REAP

Young people know what support feels like when it’s working, and when it’s missing.

That’s why it mattered for REAP youth to be part of Senator Ron Wyden’s hearing at The Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health.

Students had the chance to speak, listen, and bring their lived experience into a room focused on youth mental health care in Oregon.

For us, this connects directly to the work we do every day through REAP’s Behavioral Health Program and our youth leadership programs. Care has to be accessible. It has to be culturally specific. And it has to include the voices of the young people most affected.

Thank you to Senator Wyden, The Ballmer Institute, and everyone who helped make space for youth voice in this conversation.

As students head back into the classroom, we’re taking a moment to look back at what our REAP community made possible.

This year’s numbers tell part of the story: students served, families engaged, languages represented, youth voices mobilized, and communities reached across Oregon.

But behind every number is a young person building confidence, finding their voice, strengthening their future, and stepping into leadership.

For 25 years, REAP has worked alongside students, families, schools, and community partners to develop the next wave of leaders.

This is one snapshot of that legacy, and we’re proud to keep building on it.

View the full one-pager here: https://buff.ly/M5nKtVe

Photos captured by one of our REAP summer interns.

As Institute of Purpose comes to a close, we’re grateful for the moments that made this summer meaningful.

The photos tell the story best: students creating, playing, working together, spending time outside, heading out on field trips, and building confidence through real experiences.

For 4 weeks, IOP gave students access to hands-on programming across STEM, art and creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership, outdoor recreation, and Field Trip Fridays.

Summer programming matters because students need more than time away from school. They need connection, structure, opportunity, and experiences that help them see what they are capable of.

Thank you to the University of Oregon and iQ Credit Union for supporting this year’s Institute of Purpose, and thank you to Oregon Episcopal School for hosting us.

Summer learning does not only happen in the classroom.

Through REAP’s Institute of Purpose, students spent each Friday exploring different places across the community, including Oaks Park, Tree to Tree Adventure Park, Bullwinkle’s, and OMSI.

Field Trip Fridays give students a chance to try something new, build relationships with their peers, and connect what they are learning to real experiences outside the program site.

For many students, these are the moments that make summer feel full.

Here are a few photos from our Oaks Park field trip.

IOP is in the little moments.

The first time a student raises their hand.
The group project that finally starts to click.
The laugh in between activities.
The field trip story they cannot wait to tell.
The moment they try something new and realize they can do it.

That is what Institute of Purpose is built for.

Swipe through a few more moments from this summer as our students continue learning, creating, leading, and building confidence together.

REAP’s new Behavioral Health Clinical Building was featured in The Portland Observer.

This story shares why this moment matters for our youth, families, and community. Our Behavioral Health Program provides year-round, culturally specific, trauma-informed support for young people who need care they can trust.

A lot of people are learning about this milestone, and we’re grateful to The Portland Observer for helping share the story.

Read the full article here: https://buff.ly/Sv1QbF9

There’s something special about watching students settle into Institute of Purpose.

At first, it’s new faces, new routines, and new experiences. Then something begins to shift. Students start sharing ideas, asking thoughtful questions, encouraging one another, trying things they’ve never done before, and discovering where they belong.

That transformation is exactly why we love bringing Institute of Purpose to life each summer.

For four weeks, REAP students participate in hands-on learning through STEM, art, creativity, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and Field Trip Fridays—all at no cost to their families.

Summer programming does more than fill the calendar—it keeps us connected with our students during the months they're out of school, keeps their minds active, and helps prevent the learning loss that can happen over the summer. It also gives students a consistent, supportive environment where they can continue building relationships, exploring new interests, and growing in confidence.

We can't wait to share more stories and moments from this summer as the Institute of Purpose continues.

A special thank you to the University of Oregon and iQ Credit Union for investing in our students and making this year's Institute of Purpose possible. 💙

A few more moments from a day we won’t forget.

The ribbon-cutting for REAP’s new Behavioral Health Clinical Building was more than a celebration. It was a reminder of what can happen when a community believes young people and families deserve greater access to care.

This new space helps us continue expanding culturally responsive, trauma-informed behavioral health services in a way that reflects the real needs of the communities we serve.

To every partner, funder, elected official, board member, staff member, family, and supporter who joined us, thank you. Your presence mattered. Your support helped bring this milestone to life.

We’re proud of this moment, and even more focused on the work ahead.

More Than a Building. A Place for Healing, Belonging, and Hope.

Today, REAP celebrated the grand opening of our new Behavioral Health Clinical Building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony surrounded by community leaders, board members, partners, supporters, families, and advocates who believe in the power of investing in young people.

This new facility represents a significant milestone in expanding culturally responsive, trauma-informed behavioral health services for youth and families. It provides a dedicated space where young people can access support, build resilience, strengthen their emotional wellness, and experience care that honors their identities, experiences, and strengths.

We are grateful to our incredible partners — Oregon Health Authority, CareOregon, Prosper Portland, The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and the Hillman Family Foundations— for helping to make this vision a reality.

A special thank you to Ebony Clarke, LCSW, of the Oregon Health Authority, Toc Soneoulay-Gillespie of CareOregon, and Portland City Councilor Loretta Smith for joining us in celebrating this important moment.

The opening of the Behavioral Health Clinical Building reflects what is possible when a community comes together with a shared commitment to helping young people heal, thrive, and reach their full potential.