Youth Sustainability
Education Program
This program focuses on building relationships and working with over 450 youth residents (of all ages) on affordable, multi-family housing sites each month. Based on listening and building relationships, the weekly after-school program is focused on learning about community, nature, and recycling and waste prevention through experiential, hands-on activities. During COVID-19, we have been focusing on safety for our staff and community members by delivering hands-on, sustainability activity kits and hosting outdoor activities.
We also work closely with residents, resident services coordinators, and property managers to collaboratively host community nights and listening sessions, and provide civic engagement and low-barrier job opportunities, such as the Environmental Promoter program.
The Environmental Promoter program was born out of multifamily residents’ expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with their waste and recycling systems, and a desire to learn more and have a direct hand in improving those systems. In partnership with residents, Metro, local governments, and community-based organizations, we provide trainings (based on popular education methodology) for interested residents to learn more about recycling, waste prevention, and healthy homes.
They are then given the opportunity to be paid to create their own self-identified projects and outreach to share this information with their own communities. Our team provides support, guidance, and connections to resources to help promoters complete their projects and/or keep them going in the community indefinitely!
Our Impact
Environmental
Promoters Program
This program has provided employment and leadership development opportunities to over 80 multifamily residents ages 12-75.
Projects include tabling, hosting clothing swap, bulky waste, and green cleaning events, sustainability carnivals, enclosure audits and updating signage, going door-to-door, creating and selling art out of trash and recyclable materials (such as piñatas), and more.
Residents have also contributed to policy improvements, including the 2030 regional waste plan, the new modernizing recycling bill, and so much more.
Our most recent cohort of Environmental Promoters from New Columbia
We worked with 11 adults and 13 youth, who reached thousands of their fellow community members with information relating to waste prevention, recycling, healthy homes, including helping lead 3 bulky waste events that removed tons of materials from the property.
Multifamily
Outreach Program
Working with Environmental Promoters, we collaborate with the City of Gresham and the City of Portland to provide outreach about recycling and waste prevention to multifamily housing sites in East Multnomah county, through a community-based lense. This includes support with recycling outreach and education, bulky and food waste reduction, collection events, and more.
Recycling and trash at multifamily enclosures is often inadequate and confusing! Our goals are to help make it more effective and equitable from the perspective of community members.
New Initiatives Program
Bulky waste, such as furniture and appliances, often ends up in the wrong places due to limited disposal options in low-income housing communities. This creates health and environmental risks while increasing costs for cities.
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The New Initiatives Program partners with residents to design equitable waste and reuse services that meet real neighborhood needs. Since 2022, we’ve supported more than 300 low-income households, diverted tens of thousands of pounds of waste from landfills, and improved conditions for over 60,000 residents in affordable housing communities.​ An added benefit are green-sector work opportunities for local community members who get paid to contribute solutions to their own neighborhoods.
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In collaboration with Metro, the City of Portland, and City of Gresham, and with grants from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) and Metro, our team provides free bulky waste removal and furniture reuse opportunities that reduce pollution and promote healthier, more sustainable communities.
Many community members face barriers to finding stable, meaningful work. Our Career Coaching Program offers one-on-one mentorship and skill-building with support for English learners and multilingual participants to help participants explore new career paths and achieve their goals.
We support individuals in exploring new career paths and gaining the education and training needed to advance into meaningful professions. Our services include tailored resume support, interview preparation, and job search guidance, with connections to internships and professional networks, often in the growing Green Jobs sector. In partnership with Worksystems’ Economic Opportunity Program, we also help address barriers to employment and promote long-term success.
This program empowers participants to build rewarding careers that strengthen both their personal stability and their communities.
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The EOP PDX program is financed in whole or in part with funds provided through Worksystems from the U.S. Department of Labor and Prosper Portland. In accordance with Federal Law no person shall be discriminated against or denied benefits as a participant, administrator or staff based on age, disability, sex (including gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy or childbirth), race/ethnicity, national origin (including limited English proficiency), citizenship or status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, political affiliation or religious belief. Providers are an equal opportunity program/employer. Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TTY 1-800-735-2900. To place a free relay call in Oregon, dial 711.
Career
Coaching Program
