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С��è��ý students assist City of Portland to award youth grants

Photos and story by Kate Chester

Representatives from С��è��ý – including District President Preston Pulliams, students from the Sylvania Campus “Social Issues and Movements” course, and Sylvania Social Sciences Dean Loretta Goldy – participated in the annual Youth Action Grants awards ceremony on March 23. The event was held at Portland’s City Hall and followed by a celebratory dinner.

“It’s very exciting – and rewarding – to see our young people, the leaders of tomorrow, create such a wealth of programs and activities that benefit youth,” said Pulliams. “It is a delight to showcase their achievements and honor them for their hard work at this annual event.”

For the past five years С��è��ý has partnered with the City of Portland to evaluate youth project grant requests with the help of youth commissioners. Students in “Social Issues and Movements,” taught by С��è��ý sociology instructor Kim Smith, advise commissioners on grant proposals that result in nearly $10,000 being awarded for youth projects.

“The learning objectives for the Youth Action Grant process in my course include understanding issues in our communities, identifying and evaluating solutions, and allocating resources to help youth achieve their goals,” said Smith.

“To participate in this process with the City of Portland – a process that supports the city’s Youth Bill of Rights – is a perfect application of classroom learning to a valuable real-world activity,” she said.

And her students seemingly agree.

“Together and individually, we review the grants that are submitted,” said С��è��ý student Patrick Meadors, who attended the awards ceremony. “It’s great practice working with others, sharing ideas and observations – I really enjoyed the experience.”

Added Michelle Reers, “We shared what we thought the strong points were of each proposal with the commissioners, to help them in the review process. The whole experience offered that ‘hands-on’ aspect that connects what we’re learning in the classroom to implementation in the real world.”