July 9, 2009 "Promoting parent, business and community involvement in our schools"

YOUTHINK

YOUTHINK
The Purpose of YOUTHINK is to have fun while...

  • Doing youth-to-youth grant making, because money is empowering
  • Increasing youth voice in Portland through positive, youth-led action
  • Creating a diverse network of youth activists

“Young Minds, Fresh Ideas”

YOUTHINK believes in creating change using different strategies, or “multiple action pathways.” We’re into youth-driven social change philanthropy, and other strategies like media activism, social entrepreneurship, youth organizing, youth governance, and service-learning that empower young people to take action and have a real voice in issues that matter to them while making real changes in Portland.

Our Values

  • Youth-led Civic Action – You might have heard it called service-learning in school. Youth-led civic action is when young people identify a problem in their community, research, then use what they know to tackle the root cause of the problem (not just the symptoms that result from problems). It’s not just community service; it’s a long-term solution.
  • Innovation – We believe that you have the answers to Portland’s problems. We want to see new, creative, interesting ways of addressing these issues. Fresh ideas that adults might never think of alone.
  • Youth-Adult Partnerships – We have a lot to learn from one another. We want to engage young people to realize all they can do, and help them build relationships with adult friends who have experience and resources to share. Change comes when we work together.
  • All Kinds of Youth – We want to motivate and engage all kinds of young people to take action on things they’re passionate about, all over Portland.

Long-term Social Change – We want to make lasting improvements in Portland.

Support for YOUTHINK
YOUTHINK is supported by a collaboration of local partners, including the Portland Partnership, KIDS Consortium, United Way of Greater Portland and the Portland Public Schools, and by the National Service-Learning Partnership.

Quote from Beth Ryder-Kenna, YOUTHINK alumna
“Youth are often portrayed in a harsh, negative light...grant projects will let young people shine as the problem solvers they can be, when given the right opportunity...Giving young people money to create social change will give them the power.”

Download a YOUTHINK Grant Application

Contact Information:
Ainsley Wallace
Site Coordinator
207-842-5343