From a research perspective, the young people who take our classes and workshops come from all economic, racial, gender, sexual, ethnic backgrounds. That said, there is a skew towards young people from families with lower income; this pattern both causes, and deepens individual and family homelessness.

The youth we serve range in age from 6 to 28, with the main groups between ages 8 and 22. There are mixed gender classes, as well as same-sex classes. Some of the youth are required to take the classes; some receive periodic incentives; some come entirely voluntarily. Please read the program descriptions for an outline of currently served populations.

For reasons of privacy and confidentiality, we have not gathered specific demographic statistics, but rely on other studies, which all present consistent information, as well as observation and co-learning among staff and volunteers.

We work directly with the youth. We are the teachers or facilitors for classes ranging from yoga, meditation, nutrition, self-care, creative expression and the like. We usually spend anywhere from 45 minutes to 2+ hours given on the particular activity.

We actively participate in activities with the youth. All teachers are active and sincere praticitioners of their particular area of learning.

Our work spans multiple venues. We work with youth in schools, in county detention facilities, in therapy clinics, in drop in centers, in shelters, and each of these offer various touchpoint opportunities. These range from working with staff to administer survey upon intake into a particular program, to ad hoc mini-questionnaires or guided discussions around specific topics.

We will be prototyping an engagement model which has counselors work through our principal survey with youth ordered into a drug and alchol detention program in Multnomah County, OR.