Our Purpose

 

In 2019, 20% of youth ages 16-24 in Douglas County were not in school or working. Comparatively, it is almost double the rate of the state of Oregon as a whole, which was 11.6% in 2019. Over the past 4 years, these rates have remained relatively the same. We believe BrightWorks Clubs can be part of the solution by helping students graduate from high school empowered and excited for what their futures hold.

 

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With every activity we aim to help students answer these questions:

• What do I like?

• What am I good at?

• What do I need to succeed?

• How do I get where I want to go?

 

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What is BrightWorks Clubs?

A virtual club where students can socialize while exploring careers, learning about different educational pathways, leading their own projects and developing skills for life after graduation!

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Our initial meetings will primarily focus on relationship building. COVID-19 has been difficult for everyone. To help relieve some of this burden, BrightWorks Clubs will also provide a safe space where youth can come to socialize and take their minds off of the stresses in their lives. To the right, you can find the program overview for both BrightWorks Club group. 

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Within each unit, we have left one week where students will select a topic within the unit theme that they want us to cover. Intermingled with weekly meetings, we will also have optional workshops for students to attend. 

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In addition, students will be completing their own project which they can present to family, friends, and community members. For their project, they will answer the question: what are ways I can connect my interests and passions to help others in my community? Students will have to connect to locals and community organizations/businesses. We hope that they will meet professionals with careers that spark their interest. Plus, they will be developing soft skills such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, leadership skills, etc. We ultimately believe that this project will allow them to stand out in future job interviews and in college/scholarship applications. 

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If you have any questions, please contact Elena Contreras at elena.contreras@ucancap.org and/or Isaac Norman at isaac.norman@ucancap.org. 

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