Mentoring Homeless teens at P:ear
To truly exit homelessness, kids must develop the internal strength, skills and foresight to make healthy choices. p:ear provides a safe, non-judgmental environment in which youth are trusted to outgrow unproductive and harmful behaviors. We offer individualized mentoring and education programs in a safe, reliable setting designed to foster trust, build self-esteem and to teach homeless and transitional kids – who all too often are regarded by society as disposable, “hopeless cases” – that they are valuable individuals with a future who have something vital to contribute to this community.
p:ear staff and volunteers serve as mentors, friends, and role models, while p:ear’s unique programs create opportunities for young people to grow intellectually, express themselves constructively, communicate in positive ways and engage in meaningful interactions with the larger community of Portland. This is not work that can be accomplished in the short-term. These are relationships based on trust that take years to cultivate and require enormous dedication to sustain.
We are committed to being there for p:ear youth over the long-haul to share failures and successes, mundane events as well as life-altering milestones.
p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless and transitional youth through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. Each year our programs serve almost 900 homeless and transitional young people ages 15 to 24.
Extra-ordinary individuals Elizabeth and Joy have created a project that provides five areas of support for homeless youth in Old-town Portland. p:ear provides 5 main areas of service: safe space, education, art, recreation, transition and food. These programs and services are provided by the five staff, and 120 volunteers. Safe Space means having all of the things that create stability in one’s life, from having stable mentors, to having milk in the fridge and food in your belly. Last year alone, homeless youth spent over 22,900 hours inside p:ear’s doors, with a daily average of 54 youth sharing over 13,650 meals together. p:ear youth receive a broad range of support and guidance from staff to meet their needs from bus tickets, and haircuts, to community networking opportunities, referral services for clothing, job training, counseling and mental and physical healthcare.
Education
Education Programs Coordinator Sara Louis Allen is the contact person for youth education. Financial assistance for birth certificate, State identification, GED completion, is supplied for the youth. There is a barista school that is funded by a special grant, and a generous coffee bean donation from a partnership with Nosso Familia. The P:ear Barista Window is open Monday through Friday from 8:30-2:00. Other education opportunities include upcoming programs for a bike mechanic school Partnering with Sellwood Cycle Repair, this ten week program provides youth the opportunity to learn the basics of bike mechanics, perform complete bike builds and the in and outs of each bike system – from building and truing wheels to overhauling a bottom bracket to proper installation of shifter and break cables and housing. The BMS program will provide the skills necessary for entry-level positions in a professional bicycle shop setting. Youth participants will build confidence, critical thinking and life skills. An online high school completion program.
Art
Art Programs Coordinator William Kendall is the contact person for art with the youth. Youth engage in all types of art projects that can be displayed for sale in P:ear's onsite galleryArt and music can leave words behind and communicate directly to, and with, the heart. Art builds bridges between people, ideas, and cultures. p:ear’s Arts and Culture program brings music, art, theater and movement into the lives of youth creating opportunities for them to develop emotional, motor and cognitive skills through workshops, cultural events, and one on one instruction. We believe that the enriching qualities of the arts are powerful and important and that all of us deserve beauty and depth in our lives. p:ear also works with youth who seek a career in the arts by helping to create a portfolio and pursing higher education in the arts.
Recreation
Outdoor Programs Coordinator Nathan Engkjeris the contact person for recreation with the youth. Homeless youth rarely have the opportunity to travel beyond their urban context. Their bodies are unhealthy, their minds are stressed and their hearts are searching for connection to trustworthy people, beauty and peace. p:ear’s wilderness recreation program has a direct impact on all three of these issues – providing a safe place for the opportunities that empowers youth to learn, grow and heal in mind, body and spirit. Through the core activities of cycling, hiking, cross-country skiing and whitewater rafting trips, youth build the skill sets to connect with and care for the environment and build a community beyond their lives on the streets. Our trips have proven to be one of the most effective ways to promote trusting positive relationships, build self-confidence and a sense of responsibility and instill stronger critical thinking and decision making skills while encouraging a reverence for the environment and a desire for a healthier life.
Upcoming Fundraiser
P:EARBLOSSOMS 2017 04/22/2017 6:30 pm
- Kridel Ballroom, 3rd Floor of the Mark Building at The Art Museum
- 1119 SW Park Ave
- Portland, OR 97205
Volunteering
Volunteers provide the much needed support to the program and the positive relationships that homeless youth lack. p:ear offers a variety of volunteer opportunities:
LEVEL I Includes activities as diverse as picking up meals to serving on a committee (marketing and development, food co-ordination, events planning, etc.), to “work parties” designed to support First Thursday events or improve the facility.
LEVEL II Works a specific project for a specified time, i.e., artistic workshops, hosting and tour guides for a First Thursday exhibition, supporting staff during an off-site cultural or recreation event.
LEVEL III Works directly with youth on a weekly basis providing mentorship, tutoring, meal handling, participating in daily activities.
Volunteers are asked to submit a formal application, and attend the appropriate training for the level of volunteering they are applying for. Trainings are from one to 15 hours and costs range from nothing to $26 for fingerprinting and a food handlers card. Because working with this population is challenging, we have a minimum age requirement of 25.
It’s our hope that if you decide to volunteer at p:ear that your experience will be as rich and rewarding for you as it will be for the program and the youth we serve.
If you are interested in becoming a p:ear volunteer, fill out the volunteer interest form. The volunteer coordinator will then contact you with the complete volunteer application form for you to fill out.
TO VOLUNTEERContact Joy Cartier, 503-228-6677 or [email protected] with any questions regarding volunteering at p:ear.
LEVEL I Includes activities as diverse as picking up meals to serving on a committee (marketing and development, food co-ordination, events planning, etc.), to “work parties” designed to support First Thursday events or improve the facility.
LEVEL II Works a specific project for a specified time, i.e., artistic workshops, hosting and tour guides for a First Thursday exhibition, supporting staff during an off-site cultural or recreation event.
LEVEL III Works directly with youth on a weekly basis providing mentorship, tutoring, meal handling, participating in daily activities.
Volunteers are asked to submit a formal application, and attend the appropriate training for the level of volunteering they are applying for. Trainings are from one to 15 hours and costs range from nothing to $26 for fingerprinting and a food handlers card. Because working with this population is challenging, we have a minimum age requirement of 25.
It’s our hope that if you decide to volunteer at p:ear that your experience will be as rich and rewarding for you as it will be for the program and the youth we serve.
If you are interested in becoming a p:ear volunteer, fill out the volunteer interest form. The volunteer coordinator will then contact you with the complete volunteer application form for you to fill out.
TO VOLUNTEERContact Joy Cartier, 503-228-6677 or [email protected] with any questions regarding volunteering at p:ear.
Items that can be donated
Safe Space Needs
$125 for lunch for 50-60 youth
Bus tickets
Kitchen items: any dairy (milk, cheese, cream cheese, butter), meat and eggs, fruit, tea, fruit juice, Emergen-C, flours, rice
Gift certificates to Rite-Aid, Ace Hardware, New Seasons, Whole Foods, Fred Meyer & True Value Hardware (to meet daily needs from milk to first-aid supplies to light bulbs!)
Feminine hygiene products: tampons (no pads or panty liners)
Hair clippers, combs/brushes and hair-ties
Disposable razors and shaving cream
Deodorant, shampoo, lotion
Betadine Antiseptic, travel-size hand sanitizer
Travel size toothpaste
Moist towelettes
First Aid: Antibiotic Cream (preferably single packs), Medical Tape, Ace Bandages, Instant Cold Packs, gauze wraps and pads
Education Needs
Sponsor a youth taking the GED at $125
Spiral notebooks/journals
Calculators, rulers, pens, compasses, etc.
Financial scholarships for further education
Gift certificates to Office Depot/Max, Ikea, Apple App Store and Powell's Books
Art Needs
Gift certificates to Michael’s or Dick Blick
Acrylic paints
Inks/watercolors
Brushes
New Frames and new Canvases
Scissors, glues
Paint pens
Guitar strings, Picks
Drum Sticks
1/4" Chords
Sheet Music
Shakers
Gift Certs to Trade up Music, Musicans Friend.com or Guitar Center.
Silk screening needs:11" x 17" Screens Emulsion Stencil Remover /emulsion remover Blockout silk screen pens AWT Red Polyethylene Screen Tape 8.5" x 11" and 11" x 17" clear velum 11" plastic silk screen Squeegee, Table top silk screen printer.
11" x 17" -100 point card stock in white, grey and black
8.5" x 11"- 100 point card stock in varying colors
Black and white t-shirts in varying sizes (M, L, XL, 2XL) for silk screening
2 sheets- 3/4" AC or CDX plywood (1/2 sheets are usable) Clean material only please 8- casters(fixed) 8-casters(locking/swivel) 2" wood screws(3+ lbs) I would prefer trim heads but not a must! 2" finish nails (2 lbs) Wood glue
Recreation Needs
Bike stuff: 700x18-25mm presta valve bike inner tubes, patch kits and glue
Water-proof rain pants, jackets, shells (new or used)
Gift cards to REI, Sellwood Cycles, (bike or outdoor recreation stores)
Full finger cycling gloves
New Seasons gift cards for lunch on trips
Trekking poles
Transition Needs
Cleaning supplies and basic kitchen items (soap: bar, hand, dish, bleach, glass cleaner)
$20 purchases a new Birth Certificate, $39.50 gets an Oregon ID
Baby wipes
Gift cards to H&M, Ross, Fred Meyer for clothing who youth have have job interviews or work needs
$125 for lunch for 50-60 youth
Bus tickets
Kitchen items: any dairy (milk, cheese, cream cheese, butter), meat and eggs, fruit, tea, fruit juice, Emergen-C, flours, rice
Gift certificates to Rite-Aid, Ace Hardware, New Seasons, Whole Foods, Fred Meyer & True Value Hardware (to meet daily needs from milk to first-aid supplies to light bulbs!)
Feminine hygiene products: tampons (no pads or panty liners)
Hair clippers, combs/brushes and hair-ties
Disposable razors and shaving cream
Deodorant, shampoo, lotion
Betadine Antiseptic, travel-size hand sanitizer
Travel size toothpaste
Moist towelettes
First Aid: Antibiotic Cream (preferably single packs), Medical Tape, Ace Bandages, Instant Cold Packs, gauze wraps and pads
Education Needs
Sponsor a youth taking the GED at $125
Spiral notebooks/journals
Calculators, rulers, pens, compasses, etc.
Financial scholarships for further education
Gift certificates to Office Depot/Max, Ikea, Apple App Store and Powell's Books
Art Needs
Gift certificates to Michael’s or Dick Blick
Acrylic paints
Inks/watercolors
Brushes
New Frames and new Canvases
Scissors, glues
Paint pens
Guitar strings, Picks
Drum Sticks
1/4" Chords
Sheet Music
Shakers
Gift Certs to Trade up Music, Musicans Friend.com or Guitar Center.
Silk screening needs:11" x 17" Screens Emulsion Stencil Remover /emulsion remover Blockout silk screen pens AWT Red Polyethylene Screen Tape 8.5" x 11" and 11" x 17" clear velum 11" plastic silk screen Squeegee, Table top silk screen printer.
11" x 17" -100 point card stock in white, grey and black
8.5" x 11"- 100 point card stock in varying colors
Black and white t-shirts in varying sizes (M, L, XL, 2XL) for silk screening
2 sheets- 3/4" AC or CDX plywood (1/2 sheets are usable) Clean material only please 8- casters(fixed) 8-casters(locking/swivel) 2" wood screws(3+ lbs) I would prefer trim heads but not a must! 2" finish nails (2 lbs) Wood glue
Recreation Needs
Bike stuff: 700x18-25mm presta valve bike inner tubes, patch kits and glue
Water-proof rain pants, jackets, shells (new or used)
Gift cards to REI, Sellwood Cycles, (bike or outdoor recreation stores)
Full finger cycling gloves
New Seasons gift cards for lunch on trips
Trekking poles
Transition Needs
Cleaning supplies and basic kitchen items (soap: bar, hand, dish, bleach, glass cleaner)
$20 purchases a new Birth Certificate, $39.50 gets an Oregon ID
Baby wipes
Gift cards to H&M, Ross, Fred Meyer for clothing who youth have have job interviews or work needs
Contact P:ear
- 338 NW 6th Ave
- Portland, Oregon 97209
- Phone: 503.228.6677
- fax: 503.274.9458
- [email protected]