http://www.openmeadow.org/open en Open Meadow Copyright 1971 - 2012 Open Meadow 2012-04-11T16:31:44+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/open_meadow_welcomes_governor_kitzhaber_to_campus/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/open_meadow_welcomes_governor_kitzhaber_to_campus/#When:15:31:44Z Open Meadow had the distinct pleasure of hosting Governor Kitzhaber, first lady Cylvia Hayes, and Education Advisor Ben Cannon Tuesday at our high school. The Governor’s education agenda includes a “40-40-20 plan” that would have 40 percent of the state’s adults with four-year college degrees, 40 percent with two-year degrees or the equivalent, and the remaining 20 percent with high school degrees. The ambitious nature of this 100% high school graduation agenda means that, in the words of the Governor’s Office, “He’s in serious learning mode” about how to succeed with off-track youth. At a time when over 40% of Portland high school students are not meeting the goals of our public education system, the Governor’s focus is a smart one if we are to get that 40% to earn, at minimum, a high school credential. We’re flattered that he chose Open Meadow as a place to learn more, and deeply appreciative of his willingness to seek solutions to this critical issue. The Governor met with students and staff. He is eager to scale-up programs like Open Meadow that, through our high school and Step Up, provide “on-ramps” for off-track youth to get back on-track to post-secondary success in accordance with the ambitions of the 40-40-20 plan. We spoke about the importance of individualized supports that serve academic progress, high expectations, and the belief that every student is capable. We spoke about the fact that Oregon and Portland can get back on track. We can get the other 40% to meet the ambitious goals that we have set out for them. The Governor’s 10-year budgeting plan captures the return on investment that is realized through programs like Open Meadow that can interrupt the non-virtuous cycles of poverty and violence far better than a two-year budget. The economic vitality of our state our community and state depend on this longer-term thinking that invests in prevention and multiple on-ramps that meet youth in real-time where they fall out. Together we can do this. We are grateful for the Governor’s focus on the issue of off-track youth. To see photos of the visit, click here. Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-04-11T15:31:44+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/go_timbers/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/go_timbers/#When:18:58:57Z The Portland Timbers recently selected Open Meadow to be one of nine of the Portland Timbers Community Fund 2012 grantees! The grant was awarded during half-time at Jeld-Wen Field at the 3/31 match against Real Salt Lake! Check out this video that the Timbers recently made, and now lives on their website. Thank you PTCF! GO Timbers! Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-04-09T18:58:57+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/portland_pearl_rotarys_commitment_to_open_meadow/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/portland_pearl_rotarys_commitment_to_open_meadow/#When:16:16:52Z Open Meadow volunteer champion Don Barney, Past President of Portland Pearl Rotary Club, organized a short display of Pearl Rotary’s commitment to Open Meadow’s Step Up program at Madison High School. On February 28, Don presented a check to Sierra Hill, Madison Step Up Program Manager & Nia Lewis, Madison Step Up Program Coordinator. Two freshmen from the program, Sam Guy and Royce Hayson, shared testimonials with club members. Thank you, Pearl Rotary for your unwavering support! Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-03-02T16:16:52+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/building_inclusive_classrooms_by_engaging_community/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/building_inclusive_classrooms_by_engaging_community/#When:23:08:38Z Last week Open Meadow staff were invited to participate on a teacher panel for PPS’ Focus on Diversity series. The presentation topic and conversation focused on classroom practice and community engagement. Open Meadow’s Sierra Hill, Michael Navarro and Dawnnesha Wilcher brought passion, commitment and leadership to the discussion while sharing their beliefs and strategies about the work toward equity for all students.  Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-02-06T23:08:38+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/too_early_for_spring_cleaning/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/too_early_for_spring_cleaning/#When:22:44:43Z Got a new Xbox 360 for the holidays? Looking to clean out your closets and get rid of that oh so old Wii from 2010? Are your hardly ever worn basketball shoes, rain boots or hiking boots covered in dust and feeling lonely? Too much tea cluttering your cupboard that you can’t find the sugar for your coffee in the morning? Got tickets to an upcoming local performance that you can’t make after all? What’s that you’re wondering… why, yes! Open Meadow IS looking for these and a few other donated items that have been recently requested by our programs and more than 900 youth. If you are able to help out, or have a friend who is eager to get rid of that karaoke machine that just never quite made it out to the living room, then please consider donating an item from our wish list. We promise it will get used!  Contact (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at 503.488.5187 for further details. Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-02-03T22:44:43+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/student_scholarships_from_the_skanner/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/student_scholarships_from_the_skanner/#When:22:15:52Z Last week, two Open Meadow High School students received $1,000 scholarships from The Skanner Foundation to pursue their higher education. The awards were presented to our students at The Skanner’s 26th Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast. Congratulations to Kelsey and Jeremiah for the great work toward their post-secondary success! Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-01-24T22:15:52+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/no_longer_colorblind/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/no_longer_colorblind/#When:17:11:18Z A recent Portland Tribune article by Jennifer Anderson features Open Meadow’s leading work as one of ten Portland Beacon Schools driving the local initiative to close the racial achievement gap. We are proud of the work of our staff across programs and excited to partner with our students, families, and Portland Public Schools in this critical work.     Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2012-01-19T17:11:18+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/join_the_celebration/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/join_the_celebration/#When:19:02:45Z Open Meadow is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary this year. It’s been 40 years of memorable moments for students, parents, staff, volunteers, sponsors and the whole community. We’d like everyone to help us celebrate these Open Meadow “moments”. Open Meadow has been special to us for so many reasons. It has been full of moments we treasure and moments that remain a huge part of us. We want to celebrate these moments and gather them. Josh Monda, an Open Meadow Board member and alumni from the Class of 1999, has started a facebook page where you can like the page and share your Open Meadow stories, photos (old and current), video, audio, written notes and quotes from the last 40 years. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Meadow-Moments/285946158115335 For more information on the great ways Open Meadow is celebrating this huge milestone contact Amy Smith at Amy.Smith@openmeadow.org Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2011-12-27T19:02:45+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/busy_betties/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/busy_betties/#When:20:06:41Z The Betties 360 group at Open Meadow High School have been busy this semester with activities that are empowering them with skills including increased focus, self confidence, stress management and coping strategies, preparedness and more… From exploring their cooking abilities to learning yoga, archery and self defense, these young women are on the move. They’ve been offered programs such as Wilderness First Aid and Banking for Life, and have gone out into the field to an urban farm. Most recently they visited with Daimler Trucks North America on Swan Island. There the girls enjoyed a tour of how semi-trucks are designed and built. Seven female engineers led them through the test center including the shaker room (where a truck is put on a big shaker to simulate rough roads to test all components of the cab structure), the wind tunnel and the design studio where prototypes are built out of clay. The purpose of this trip was to expose the girls to the idea of design and engineering. Many of the OM girls love to create, draw and design things, and this trip showed them how they can use those interests for a career. Also, the girls greatly benefited by seeing and interacting with a diverse group of smart and capable women who all love what they do for work. Thanks to Daimler for being such wonderful hosts to our young women! Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2011-12-16T20:06:41+00:00 http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/open_meadow_students_sing_praises/ http://www.openmeadow.org/open/meadow/blog_post/open_meadow_students_sing_praises/#When:19:38:24Z Open Meadow students and staff show up at Council and SING PRAISES of the city’s support of Youth Pass. Continuation of this pass means that not only can Open Meadow’s 24 graduating seniors get to school to graduate, but so can the other 1,600 graduating seniors who live in poverty across the city and the 6,000 other high schoolers who live in poverty. And not only can they get to school, but like Evan who testified to Council today, they can take advantage of distance volunteer and work-based learning opportunities like Evan has at the Oregon Zoo to extend their learning and give back to the community. The wheels on the TriMet busses say – GRADUATE! Thank you City of Portland, TriMet and Portland Public Schools! Open Meadow Blog Headlines 2011-12-14T19:38:24+00:00