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Blog

Books lined up on a shelf with the pages showing instead of the spine of the book.

From English & History Nerd to Portland Police Cop

Posted on: July 6, 2023 Last updated on: June 29, 2023 Written by: Guest Author
Interview of Captain David Abrahamson By Jathan Janove VOA Oregon board member and Portland Police Captain David Abrahamson followed an unusual path to a law enforcement career. “I had planned to be an English and history teacher,” he says. “Although…
Continue reading “From English & History Nerd to Portland Police Cop”…
Group of students standing in a hallway. Some are holding books and notebooks.

Working with Students

Posted on: June 29, 2023 Last updated on: June 9, 2023 Written by: Guest Author
By Anna Bledsoe Our Prevention Services program has partnered with Portland Public Schools (PPS) this academic school year to ensure access to vaping education for middle and high school students. This has included the development of vaping-specific curriculum, offering on-demand…
Continue reading “Working with Students”…
An open book with the pages fanned. Stacks of books on both sides of the open book.

Making a Difference

Posted on: June 22, 2023 Last updated on: June 9, 2023 Written by: Guest Author
Interview of Andrea Cook, Ph.D. By Jathan Janove Andrea Cook, Ph.D., VOA Oregon’s Board Secretary, grew up on a ranch in rural eastern Oregon. At age 18 as a college freshman, she came to Portland and fell in love with…
Continue reading “Making a Difference”…
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Stability and Resilience

Posted on: June 14, 2023 Last updated on: June 9, 2023 Written by: Kelly Hartley
Since the 1940s, Volunteers of America Oregon Family Relief Nursery (FRN) has been working to support parents experiencing multiple stressors. Today, our holistic goal continues to be to keep children safe and with their families. This April, Child Abuse Prevention…
Continue reading “Stability and Resilience”…
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A Passion to Help Others

Posted on: May 23, 2023 Last updated on: May 19, 2023 Written by: Guest Author
Interview of Bruce Warner By Jathan Janove Board Chair Bruce Warner has served on VOA Oregon’s Board for over 16 years. He’s a professional engineer who served in public administration until his retirement, having held leadership positions with the Oregon…
Continue reading “A Passion to Help Others”…
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Overcoming Poverty and Trauma

Posted on: May 16, 2023 Last updated on: May 19, 2023 Written by: Guest Author
Interview of Greg Stone By Jathan Janove Longtime VOA Oregon employee, Greg Stone, grew up in Portland amid poverty and trauma. His dad, an addict, left the family when Greg was eight, leaving his mother to raise five children with…
Continue reading “Overcoming Poverty and Trauma”…

Al Forthan and Oregon’s most gratifying scholarship

Posted on: May 11, 2023 Last updated on: May 11, 2023 Written by: Kelly Hartley
10 years after originally attending the Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship Awards Ceremony in 2013, Steve Duin came back as the keynote speaker for this year’s annual ceremony. Read about Steve’s experience with past 2013 recipient Essie and the impact this…
Continue reading “Al Forthan and Oregon’s most gratifying scholarship”…

Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship 2023 Annual Awards Ceremony

Posted on: May 11, 2023 Last updated on: May 16, 2023 Written by: Kymberlin Bush
On Wednesday, May 3rd, Volunteers of America Oregon Men’s Residential Center had the honor of hosting the annual Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship Award Ceremony. Since the creation of the scholarship in 2006, VOA Oregon has been able to award $876,000…
Continue reading “Al Forthan Memorial Scholarship 2023 Annual Awards Ceremony”…
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2023 Al Forthan Scholarship Winners Announced

Posted on: March 28, 2023 Last updated on: March 28, 2023 Written by: Kelly Hartley
Volunteers of America Oregon is honored to announce the 2023 Al Forthan Scholarship winners! We are pleased to recognize and financially support so many remarkable young adults in achieving their dreams of attending college. With the support from our community,…
Continue reading “2023 Al Forthan Scholarship Winners Announced”…
Future Home of Volunteers of America Oregon. with building in the background.

More on Glisan Street Site

Posted on: March 8, 2023 Last updated on: March 13, 2023 Written by: Kelly Hartley
A message from Our CEO Regarding our Glisan Street Site: The City of Portland continues to tour different sites throughout Portland to determine the possibility of additional encampments to address the needs of the homeless.  Volunteers of America Oregon (VOA…
Continue reading “More on Glisan Street Site”…
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