Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.TH)
Legal Name (if Different): Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.TH)
Also Known As: Y.O.U.TH
Mailing Address: 3439 NE Sandy Blvd #111
City: Portland
State: OR
Postal Code: 97232
Main Phone: (971) 501-9711
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.youthpdx.org/
Employer ID Number: 80-0491037
Organization Tax Status: 501 (c) (3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 02/07/2024
Requested Amount: 10,000

Project Title: Program Support
Project Description:

The mission at Y.O.U.TH (Youth Organized and Unity to Help) is to motivate, inspire and empower youth, family and educators to dismantle the school to prison pipeline and by challenging existing systems and structures. We do this work through our #BooksNotBars Oregon programming which includes Literacy, Mentoring, Advocacy and DEI Training.

Our core programs are designed to address the failings in the current system by providing critical literacy education to those within the Black and Brown community in addition to providing DEI training to those in the greater community to help create allies and understanding. By helping people in the community better understand the issues with the current system, we can better prepare our youth to advocate for themselves and map a different future.

Our literacy work includes tutoring, our Books for You programming which provides culturally responsive books for all program participants and our Page Turner program where we inspire a passion for reading by partnering with adults through the Portland Metro area to record themselves reading kids their favorite books. We offer free tutoring by professional tutors for K-5th grade students focused on meeting or exceeding grade level in reading literacy including providing supplemental tools and support for guardians. Our goal is to inspire children to love learning and reading.

We also offer mentoring focused on self-development and personal development including life skills, goal setting for short and long term and SMART goals. Our mentoring is both group and 1:1 depending on the needs of the youth. Our advocacy work includes educating families and the larger community about the school to prison pipeline and what each person can do to help disrupt. We host workshops and events for all ages including financial literacy, entrepreneurship, investing, business 101, cooking classes, discussions on how to win at being a student athlete, the value of journaling and music-beat making. Our events and workshops are inherently culturally responsive, because they are all lead by Black people for BIPOC people. All information is delivered through the lens of a person of color in order to embrace, preserve and celebrate the power of our cultural uniqueness, creativity and strength.

Y.O.U.TH has had the opportunity to grow and adapt tremendously over the past two years. Last summer we implemented 2 new programs to support our community’s needs. Y.O.U.TH Elements (formerly Saved By the Ink), is a screen-printing apprentice program. This program helps youth ages 16-20 learn how to transform everyday ideas and material into art to inspires their natural gifts, talents and creativity in a therapeutic and transformative way. Our partnership with Community Music Center through Portland Parks and Recreation brings free music classes to our youth in the community and extends access to jobs within the City of Portland.

Total Project Budget: 10,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential):

Project Duration:
Geographical Area Served:
Age Group To Be Served:

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Imani
Contact Last Name: Muhammad
Contact Title: Founder, Executive Director
Contact Phone: https://www.youthpdx.org/
Contact Email: info@youthpdx.org