Staff Spotlight: Trafficking Prevention Specialist and Survivor Advocate

Staff Spotlight: Trafficking Prevention Specialist and Survivor Advocate

The Trafficking Prevention Specialist and Survivor Advocate plays a crucial role in providing trafficked youth with a safe space and assistance with extricating themselves from a dangerous situation. For the safety of the employee in this unique role, we are not identifying her by name. For the importance of the education of this community, we are sharing some of her experiences.

Trafficking of youth comes in many forms, but most often comes down to a vulnerable young person trading favors or services in exchange for housing, food, or other basis needs. Or, in some cases these services are traded for drugs or alcohol, which, in turn help these victims endure the assault or abuse at the hands of those holding power over them.

All-Staff Event Includes Awards and Guest Speaker

All-Staff Event Includes Awards and Guest Speaker

At this year’s All Staff Meeting, 8 Looking Glass staff members and one community partner received the Looking Glass Distinguished Service award. This annual gathering, at Venue 252 in Eugene, included lunch and a special guest speaker - Ayisha Elliot Anti-Racism Coach & Equity Strategist, Black Girl From Eugene.

Looking Glass New Roads Kitchen Remodel is Underway

Looking Glass New Roads Kitchen Remodel is Underway

Looking Glass New Roads Kitchen Remodel is underway and we need YOUR help with temporary outdoor kitchen services. Beginning in May the New Roads day program for homeless youth services will begin construction on the current kitchen to enable cooking of full meals. To-date, the New Roads staff have been without adequate ventilation and equipment to provide a full kitchen and thus meals have been quite challenging to provide 3 times per day to homeless youth.

Trillium Helps Create New Resource Pantry at Looking Glass Counseling Program

Trillium Helps Create New Resource Pantry at Looking Glass Counseling Program

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Trillium Community Benefit Initiative, the main Counseling office for Looking Glass therapy services now offers a resource pantry for active therapy clients and families. The pantry includes basic food items (perishable and non-perishable), hygiene items, clothing and some toys. Since opening the pantry in February, more than 200 families of counseling clients have utilized the pantry.

“Clients having access to basic needs (food, clothing, toiletries) not only supports those clients, families, and the community with their needs getting met, but allows them to have a greater sense of safety in their everyday lives,” said Jaime Ellsworth, Looking Glass Intensive Outpatient Support Services (IOSS) Clinical Supervisor.

Looking Glass Auction Raises Record High Donations

Looking Glass Auction Raises Record High Donations

The annual Spring auction gala fundraiser for Looking Glass raised a record amount of revenue through corporate sponsorships, auction bids and paddle raises. By the end of the night, which celebrated Dynamic Duos with a theme that included 29 individually decorated table centerpieces, crucial funds had been raised for Looking Glass programs. At this year’s event there were two guests given surprise honors - first Looking Glass outgoing CEO, Craig Opperman, was informed that the Community Leadership award given annually is now named after him. Then Dan LaCoste, longtime Looking Glass board member (and chair for 6 years until this year), was given the Craig Opperman Community Leadership Award.

Timber Products Company Supports Riverfront Skilled Trades Program

Timber Products Company Supports Riverfront Skilled Trades Program

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.

Looking Glass Quarterly CAEC Employee Recognition - Spring 2024

Looking Glass Quarterly CAEC Employee Recognition - Spring 2024

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. This quarter’s randomly selected winner: Andrea Fadich (she/they)-Education and Behavioral Specialist at Center Point School!

Living Legend Dr. Lois Youngen Visits Center Point School Students

Living Legend Dr. Lois Youngen Visits Center Point School Students

The students at Looking Glass Center Point School had a special visitor this week when Dr. Lois Youngen, one of roughly only 600 women to ever play professional baseball, stopped by to share her experiences. Youngen played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1951 until it folded in 1954 as a member of the Fort Wayne Daisies and South Bend Blue Sox teams during her four-year career. She primarily played catcher.

Looking Glass Quarterly CAEC Employee Recognition

Looking Glass Quarterly CAEC Employee Recognition

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. The winner, selected from the 4th quarterly meeting in 2023, is Sarai Barrera from the counseling program.

2023 Giving Tree Program Brings Cheer to At-Risk Youth!

2023 Giving Tree Program Brings Cheer to At-Risk Youth!

This year’s Giving Tree program proved to be very fruitful for the youth and programs at Looking Glass! Staff were so thankful to the generosity of the community. Each program was able to spoil the youth we serve and provide a very happy holiday party and fulfill both the needs and wishes of each youth who requested gifts (more than 400 youth this year!).

Riverfront Skilled Trades Program Unveils Completed Tiny House

Riverfront Skilled Trades Program Unveils Completed Tiny House

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.