2024-2028 Grantee Overview
Click the grantee name below to go down to their section of the webpage to learn more:
Adulting IRL
Adulting IRL is a nonprofit peer-run organization whose mission is to reduce the rates of suicide behaviors among youth and young adults with a particular focus on the Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) communities. Suicide behaviors include thoughts of suicide, planning suicide, attempting suicide, and death by suicide. By incorporating holistic practices such as workforce training and development, suicide prevention and intervention services, as well as culturally responsive consultations, Adulting IRL works to lessen the number of youth and young adults engaging in suicide behaviors each year.
Contact Adulting IRL
African Refugee Immigrant Organization (ARIO)
Information coming soon.
African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO)
AYCO is a culturally-specific 501(c)3 organization led by and for the East African immigrant and refugee community in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to settle the past, engage the present, and hope for the future. We envision a future where a strong cultural identity within immigrant communities of the Pan-African diaspora creates a thriving, resilient, and self-determining community here in Oregon. AYCO’s UPLIFT Youth & Education Services programming is the backbone of our organization. We have partnered with Portland Public, David Douglas, Reynolds, Gresham and Parkrose School Districts for numerous years, serving thousands of African immigrant and refugee youth throughout the Portland Metropolitan Area. The breadth and depth of services that we provide to these youth and families here is unmatched and we are continuously working to not only leverage our strengths and connections, but also improve and advance our program models and training to best respond to community needs. We are actively building a future where African immigrant and refugee students in Oregon achieve academic success, social well-being, and cultural empowerment. Our program’s primary beneficiaries include children from early childhood through college, as well as their families, who are often navigating complex educational systems in a new country. Our work also benefits educators and school systems by providing them with the tools and training needed to support these students cohesively and effectively.
Contact AYCO
Be-BLAC Foundation
The BE-BLAC Foundation, in collaboration with key partners—including the Salem-Keizer School District, KROC Center, Marion-Polk Early Learning Hub, Salem for Refugees, and Chemeketa Community College—is launching a comprehensive Student Success Program to empower African American/Black students from early childhood through post-secondary education. This initiative dismantles systemic barriers by delivering culturally responsive early learning interventions, robust academic support to enhance literacy, numeracy, and engagement, and targeted mentorship, tutoring, and college readiness workshops. Collaborations with local higher education institutions further expand access to advanced coursework, internships, and career pathways, ensuring smooth transitions from high school to college and the workforce. Ultimately, this transformative program will build a sustainable, supportive educational ecosystem that boosts academic achievement, nurtures cultural pride, and drives long-term economic empowerment for Black students in Oregon.
Contact Be-BLAC
Black Parent Initiative
Information coming soon.
Center for African Immigrants and Refugee Organization (CAIRO)
Columbia Gorge Consortium partners with districts and community organizations to better support LGBTQ2SIA+ students. This will be primarily done in three big buckets:
- Professional learning and support for school staff, including administrators, teachers, specialists, and classified staff. Additionally, we will be holding communities of practice for GSA advisors and counselors.
- Direct support to students through the expansion of current affinity spaces that are offered locally.
- Support to families of LGBTQ2SIA+ students in family forums.
Coalition of Black Men
"Dream Bigger" is our mentoring enrichment program currently entering its 10th consecutive year while partnering with Portland Public Schools. We help students create a vision for their lives (education, career choice, and lifestyle) based on 12 areas of focus. Our target population is young African American boys in middle school. However, no one is denied participation based on race, and girls are referred to our sister organizations. We served at least 60 youth each year in four schools for the past three school years. Fully funded, the program stands strong to meet the challenges ahead. The program’s work focuses on cultural identity, academic excellence, career exploration, self-efficacy, and leadership through its full school year vision board development journey and supporting features.
Contact Coalition of Black Men
Connected Lane County
Connected Lane County and Eugene-Springfield NAACP will serve African American/Black and multiracial youth, ages 14 to 24, and families across Lane County. We will provide innovative pathways for youth to complete secondary education and postsecondary opportunities and use culturally competent curricula to promote the development of technical, professional, and life skills. The project creates opportunities for youth to receive support during critical transition periods. Activities provide exposure to diverse career paths through job shadows and industry tours, after-school programs, paid learning opportunities through Invention Lab and internships, one-on-one mentorship and social activities with peers and families, cultural experiences, an annual youth leadership conference, local Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) activities, and leadership development through a Youth Advisory Board.
Contact Connected Lane County
Elevate Oregon
Elevate Oregon is an education-based organization devoted to closing the achievement gap for diverse in East Portland, with a focus on African American/Black student success. To improve outcomes for our students, we offer culturally responsive 1:1 mentoring on how to succeed both academically and personally. Elevate Oregon’s on-campus college/career-focused programming includes visits from Portland professionals, in-class curriculum designed to get kids excited about their future, detailed instruction in job-seeking, guided college campus tours, and job site tours. Elevate's robust wrap-around services, including after-school and summer programming, keep kids safe and busy while school is not in session.
Contact Elevate Oregon
Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth (H.O.N.E.Y.)
H.O.N.E.Y. Inc. (Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth) grant project focuses on holistic wellness through increasing opportunities for connection, community building and self-worth. The project will provide access to no cost cultural community events, access to positive activities with a focus on representation, and access to academic and developmental support.
Contact H.O.N.E.Y.
Hillsboro School District
The Hillsboro School District (HSD) African-American/Black (AA/B) Student Success Project directly serves AAB K-12th grade students through a partnership with REAP, Inc.; the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC); the Latino Network’s Resiliency through Opportunities and Access for Adolescents (ROSA) program; Shifted Theory; and Play Fit Fun, delivered at our four high schools, four middles schools, and with select engagement from our elementary schools. Our vision is to create a city-wide K-12 educational community system where AAB students are fully supported, thriving academically, and embraced by a diverse network of educators, families, and peers that value diversity, anti-racism, and inclusion.
Contact OCT
KairosPDX
KairosPDX is reshaping an educational system that has failed our increasingly diverse youth. Our approach to dismantling structural racism includes policy advocacy, professional development services, and hands-on learning through our flagship community school and family engagement programs that primarily serve Black children (ages 3-11) and their families. Our mission is to eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate African American student leaders. We will focus our grant funding on direct student support to increase attendance, literacy, and numeracy in our charter school, the KairosPDX Learning Academy. We will also continue the important work of providing culturally responsive professional development to Oregonians through the creation of a new 2-day workshop, Practices and Resources for Rural Educators. This workshop provides rural educators of Black students with the tools needed to communicate with, engage, and cultivate empowering environments for students of color and their families.
Contact KairosPDX
Linn Benton NAACP
Connected Lane County and Eugene-Springfield NAACP will serve African American/Black and multiracial youth, ages 14 to 24, and families across Lane County. We will provide innovative pathways for youth to complete secondary education and postsecondary opportunities and use culturally competent curricula to promote the development of technical, professional, and life skills. The project creates opportunities for youth to receive support during critical transition periods. Activities provide exposure to diverse career paths through job shadows and industry tours, after-school programs, paid learning opportunities through Invention Lab and internships, one-on-one mentorship and social activities with peers and families, cultural experiences, an annual youth leadership conference, local Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) activities, and leadership development through a Youth Advisory Board.
Contact Linn Benton NAACP
Multitudes of Mercies Foundation
This SSP grant project is a comprehensive initiative designed to enhance educational outcomes and equity for African American/Black children and families through a culturally affirming and multi-pronged approach. It expands early learning opportunities by increasing the capacity of the "Early Roots" preschool program to serve an additional 100 children, supporting kindergarten readiness through literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning. It launches the "STEM Explorers" program to inspire academic engagement among 150 students in grades 3–5 through culturally relevant STEM learning. A new mentorship program will connect high school mentors with elementary students to support leadership development and smooth educational transitions. The "Black Educators Pipeline" will cultivate the next generation of culturally responsive Black teachers by providing college scholarships, mentorship, and field experience. Finally, the project will foster strong school-family partnerships through monthly "Family Literacy Nights," which promote literacy and community connection. Together, these activities address the SSP’s pillars of Academic Success, Culture and Identity, Coordinated Care, Leadership, and Family Engagement, aligning with the Plan’s statutory objectives to improve student achievement, engagement, and support systems.
Contact Multitudes of Mercies Foundation
Multnomah Education Service District/ Bars to Bridges
Bars to Bridges (B2B), a Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) program, provides culturally specific educational advocacy, mentorship, and career support to African American/Black justice system-involved and justice system-impacted youth and families across Oregon. Founded in 2016, B2B’s goals are to (1) reduce justice recidivism, (2) interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, (3) increase school attendance, and (4) increase academic achievement through culturally responsive and trauma informed practices and relationships. The B2B model utilizes culturally responsive Transition Specialists (TS), who provide individualized support from the point of entry in the juvenile justice system to educational attainment.
Contact Multnomah Education Service District/ Bars to Bridges
Oregon State University
The Pathways to OSU and Post-Secondary Success (POPS) program builds on established work and community relationships developed by Oregon State University's (OSU) Precollege Programs, Access OSU, and the Dr. Lawrence Griggs Office of Black & Indigenous Student Success with community partners. The mission to increase: 1. access to authentic, culturally responsive, and co-created learning and activities 2. recruitment, retention, and postsecondary success of K-12 African/African American/Black/African Diaspora (AABD) students in the metropolitan Portland, Oregon, area and among African American/Black college students.
Contact: Veronica, Melissa
REAP, Inc
REAP's focus is on culturally specific leadership opportunities & behavior health supports for AABD students before & afterschool. REAP will offer culturally specific & culturally responsive leadership programs & wraparound services to support student academic, emotional & social success. Culturally affirming activities that engagement & identity to improve sense of belonging. College & career exploration activities focused on increased attendance of ABBD students in community colleges/four year institutions & professional certification program. Student advocacy & youth advisory council work that will give students hands on experience on how to advocate for their community, city & state. Mental health advocates & services for students & families that give them access to mental services to address trauma & promote healing. REAP Ignite team trainings to improve staff/student relationships & an understanding about support culturally responsive pedagogy & practices. As well as resources to equip teacher/education leader with skills to create equable educational environments.
Contact REAP
The Blueprint Foundation
The Blueprint Foundation will provide African American/Black-identifying high school students with in-school mentorships and career readiness programming. Our team will work with various high schools in the Portland Metro area to collaborate on mentorship programming that provides Black-identifying students with possible options, opportunities and direction to pursue the career of their choice.
Contact The Blueprint Foundation
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
IRCO’s Immigrant & Refugee Student Success Project will draw on our expertise and extensive network of immigrant and refugee communities in Oregon and partnerships with local school districts (e.g., Reynolds) to provide services to underserved Greater Middle Eastern (GME) and Slavic and Eastern European (SEE) immigrant and refugee students in K-12 grades. Priority will be given to youth who have lived in the country for less than 3 years, with a focus on Ukrainian and Afghan new arrivals, and will remain open to all SEE and GME students who are eligible for programming. Services will focus on the Portland Metro area.
Contact IRCO
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette
In partnership, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and CAIRO are launching a culturally responsive, data-informed initiative to advance academic success for African immigrant and African American students. Rooted in equity-driven strategies, the initiative centers students’ cultural identities and amplifies community voice.
The initiative promotes strong early foundations from birth through grade 5, with a focus on literacy, math, and consistent attendance. Multilingual outreach materials help increase enrollment in publicly funded early learning programs, ensuring families have access to critical educational opportunities. Students in grades PK–12 benefit from tutoring, mentoring, and STEAM-focused programming. Culturally affirming books and learning materials are provided to support literacy and reflect students’ lived experiences, deepening engagement and belonging.
Contact United Way of the Columbia-Willamette
Urban League of Portland
The Urban League of Portland’s Youth Leadership Academy for Black Student Success initiative provides culturally specific programming designed to uplift and advance African American and Black youth in Oregon. Our work focuses on academic achievement, leadership development, and community engagement to help students build the confidence and skills necessary to thrive in school and beyond. Through school-based workshops, mentoring, family engagement, and out-of-school leadership activities, such as our Youth Leadership Academy, we support Black students in navigating the educational system, strengthening their identity, and preparing for future success. Our mission is to create safe, empowering spaces where Black youth are seen, heard, and celebrated for their brilliance.
Contact Urban League of Portland
Contact
For questions, contact Bryce Coefield, African American/Black Student Success Plan Coordinator.