, in constant communication with Michael Lopes-Serrao and other PRSD leadership to take measures to reduce risk and to stay safe. We are not losing sight of supporting the kids we serve.

So, what does that mean? It means our TeacherMentors are:

• Regularly checking in with students and families via phone, text, and email to see if there are needs we can help with.
• Coordinating resources and responding to needs by connecting people to community resources.
• Continuing to work 1 on 1 with youth, but remotely – checking on kids to see how they are doing personally, socially and academically via text, email and phone.
• Creating academic plans to keep kids on track.
• Rescheduling/postponing meetings and/or events per the latest information we have from experts.

Resources

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html

The post We’re on the Job – remotely. first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

The post Staying Safe first appeared on Elevate Oregon.

Congratulations on completing your first year in the role of TeacherMentor at Elevate Oregon! Tell us how it’s going so far for you.

It’s been a life-changing experience for me. I absolutely love it. I brag about my job everywhere I go, because it doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like I’m meant to do this.

What inspired you to join the team at Elevate, and what is your biggest inspiration in this work?

I knew (Elevate TeacherMentor) Marty Williams before I worked here, and when I found out that he worked at Elevate Oregon, I was like, “Oh my gosh, you can get paid to do this?” So I educated myself about Elevate, and I decided that this is something I have to do.

When I was in high school, I went through a lot, and I didn’t have anyone to talk help me. I struggled. I think about that a lot because a lot of them do not have somebody to talk to, or look up to, or aspire to be. That inspires me to be a role model for them, because that’s definitely what I needed, and they’ve got it tougher than me; I don’t know how they do it, because they’ve got it really tough.

Tell us how your experience as a youth leader has helped you in your work as an Elevate TeacherMentor at Parkrose High School.

My work with youth at my church definitely helped me to be relatable to the kids here. The hardest challenge was building that relationship. It was hard to break that wall down, but I know how to navigate, how to listen, and how to talk to youth without talking at them. My students are sophomores now, so I’m looking forward to seeing how much they’ve grown in just one year. I’m big on critical thinking, so I’m excited to dive deeper into lessons, and to get them talking more about what’s really going on in the world.

The post Being there for Kids first appeared on Elevate Oregon.