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/