Updates from Looking Glass
Riverfront School & Career Center
Timber Products Company donated $3,000 and toured the shop of the Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center’s Skilled Trades Program on April 2nd. Three members of Timber Products local staff came to visit the shop and talk with the program manager, Michael Romano, and a few of the current students.
Students enrolled in the Looking Glass Riverfront School Skilled Trades Program recently completed construction of a Tiny House on behalf of SquareOne Villages. The house is now part of SquareOne’s Opportunity Village. SquareOne provided the materials through donations and grants and students in Riverfront’s Skilled Trades Program constructed the house in just a little over four months. Multiple local media outlets gathered for an unveiling of the tiny house on November 15th.
The 2023 Riverfront High School graduation was held Thursday, June 15th at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene (next door to Riverfront). Graduates shared their experiences and a UO pep band helped the attendees rock out and celebrate! This year’s keynote speaker was Rick Hamilton, recently elected to the Eugene 4J school board.
Riverfront School & Career Center’s Skilled Trades Program has begun working on building an entire tiny home that will eventually be placed on a site owned and operated by Square One Villages, another Eugene nonprofit that Looking Glass is collaborating with.
The tiny home construction is a summer project for students/workers enrolled in the program who will receive paid work experience while they learn valuable skills.
Riverfront School & Career Center is seeking youth to sign up for summer paid work experiences through either our Lane Metro Youth Corps or Skilled Trades Programs. The Corps work is for youth ages 14 to 21 and the Skilled Trades Program is for 18 to 24 year old’s. Both offer 32 hour per week opportunities and great skill building!
Vinnie Cowan, who has owned and operated Vinnie’s Smokin’ BBQ along with his wife Debbie since roughly 2015, has entered into an informal partnership with Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center in which the students will work in his food truck, parked at Riverfront every Thursday offering lunch from 11AM to 2PM, and receive paychecks from Looking Glass via a workforce readiness grant program.
“We always try and give back to our community and felt that this was a great way to offer the kids some work experience,” Vinnie explained. “And the youth workers have been great! I’m actually hoping to hire a couple of them this summer when they’re out of school.”
The Riverfront Job Training Program is looking for youth age 16 to 24. High school graduates are welcome.
Paid work experience is provided as is assistance with GED if needed, support services (ID, bus passes, work clothing), career exploration, assistance applying for FAFSA and college applications.
The Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center’s new Skilled Trades Program is ready to enroll students this fall! Newly hired Program Manager, Michael Romano, is building the curriculum while simultaneously prepping the recently rented shop space (2510 W 5th Ave #6 in Eugene). The Skilled Trades Training Program will move on from “under construction” to educating young adults in various basic skills of construction, carpentry, electrical, plumbing and much more.
The 2022 Riverfront High School graduation ceremony was held in-person on June 16th at the Unitarian Universalist Church next door to Riverfront for the first time in 2 years. Senator James Manning was the keynote speaker at the event. “Where you are now is part of a transition in life,” Senator Manning said to the graduates. “Never let anyone tell you that you cannot achieve a higher level. I believe in you!”
Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center is offering summer GED instruction for youth ages 14 to 21 and paid outdoor work crew opportunities for ages 16 to 21. Also providing a Teen parent Work Experience Program.
Crew members remove invasive species, collect native seeds, plant native species, build small structures, remove fences, and assist in the renovation and maintenance of park sites.
Cognia, a national school accreditation organization, recently reviewed and awarded Looking Glass Riverfront School with another 5-year accreditation status along with some very positive feedback from their reviewers as well as Riverfront students and parents who were interviewed during the process. “The tremendous effort and commitment Riverfront teachers have made to our student’s education and personal growth is reflected in this outstanding evaluation” – Cheryl E. Zwillinger, Program Director
After a two year delay due to Covid-19, Riverfront School & Career Center is ready to launch their new Skilled Trades Program! The program is designed to educate students in all aspects of general construction, basic carpentry, electrical skills and other hands-on applications. The program was awarded two-years of startup funding by the Youth Development Division from the state of Oregon. The primary use for this funding will go toward the salary of the program manager, Austin Bean, recently hired at Looking Glass, youth wages for an eight week-long summer work experience and program operating expenses.
The new program needs a shop space and will also be holding a tool donation drive in January.
