by Donald Q. Smith
Summer 2009

Khino is certain that his high school experience at Open Meadow, followed by his participation, as a young adult, in Career Services’ mentoring program, changed his life.

“I can do anything I desire in life,” Khino, 21, asserts. “But I needed someone to tell me that until it stuck in my mind.”

That someone was Von Ray Johnson, a professional athletic trainer in downtown Portland and a volunteer mentor for Khino the past four years. Without his degree from Open Meadow and Von Ray, life likely would not have led to two years of employment in Portland Parks and Recreation or occasional work as a “fit model” for Nike.

It was Open Meadow’s Michele Taylor, community partnerships manager, who brought them together.  She had trained with Von Ray and knew Khino as a student. Von Ray seized the mentoring opportunity, currently funded by PacifiCorp.

“The program’s premise is based on documented studies that students stand to benefit from being mentored by adults (who share) their knowledge and expertise as private-sector employees,” she explained. “This gives the students a rich and enlightening glimpse of professional, well-paying jobs.”

It’s common for Open Meadow to have 20 such pairs like Khino and Von Ray.  As a mentor, Von Ray, exemplifies the ideal–“someone,” Taylor says, “who is willing to share opportunities with their mentee, and will be a consistent presence and keep in contact.”

The duo works out several times a week at 10th Avenue Fitness Club. Von Ray brings his thirty years of coaching experience, school volunteerism and fitness training to their sessions. In their early days together, Von Ray helped guide Khino to a berth in the state high school track competition in high jumping. Though they still train together, the work-out connection has had many more benefits for Khino–including confidence in public speaking, goal-setting and an adult support person he never had growing up.

At times, they met at 6 a.m. in the gym. “It’s a test about how life is,” Von Ray said. Others with early morning appointments, he recalls, didn’t show for work-outs. “With Khino, we hit it off right away,” Von Ray remembered. “I saw his potential right away. But whether or not this could develop…I knew it would take time.”

For Von Ray, a father of three and a grandfather of three, the satisfaction of his volunteerism through Open Meadow comes from “doing something positive by reaching out to youth.” He’s also a model of regularity in his contact with Khino. “It’s one thing to give time and another thing to give time on a consistent basis.”

Von Ray exudes a positive attitude (something that he shares with his student) and knows that the support of his wife, Jeannie, and their family, his dedication to his profession and his religious faith all have contributed to a full life.

“That’s what keeps me going, these blessings I have. It’s up to me to keep them going forward.”

Khino is most appreciative: “I came from nothing. I’m taking small steps, getting ahead on my own. Without Open Meadow and Von Ray, I don’t know what I’d be doing today. I owe everything to Open Meadow. I can’t ever repay them.”

Donald Q. Smith is a freelance journalist and a member of the Portland Pearl Rotary Club. Pearl Rotarians have developed several community service projects to support Open Meadow. Smith is a former weekly newspaper editor and publisher of the Monticello (Minn.) Times.