Professional Training and Internship Program

Career Connections is a 3-year career development program for Portland residents (ages 18-24) who are interested in exploring professional careers and/or college.

Begin by applying for their challenging five week training program where you will:

•Have opportunities to increase confidence, motivation, and hope
•Network with local professionals and explore career options
•Learn résumé writing and interview skills that will get your noticed
•Identify your strengths, skills, and passions
Next, after the training, you can:

•Gain access to exclusive internships with their professional partners and three years of career and college coaching!

Program Features:

•Training – Start with their 5-week training held downtown at partner company locations focusing on professional work culture, career planning and networking opportunities. Their partners hold tours of their locations and facilitate workshops on a wide range of topics such as competitive interviewing strategies, self marketing techniques, and managing personal finances.

•Job/Internship Connections – They partner with diverse organizations that offer internship and work experiences for their training graduates. Click on the partners link to see a full list of their supporting organizations.

•Career Advising – Each participant has a Career Advisor who acts as a mentor, advocate and career coach. Career Advisors help advisees refine their goals, set up action plans, and make connections to the professional world.

•Long-Term Support – Open Meadow makes a three-year commitment to the career development of each participant, so programming goes far beyond initial job placements. Career Advisiors help participants plan for long-term financial stability, post-secondary education, and advancement in their chosen career field beyond entry-level employment.

•Support Services – Career Services can provide internship stipends, transportation support, professional clothing and other supportive services for youth who are actively engaged in programming and have a demonstrated need.

Industry Tracks:

Career Connections partners offer job and internship opportunities in specific industry areas for training graduates. Individuals interested in entry-level business, banking, healthcare, or public service/city government opportunities are especially encouraged to apply. But, interest in one of these career fields is NOT required for program admission. Here is a description of the different pathways people take after finishing their 5-week training:

•Entry-Level Business – Interested in working in a professional office to get started in the business world? Their graduates have been hired for every kind of office job from mail distributors to receptionists, administrative assistants, and office managers.

•Healthcare – Want to pursue a career helping others, with great advancement opportunities and a high level of job security? Whether you are interested in nursing, phlebotomy, or dental assisting- they can help you get started and create a plan!

•Banking/Financial Services – If you have some previous cash handling and customer service experience, they could connect you with one of their banking industry partners.

•Public Service/Government – They have strong partnerships with Metro, Multnomah County, and the City of Portland. The opportunities are nearly endless and allow you the opportunity to get involved in your community and find professional stability.

•Post-Secondary Education/Training – Are you interested in going to college, but you’re not sure how to make it happen? They will help you navigate the world of post-secondary education whether you want to do a short term occupational training or pursue your bachelors degree.

•Independent/Other – Do you want to be a mechanic, flight attendant, graphic designer, or something else that doesn’t fit into any of the options listed above? They will help you find an entry-level connection to your chosen field. Their training’s focus on professionalism and planning is universally important.

Application Information:

•Summer Training: August 16th – September 17th
**Enrollment/training happens 4-5 times per year, so we are always recruiting and enrolling students

Eligibility Requirements – To qualify, you must:

•Meet their income qualifications (they will help you figure this out)
•Be able to pass a drug screening when applying for an internship or job with one of their partner companies
•Reside in the city of Portland
•Be between 18-24
•Have a diploma or GED by the beginning of training

To Apply:

•Contact Lee Ann Lawrence to let her know you are interested and to schedule an orientation. Lee Ann can be reached at 503-488-5181 or leeann@openmeadow.org

If you are interested in long-term support, but are unsure whether you will be able to meet the scheduling demands of the training, please feel free to call and set up an appointment. Accommodations can be made for the right candidate.

This program is funded through The City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development Economic Opportunity Initiative and through funds from Multnomah County.

Open Meadow Alternative Schools engages students and partners of any race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, national and ethnic origin, political affiliation, or disability. It does not discriminate on these bases in the administration of any activities.

Grant High VP Selected as King Principal

Kim Patterson

Kim Patterson

At the end of this school year, Kim Patterson, a Vice Principal at Grant with a long and varied resume in education as teacher, counselor, curriculum coordinator and administrator, will take over as King School Principal. Ms. Patterson pledges to be visible in the community, reach out to parents, and raise achievement and innovation at the school while making the building and grounds more attractive. Prior to the transition on July 1st, she will be meeting individually with staff members to forge a good working relationship and to learn of their hopes and dreams for the school.

Portland Plan Retreat Notes

Notes write up from NECN pdx plan retreat 4-3-10

Hello Neighborhood and Community Association board members, leaders and activists;

Attached please find the notes from the Portland Plan Retreat that was hosted by the NE Coalition of Neighborhoods on Saturday, April 3rd from 10am-1pm at Curious Comedy Venue. We had great turn-out of a wide variety of people who have experience working on a wide variety of issues in our community – from education to transportation to the arts and more!

Thank you all who were able to attend and contribute your time and ideas! Your participation is what makes these events successful! Debbie Bischoff, NE Portland District Planner with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will be in-putting this information into the Portland Plan.

The next step for you and your neighbors is to take this information, and the other priorities you see in your neighborhood to the Phase II Workshops. Follow this link to find the schedule of workshops: http://www.portlandonline.com/portlandplan/index.cfm?a=289672&c=50730#1. At this workshop Portland Plan staff will be presenting the goals that have been identified in each of the 9 Action Areas from Phase I, get your feedback on these goals and lead a discussion about equity in the City. You are welcome to attend any of the workshops, not just the NE workshop.

Please contact Lauren McCartney anytime if you have thoughts, comments, or questions about this process and the notes.

Lauren McCartney
Neighborhood Association Outreach Coordinator
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods
4815 NE 7th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
P: 503-823-4135
F: 503-823-3150
E: lauren@necoalition.org
www.necoalition.org

King School to Have New Leadership

LaDrena Rhodes, principal of King School has decided to resign at the end of this year, June 30th. Staff were informed in a meeting on Monday after school and parents will receive a letter today. King School has an ambitious agenda to make progress on its transformation to an International Baccalaureate School and to raise student achievement in the coming year. Expectations will be high to see that the next principal will be able to tap the enthusiasm for progress and willingness to collaborate amongst staff to accelerate the gains King has been making recently.

Portland Public School’s Human Resources will conduct a meeting at the school on Monday, April 19th for the King community of parents and teachers to discuss what they value about King School and what they want to see in the next principal. A survey will be distributed to guide the selection process and is on the school website: http://www.king.pps.k12.or.us/

If the position is not filled within PPS, an interview committee will include members of staff and parents at King. The expected make up is four of each. Applications will be distributed to those interested in being selected for the committee. To learn more, come to the meeting on the 19th at the school, 4906 NE 6th at 6:30. Parent, staff, and community involvement are crucial to making the best of this change.

Education Summit to Address Excellence, Equity

The 2010 Education Summit announced both national and regional keynote speakers for the first annual event: Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Greg Darnieder, and 2008 National Teacher of the Year Michael Geisen. The announcement follows a year-long, regional effort led by Mayor Adams and former County Chair Ted Wheeler to create a vehicle for ongoing discussion about education in the Portland region.

Education is vital to our goal of becoming the most sustainable city in the world. The only way we will achieve this goal is through partnership and collaboration. We want Portland to be known not just as the ‘greenest’ city in America, but the most educated.

The Summit will take shape in two formats, a Town Hall dialogue on April 10th and a Leadership Summit on April 12th. The Town Hall serves to engage the community in a meaningful conversation about how we as a community can ensure all students have access to resources that help them graduate high school on time and go on to post-secondary education. Resources for youth and families will be available as well as snacks and child care.

COMMUNITY TOWN HALL
Keynote Speaker: Michael Geisen
Saturday, April 10th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
FREE and open to the public
Location: Parkrose High School

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Keynote Speaker: Greg Darnieder
Monday, April 12th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
$10 Registration fee before March 22nd. Tickets purchased after March 22nd are $15.
Click to purchase tickets
Location: Oregon Convention Center

“We cannot call our schools excellent until there is excellence for every student,” said Dan Ryan, CEO of the Portland Schools Foundation. “The issue of equity in our schools needs Portland’s best thinking and the summit is an opportunity to re-focus our attention on equity and excellence for all students–our kids deserve that.”

The Leadership Summit aims to build on the existing work of the Education Cabinet, bringing together top minds in education, including elected officials, school district leaders and business leaders for the opportunity to dig into compelling data about how our community is supporting young people and where we are falling short. This is a time to share and commit to collective action toward securing a more promising future for our youth.

“We must do all that we can to improve the high school graduation rate to ensure the future workforce is qualified for careers in our local economy, said Worksystems Inc. Executive Director Andrew McGough. “The whole region has a stake in this and the Education Summit will provide an important opportunity for thought leaders to look closely at this issue.”

To watch the Education Summit video, please click here.

The 2010 Education Summit is sponsored by the City of Portland, Multnomah County, Worksystems Inc., and The Portland Schools Foundation.