Rip City Magazine - In The Community
By Traci Rose
Director of Community Relations

The Trail Blazers, Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council, and Hands On Portland wrapped up their annual Blazers Community Builders Youth Corps (BCBYC) program in June as 300 teenagers from Oregon and Southwest Washington met at the Memorial Coliseum to celebrate another year of statewide youth engagement. BCBYC is a 5-month mentorship curriculum designed to promote youth leadership, civic engagement, and philanthropy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. This year's program was led by teen ambassadors representing the Portland/Vancouver area, as well as Bend, Coquille, Eagle Point, Myrtle Point, Newport, Ontario, Philomath, Salem, Sisters, and White City.

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. The teenagers were able to ask the adults questions focused on issues that affect youth today. Topics included: how the media portrays teenagers; what are colleges doing to reach out to high schools students; how do teens engage civically; and what are the expectations of college athletes.

The BCBYC 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.

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!"

For more information on the program, our partners, or how youth can be involved in the Blazers Community Builders Youth Corps visit www.blazers.com, www.portlandcampfire.org or www.handsonportland.org.

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