June 7, 2005

The Portland Trail Blazers, Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council and Hands On Portland wrapped up their annual Blazers Community Builders Youth Corps (BCBYC) program this weekend as 300 teenagers from Oregon and Southwest Washington met at the Memorial Coliseum for the program’s annual Youth Summit. As part of the Youth Summit, Youth Corps ambassadors participated in a moderated discussion panel with influential community leaders to include Wendy Radmacher-Willis (City Club of Portland), Renee Mitchell (Oregonian columnist), Dr. Preston Pulliams (President of Portland Community College), and Michael Holton, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Portland. After the event, the teens were invited to attend Portland Beavers baseball game and spend the night “camping out” in the Memorial Coliseum.

A five-month mentorship curriculum designed to promote youth leadership, civic engagement and philanthropy in Oregon and Southwest Washington, the program was led by teen ambassadors from the Portland/Vancouver area as well as Bend, Coquille, Eagle Point, Myrtle Point, Newport, Ontario, Philomath, Salem, Sisters, and White City.

The program, in it’s sixth year, is solely funded by the Trail Blazers, and modeled after the team’s national award-winning signature Blazers Community Builders (BCB) employee volunteer program. Participation in the BCB program and on-going volunteer efforts is part of the organizations’ corporate culture and involves everyone from the team’s executives and staff to the players, coaches and broadcasters. The Youth Corps program is a natural extension of the team’s commitment to community involvement and since its inception has contributed nearly $300,000 in grassroots, youth administered grants to communities around the state. The program mentors teenagers in education and training on social responsibility, leadership and philanthropy; hands-on community service; and team building for Youth Ambassadors who then pass along their new knowledge and skills to other young people in their home communities.

“BCBYC is an impressive example of the power and value of youth in our communities,” says Keith Thomajan, Executive Director of Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council. “Too often, we overlook our young people, or deliver service at them; BCBYC is a meaningful opportunity for hundreds of young people to assess their communities, make decisions, and invest their time and talent in critical ways. In a very real sense, BCBYC allows a legion of young people to serve as agents of positive change!”

As part of the program, the Youth Ambassadors meet periodically throughout the year to discuss the role and responsibilities of young people and to examine core social issues affecting youth and citizens in Oregon and Southwest Washington. These meetings include visits with members of local, state and national government, an annual trip to the Oregon State Capitol, discussion groups with business and community leaders and valuable team-building sessions at Camp Fire’s Camp Namanu.

Earlier this year, the Youth Ambassadors developed and distributed requests for proposals (RFPs) from area nonprofits improving their local communities through service projects using the talent, skills, and knowledge of young people. After reviewing the proposals, the Youth Ambassadors then selected 19 organizations to receive grants of up to $2,500, bringing the total grant amount for 2005 to $40,000. A partial list of this year’s grant recipients includes:

Russian Speaking Youth Leadership Conference (Portland): Grant will go toward the 9th Annual Russian Speaking Youth Leadership Conference. The event will bring the Russian speaking youth of Oregon together for a day of leadership development, civic engagement, and problem solving.

First Aid Service Team (FAST) / American Red Cross (Eugene): The youth volunteer-led First Aid Service Team trains other high school volunteers in professional-level CPR and First Aid to provide first aid coverage at more than 50 community events each year.

Spring Street Playground Replacement Project Housing Authority of Lincoln County (Newport): Youth from the Lincoln county Youth Leadership Program and Recreational Opportunities for Coastal Kids have partnered to replace deteriorating playground equipment located at a public housing site.

The City of Myrtle Point Youth Sports Programs (Myrtle Point): Baseball field Renovation and purchase of materials and equipment.

Each of the grant recipients was selected on its ability to promote youth engagement in a variety of ways, including directly engaging youth in the visioning, planning, and implementing of the project; involving youth as participants; or by ensuring that youth are the direct beneficiaries of the project’s outcomes.

“As an instructor, it is always my dream to provide awesome opportunities for my students – to show them that they can make a difference,” says Judi Blomquist, Leadership Teacher, Coquille Valley Middle School. “Now, they believe me! With the BCBYC grant we received our playground enhancement project is now a reality. There was NO WAY that I could have provided what BCBYC did for my kids!”



Key statistics for the 04-05 BCBYC program:

29 teenagers representing 15 communities across Oregon served as BCB Youth Ambassadors this year.

20 service projects and counting were led by our Ambassadors in their communities this past year.

19 Youth service organizations received a portion of the $40,000 in grants administered this year.

500 teenagers participated in a BCB Youth Corps project at some point during the school year.

5000 were impacted by their efforts.

Click here for all 2005 Grant Recipients

Click here for Participating Organizations and Individuals

Click here to read Senator Gordon H. Smith letter to BCB Youth Corps participants.

Click here for Blazers Community Builders