Vision Into Action Youth Action Grants
The Vision into Action Coalition, PCC Students4Giving, the Multnomah Youth Commission, the City of Portland’s Youth Planning Program, and the Office of Mayor Sam Adams awarded $9,900 to 7 esteemed projects proposed and written by youth 21 and under as a part of the VIA Youth Action Grants Program. These projects took place in the spring of 2009.
A ceremony was held on March 18, 2009 at City Hall. Vision Into Action Coalition’s Youth Action Grants supported new and creative youth-designed and youth-led projects, particularly those projects that engaged large numbers of youth, broadened youth skills, and involved new youth leadership. Each of the projects prioritized a specific article of Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth in order to help make it a reality for the youth of Portland.
Projects that were awarded in the 2009 grant cycle:
- A reading contest to encourage literacy for middle school youth during National Turn Off Your TV Week,
- A Battle of The Bands fundraiser for support to public school music programs, with high school bands performing,
- A week of activities at Grant High School to generate awareness and increased use of their School Based Health Center,
- A companion curriculum to “Papers” a documentary about the lives of undocumented teens, for use by teachers in the schools,
- A photography project with teens from backgrounds of homelessness and foster care to tell their stories and express themselves through art,
- A concert at Pioneer Courthouse Square, of bands and music from Russian speaking communities to reach cross-cultural understanding for all Portlanders, and
- A documentary film project that aims to train youth from different economic and ethnic backgrounds from around Portland as film makers.
Projects were supported by the Youth Planning Program and the Multnomah Youth Commission. At the awards ceremony, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the youth organizers themselves. The youth will speak about their projects, and discuss how they see their ideas changing Portland for the better.
The Youth Action Grants were made possible by a partnership with the City of Portland, the Vision into Action Coalition, Portland Community College Foundation and PCC’s Students4Giving Program.
