P O T
Teen Outreach Program Newsletter Winter 2014
TOP students raising awareness for World AIDS Day.
CONNECT. SERVE. EMPOWER.
# of TOP participants for the 2013-2014 school year
® The Teen Outreach Program ( TOP )
What is TOP? TOP is a youth development program that includes a variety of classroom lessons, interactive activities, and youth-led volunteer projects. We meet with students once a week for the 2013-2014 school year in nine different Portland and Salem high schools. TOP has been proven to prevent teen pregnancy and improve student academic success in school. A health teacher who hosts TOP stated, “Academically and socially, this program provides students with a sense of purpose.”
Youth Seniors
Animals
Veterans
Health
Environment
Community
Homelessness
Students Give Back! TOP engages students in meaningful volunteer projects, which the students choose and lead themselves. They learn important life skills, gain work experience, and make a positive impact in their communities. Take a look inside to see the amazing work TOP students have done so far this year!
TOP Teens volunteer at so many great non-profits! This graph illustrates the types of services they help support.
Hunger
Thank you to everyone who works with us to make this program a success! We have received overwhelming support from schools, staff, parents, students, and community partners who highly regard the program and the valuable skills and experiences the students get while participating in TOP.
# of community groups students have volunteered with or supported since 2011!
This project is supported by Grant Number TP1AH000075 from the Office of Adolescent Health. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Adolescent Health, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, or the Department of Health and Human Services.
School Update!
“Thinking about people who don’t have as much as me made me really think about just how lucky I am.” – Madison student BENSON HIGH SCHOOL students are helping
shelter animals and people who are homeless. During Thanksgiving break, 22 youth served 250 meals and packed food boxes for 250 families at Clay Street Table. Teens also volunteered at the Oregon Humane Society to train, play, and socialize with animals and donated handmade ‘Adopt Me’ doggie bandanas.
JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL students decided they are interested in volunteering with kids! They have made fleece blankets to donate to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and are also partnering with Playworks to coach and mentor elementary school kids in sports and fun activities.
LEP HIGH SCHOOL students participated in World AIDS Day activities to learn about HIV/AIDS, including how to prevent the spread of the virus. Students then raised awareness in their school about how young people can stay safe and healthy. MADISON HIGH SCHOOL students have led various volunteer projects to help their community, including packing food at the Oregon Food Bank, running a fundraiser to collect money and cans for Madison Food Pantry, helping with SUN School community events, raising awareness for Love Your Body Day, and making fleece blankets for Randall Children’s Hospital.
MCKAY HIGH SCHOOL students learned about
the legend of 1000 Cranes and voted to make and donate origami cranes to Salem Hospital patients to inspire hope and peace. Additionally, they helped Marion-Polk Food Share prepare to give food to those in need and volunteered time with the Salvation Army by ringing bells and helping with their Christmas Toy and Joy Project.
NORTH SALEM HIGH SCHOOL students
have a variety of interests and have already begun several projects, including working in the school garden, putting up flags for Veteran’s Day at Lee Mission Cemetery, working with seniors at Jason Lee Manor, and raising awareness in their school by making educational T-shirts about important issues, such as preventing animal cruelty and gang violence.
ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL students helped
seniors at Assumption Village Retirement Home by making and donating fleece blankets. The youth were passionate about hand delivering their blankets and sang holiday carols to the residents during their visit. They also raised awareness in their school about HIV/AIDS by making red ribbons with information commemorating World AIDS Day.
TRILLIUM HIGH SCHOOL students are helping out
other kids at their K-12 school. They put on a Love Your Body Day event which focused on raising self-esteem, giving compliments, and being supportive of one another. They also cooked, served food, and performed at a special school event.
WILSON HIGH SCHOOL students decided to raise
awareness with a T-shirt campaign. Each got to choose an issue important to them, researched facts, practiced talking points, and then decorated shirts to wear to school on the same day. They were a walking statement, educating their peers as they went through the hallways.
P O T TOP is facilitated by these highly trained, certified and experienced educators Jana Deiss
(jana.deiss@ppcw.org) I work with students at Wilson High School and am fortunate to have health teachers Josh Martin and Aaron Olsen as our hosts there. I came to TOP with over fifteen years of experience in youth programs and education. Facilitating TOP is a wonderful way to connect with some remarkable young people and watch their capacity for service and social engagement expand. I am proud of my inspiring students and grateful to work with amazing colleagues and community partners!
Ernesto Dominguez
(ernesto.dominguez@ppcw.org) I am excited to be the TOP Facilitator at Madison and Trillium High Schools. In the past I have worked for the City of Portland, Multnomah County as well as Oregon’s largest HIV/AIDS non-profit, Cascade AIDS Project. I spent the past 7 years in the youth empowerment field and believe that young people are uniquely qualified to make their communities a better place. I am lucky to work with a two amazing Co-Facilitators, Erin McNulty (Madison) and MaryLiz Herron (Trillium) who always have students best interests at heart.
Olivia Jarratt
(olivia.jarratt@ppcw.org) This is my third year at Roosevelt High School and my second year at Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public Charter High School (LEP). As a TOP Facilitator, I am inspired daily by my students. Watching young people develop their voices and sense of self within our service learning framework is an absolute privilege. I work with two awesome Co-Facilitators, Kiyauna Williams from Step Up at RHS and Cameron Baker, the PE/Health teacher at LEP, both of whom really care about our students. I love hearing from parents and community partners so don’t be shy!
Ann Krier
(ann.krier@ppcw.org) I am excited to work with students at North Salem High School this year and help them find their voice through community service! I have 6 years of facilitation experience working with youth around Marion County in prevention, health education, leadership, and mentoring. I truly believe that youth have incredible energy and insight to help improve our communities. I am lucky to work with a great team of students, teachers, and staff this year!
Austin Lea
(austin.lea@ppcw.org) TOP has been a fantastic opportunity to give back to my hometown. Helping youth create change in their community is one of my biggest passions. I worked for eight years in various youth development programs, and I am in the middle of my third year being a TOP Facilitator at Benson High School, and my first year at Jefferson High School. I really appreciate the amazing teachers, staff, and students I work with!
Misha Mayers
(misha.mayers@ppcw.org) I am so excited to be working with McKay High School for a second year! Facilitating TOP has been an amazing experience and I can’t wait to see what this year’s students accomplish! As a former public school teacher of 10 years, I am really enjoying my continued work with youth and especially like helping them explore new opportunities within their community. When away from TOP activities I can be found teaching/leading/practicing/performing music or spending time with my chihuahua family.
Ngozi Olemgbe
(ngozi.olemgbe@ppcw.org) Empowering youth to be leaders and thinkers in our communities has always been a passion of mine. Before working with TOP, I worked with various youth development programs in both Portland and New York. I am excited to join TOP as a Co-Facilitator at Benson, Jefferson, and Wilson High Schools. I am thankful for the amazing teachers and staff I get to work with, and I am thrilled to work with such a fantastic group of students!
Aurora Rodriguez
(aurora.rodriguez@ppcw.org) I work as the Co-Facilitator at North Salem and at McKay. As a Salem native, I am excited to work within my own community. My previous work experience includes working in schools and at shelters. If you see me around town, say hello. Soy la asistente facilitadora en las escuelas North y McKay. Nací y crecí en Salem y estoy bien emocionada para trabajar en mi comunidad. Mi experiencia previa incluye trabajando en las escuelas y en refugios. Si me ven en la cuidad, salúdame.
Administrative Contact 503.775-4931 x 2346 education@ppcw.org www.ppcw.org www.wymancenter.org