Updates from Looking Glass
Each quarter, the members of the Looking Glass Cultural Awareness and Equity Committee (CAEC) review nominations of staff members who have gone above and beyond their job requirements to promote cultural awareness and equity on the job. The randomly selected winner from this group was Cassandra Keene (New Roads).
Students from a Community Projects class at Looking Glass’ Riverfront School & Career Center created a fundraiser to support the needs of pets of unhoused youth who access services at Looking Glass homeless youth programs. The students raised almost $300 including donations of in-kind pet supplies. Wags! Dog Emporium matched every dollar raised and donated additional items for a total value of almost $900 in pet supplies gathered and donated to Looking Glass homeless youth programs for their pets.
The 14th Annual Looking Glass Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures breakfast fundraiser event, held Tuesday, October 15th at Venue 252 in Eugene, focused on Education programs with a panel of Looking Glass teachers from the agency’s alternative schools. In addition, Looking Glass recognized and honored this year’s Community Partner of the Year - Jennifer Montgomery, the Secondary Special Education Consultant for the 4J School District.
"We are thrilled to once again find our agency name listed within the Top 100 Nonprofits in Oregon," said Looking Glass CEO Chad Westphal. "It is a testament to our incredible and diverse team of staff. They have worked to create and sustain a supportive team culture that is always prepared to respond to the needs of our most vulnerable community members. I am thankful for and proud of all of them."
Also check out a new VIDEO from our happy employees!
After constructing a first tiny house for SquareOne in the summer/fall of 2023, the students enrolled in the Skilled Trades program at Looking Glass Riverfront School & Career Center were eager to work on a 2nd project. SquareOne was thrilled with the quality craftsmanship done on the first project and have expressed interest in a longer term partnership. The students did not disappoint with their 2nd effort, completing their next tiny house project in early September of 2024.
Following the success of our new “Braugust” bra donation drive, piggybacking off the now well established annual “Socktoberfest” sock donation drive, Looking Glass is hoping for similar success with “Shoetember” to hopefully procure gently used or new shoe donations for our homeless youth programs during the month of September.
“For unhoused youth in Lane County shoes are one of the most important safety items they can own, especially going into the rainy fall and winter months,” explained Homeless Youth Services Director Morgan Boozer.
After 5 incredibly successful years of experience with an October-long sock donation drive promotion (Socktoberfest), Looking Glass is hoping to yield similar results with a focused Bra and female-identified undergarment donation drive during the month of August - or “Braugust.” While gently used bra’s will certainly be accepted, the hope is new items will be purchased via an Amazon wish list or dropped off at the Looking Glass admin office (1790 West 11th Ave, 2nd floor, Eugene) before August 31st. Only new underwear will be accepted. And socks are always needed as well (not just in October).
The Looking Glass Counseling Program continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our clients. We continue to hire more therapists and although we are not quite fully staffed still, we have made great progress in recent months and are doing our best to meet the growing need for therapy in our community, for clients of all ages. Here is a new video about the counseling program, highlighting the various ways our program meets our clients where they are, providing trauma-informed care from a diverse group of caring professionals.
Each quarter, the members of the Looking Glass Cultural Awareness and Equity Committee (CAEC) review nominations of staff members who have gone above and beyond their job requirements to promote cultural awareness and equity on the job. Nominations come mostly from staff peers. For Summer 2024, Alexandra Davis-Reyes was selected as the winner of this recognition and a $100 gift card.
About a dozen students and a roomful of family and friends gathered to celebrate the 2024 Riverfront School & Career Center graduation at the Unitarian Universalist Church next to Riverfront on Thursday, June 13th. This year’s keynote speaker was Eve Gray, Director of Lane County Health and Human Services.
In December of 2023, Looking Glass Center Point School applied for and received funding from the 2023 EWEB Electric Mobility Community Grant to purchase an electric vehicle and charging station. Staff did a ton of research on cars and charging stations and, in the end, purchased a 2023 Kia Niro EV and Emporia charging station. Staff members mostly utilize the vehicle to run errands for school needs, including picking up food and other items for the students. The time and cost savings for Looking Glass has been extremely helpful.
