Liz Schrader, Chief Development Officer for United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, shares about United Way’s mission to unite people and communities with resources so they have opportunities to thrive. She also shares how United Way is getting involved in Newberg and Yamhill county and what that might look like in the coming year.
Creating Successful Communities - with Chehalem Park and Recreation District
Don Clements, superintendent of Chehalem Park and Recreation District (CPRD), shares how CPRD has used social capital to help Newberg be a successful community.
What makes CPRD so great and what is the impact they have had on our community? Tune in to hear about past and upcoming projects, CPRD’s mission, and the crucial role CPRD plays in helping children become contributing members of society.
Compassionate Justice through Community Court—with Judge Larry Blake
Judge Larry Blake shares how Community Court transforms lives by connecting certain individuals who have committed minor crimes with service organizations rather than issuing fines or jail time.
From City of Newberg’s Website:
The City of Newberg, the Newberg Municipal Court, and the Newberg-Dundee Police Department in partnership with local non-profits, is launching a new program to offer non-criminal resolutions to community members facing charges. This new program provides help to low-level offenders who struggle with housing, mental health problems, and addiction while matching participants up with resources from local non-profit agencies.
In line with the Newberg City Council’s goal to improve customer service and improve access to equitable resources, the new program aims to improve the quality of life of participants as well as the residents of Newberg. Participants who successfully complete the program will have their criminal charge dismissed and outstanding fines reduced or waived. Individuals will only be eligible if their offense was non-violent, committed within the City of Newberg, and they do not have a violent criminal history. Every participant will be asked to complete an assessment and will be given a court case plan that includes providers that participants can access for different resources. Resource providers concentrate on housing, drug/alcohol treatment, health care, mental health, and food and essential resources, while also providing a connection for veteran services, education, identification, and transportation.
The Community Court system has been successful in other communities in Oregon including Eugene and Sweet Home. Municipal Court Judge Larry Blake was instrumental in creating a community court in Sweet Home and wants to replicate this success in Newberg. Judge Larry Blake said of the Community Court program, “I believe the citizens of Newberg would be better served by providing services to some individuals appearing before the court rather than pursuing criminal sanctions. Individuals with mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues, and housing issues will appear in Community Court and have providers in court to assist them in accessing services that will serve them in the future. The goal of Community Court is to dismiss minor criminal charges and waive fees & fines for individuals that are struggling to survive in today’s environment.
https://www.newbergoregon.gov/finance/page/newberg-community-court-program-offers-non-criminal-resolutions
A Different Approach to Fighting Poverty - with Love INC
Yvette Heryford, Executive Director of Newberg’s Love INC, shares how Love INC mobilizes local churches to care for our city.
Love in the name of Christ. This is what Love INC is all about. In a time where talk is cheap, Love INC is on a mission to help churches become what Jesus originally intended them to be. While many organizations focus just on tangible needs, Love INC recognizes that poverty is primarily a heart issue that goes beyond physical well-being. Yvette shares how this understanding is crucial if we are to truly make a difference.
Episode 10: Flash Love-Andrey Ivanov
Andrey Ivanov, co-founder of Flash Love, shares how empowering and raising up youth leaders is impacting communities across the Northwest.
“People rise and fall to meet your level of expectations for them”
Andrey has a passion to restore communities by harnessing the free time and creative energy of young people. While many condemn young people for being destructive or rebellious, Andrey Ivanov discovered that many teens act out because they do not have true leaders or mentors holding them to high standards. Young people want to make an impact but often lack the opportunity or guidance.
Flash Love was created to give teens a purpose and a community, things every human needs. Not only are schools being transformed, but entire communities are seeing the positive impact of young people who see their own potential and are living life on purpose. Rather than babysitting and controlling them, Flash Love gives young adults responsibility and accountability. To learn more about Flash Love and the impact they are making, visit their site at https://www.flashlove.org or visit their facebook page.
Episode 9: Anchors Outdoor Adventures-Isaiah Adams
Isaiah Adams, President and co-founder of Anchor's Outdoor Adventures shares how water action sports can help at-risk or neglected youth find hope and healing.
Isaiah Adams, President and Co-founder
Isaiah grew up doing action sports and knows first-hand the therapeutic benefits they can have. In college, Isaiah had the dream of creating an organization that used water sports to help at-risk youth. This dream lied dormant until Isaiah met up with a childhood friend, Trevor Gomez, who had a similar vision. The two began working on the project and Anchors Outdoor Adventures was born shortly after.
Research has shown that without access to recreation, young people find alternative, often destructive, ways of using their free time. Youth who participate in these destructive activities at an early age have a much higher chance of unlawful offenses. Research also supports the notion that outdoor recreation has considerable positive effects on mental health. By offering a safe, inclusive environment for at-risk youth to engage in action sports, Anchors Outdoor Adventures (Anchors OA) gives at-risk youth an outlet for the many trials they face elsewhere. Anchors Outdoor Adventures (Anchors OA) uses an anchor as a symbol of using Jesus Christ as an anchor for their lives.
You can learn more at https://www.anchorsoa.org
Episode 8: Transitional Youth-Rhona Mahl
Rhona Mahl, executive director of Transitional Youth, shares how a new mindset is required to truly impact Portland’s at-risk youth population.
Rhona Mahl
Ever since Rhona’s life was transformed at the age of 14, she knew she wanted to live for something more than herself. Having experienced life on the streets as a child, she knows first hand how hard it can be to break the cycle of poverty. Today Rhona oversees Transitional Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to loving at-risk youth and helping them find healthy transformation.
Rhona is also the executive director of Braking Cycles, a nonprofit coffee and bike shop in Portland that operates under the umbrella of Transitional Youth. Through its youth apprenticeship programs, Braking Cycles offers hope, tangible job skills, and real-world knowledge that will provide youth a place and opportunity to dream, reach, and achieve. The goal is that healthy self-sufficiency can become the new cycle.
Learn more at https://www.brakingcycles.org and https://www.transitionalyouth.org/
Episode 7: African Road-Kelly Bean
Kelly Bean, Executive Director of African Road, shares a model of making lasting change based on relationships rather than donations.
Kelly Bean-Executive Director, African Road
In 2007, Kelly Bean visited Rwanda and met inspiring East Africans who had a vision for their countries and communities. They kept in touch and began to form long-term friendships, out of which African Road was born.
Populations within many countries in Africa are faced with extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $1.90 per day. Many developed countries are working to eliminate poverty in Africa, with nearly $50 billion given every year. This money is helping save lives and meet immediate needs, but does not empower people to make lasting change.
Changemaker David Clemy
African Road partners with local Changemakers in East Africa who are already working for change in their own communities. African Road builds friendships with these Changemakers and helps them reach their own goals. This model of partnership takes a long time to develop but in the end makes a far greater impact.
You can find out more at https://www.africanroad.org/
Episode 5: World Race-Lyndsee Landon
Lyndsee Landon, a participant of World Race, shares her story of packing her backpack and spending 11 months in 11 countries serving under-privileged communities while actively showing the love of Jesus.
Lyndsee never planned on being a missionary or participating in World Race. In fact, she thought it was weird that anyone would want to leave the comfort of the United States and spend 11 months in developing countries. But when Lyndsee felt an undeniable calling to apply for the trip, she knew she didn’t have another choice. When she felt prompted to quit her job and break her lease 5 months before she left, she knew she had no option but to trust God.
On this episode Lyndsee shares some of the stories and struggles, as well as heart-warming moments of being on World Race. From working with ex child soldiers, being hit by tuk tuks, having her hair done inside a prison, to the hard goodbyes, this is a story that everyone can learn from.
Lyndsee is continuing her journey at Center for Global Action in Gainesville, Georgia. If you want to support Lyndsee, you can donate directly at http://lyndseelandon.adventurescga.org or use Venmo @Lyndsee-Landon.
Lyndsee is also selling wild & holy T-shirts to raise support and you can purchase them by clicking this link.
Episode 3: Candlelighters for Children with Cancer - Jackie Groah
Jackie Groah, executive director of Candlelighters for Children with Cancer, joins us to share the impact Candlelighters is making in the lives of families with children diagnosed with cancer.
Jackie Groah, Executive Director
It’s hard enough to hear that your child has been diagnosed with cancer. But when you are unable to work because you are with your child in the hospital, have glaring bills for medication and treatment, and feel like you are the only one going through this, it can be almost unbearable. This is the belief held by Candlelighters and is why they work to support the entire family.
Candlelighters Family Camp
Since 1977, Candlelighters has been serving families by providing programs such as emergency financial assistance, an annual family camp, family activities, bereavement support, and a hospital meal program. Over the past few years, the programs and funding have expanded to reach even more families struggling through this difficult journey.
Candlelighters also works hard to give as much as possible to its programs, with 84 cents of every dollar going directly to program support. Over the past 42 years, Candlelighters has served more than 82,000 family members in this difficult journey and is depended upon by hospitals all over the state of Oregon.
Episode 2: Fly Fishing Collaborative - Bucky Buchstaber
Bucky Buchstaber, founder and executive director of Fly Fishing Collaborative (FFC), joins us to share how he uses fly fishing to help rescue children from sex trafficking across the world.
Many people tend to separate their spiritual lives from other aspects of life. But to Bucky, the idea that activities such as going to church, praying, and reading scripture are spiritual while things like fishing, sports, and working are not, is just plain wrong.
“I wasn’t looking for a new job. I was looking to find more meaning in every aspect of life”
Bucky has always loved fly fishing and wanted to turn an activity that had seemingly no spiritual aspect into something that could transform lives. As Bucky’s passion grew and other fishermen joined the cause to stop sex trafficking, eventually FFC was born. Now, FFC builds aquaponics farms around the world to provide financial support for impoverished communities that are at risk for sex trafficking. In addition, experienced fly fishermen and fishing guides donate their time, services, and products to FFC to be sold to the fly fishing community. Below is a video that explains what aquaponics farming is how it helps prevent sex trafficking.
You can learn more at https://flyfishingcollaborative.org/
I hope you enjoyed this episode! What are some creative ways you have seen people make a positive impact with something that seemed ordinary? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!