Updates from Looking Glass
Since 1990, Looking Glass' Lane Metro Youth Corps has coordinated a summer work crew, giving paid summer work experience to hundreds of Lane County youth over the years and helping to make improvements to a variety of local natural resources and habitats. "Beyond getting paid, these youth are getting valuable work experience," said crew supervisor and Riverfront teacher Craig Annsa.
Two Looking Glass therapists, Aaron Porter and Carlyn Wierda are excited to launch a new process group for people of color at our Counseling Center. A process group is a form of group therapy where 5 to 10 individuals meet face-to-face to share their struggles and concerns with trained group therapists.
At Looking Glass Center Point School, utilizing the latest tech tools helps keep the students engaged and sparks their creativity. The recent acquisition of new Lego Mindstorms education tools was a bit intimidating to the staff at first, but with in-person training provided by a member of the Lego Academy (yes, that's a thing), the staff is feeling confident in its Lego building skills.
The Job Training Program, which operates out of the Looking Glass Riverfront School and Career Center, is a uniquely-designed program that prepares youth, ages 14-24, for success in the workforce in multiple ways. The Job Training Program has been in operation since the late 80's and is funded through the Lane Workforce Partnership.
Watch this great video done by FOOD for Lane County about our beloved Bettina Evans, the cook at our Pathways Girls Program.
"Rural homelessness for youth is almost invisible, even to folks living in these communities," explains Looking Glass Rural Program Supervisor Amanda Hampton. "Youth are rarely out on the streets in a visible way, which means it requires targeted, intentional and collaborative effort to be able to reach the folks who are in need of our services."
