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We know the gang problem is heating up, and that the resources are suffering the consequences of this economy.  Rebecca Black, among others, is a member of the Gang Violence Task Force from the Mayor's office, and the Executive Director of Oregon Outreach, Inc.  Oregon Outreach, Inc. has been working for more than 20 years to turn around the lives of these at-risk youth.  Over 300 students have sucessfully graduated from this program, and many have gone on to find viable employment and/or post secondary education through the efforts of this small, non-profit organization.  In general, the student population comes from those unable to make it in the regular educational settings.  They are gang members, students who have come through the system and have few, if any credits towards their diploma, young people with gaps in their education that leave them with academic levels of an elementary student, and at-risk youth who have little hope for their own lives. 

Last year I attended a graduation ceremony of Oregon Outreach, Inc.  The speakers were young people who told their own stories of how their lives were turned around, and while they all began with overwhelming obstacles, everyone of them had succeeded in graduating.  No small accomplishment.  The stories of their personal journey were powerful and inspirational. 

Stories such as these need to be shared.

posted 4 years ago
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