VOA Oregon Clinical Supervisor Ken Glowacki supports MRC client wellbeing and local student learning through the use of Classical Chinese Medicine.
From Skating to ServiceFinding Confidence and Community in Roller Skating
What does the 1997 Northwest Artistic National Roller Blading Championship and Glisan Street have in common? Volunteers of America Oregon’s Rodney Robbins, facilities maintenance technician. Since January 2023, Rodney has kept the facilities at VOA Oregon running smoothly. From simple…
From English & History Nerd to Portland Police Cop
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…
Working with Students
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…
Making a Difference
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…
Stability and Resilience
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…
A Passion to Help Others
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…
Overcoming Poverty and Trauma
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…
A Guiding Light
“I always stay for the people.” Court Support Navigator Graciela Galindo sits at the ready in the Multnomah County Courthouse every day to welcome and guide individuals visiting the courthouse. Her work revolves around one of VOA Oregon’s most crucial…
From Handcuffs to MSW
By Greg Stone, Program Director Men’s Residential Center I first met Jerome Gilgan in 2003 when he entered the Volunteers of America Oregon Men’s Residential Center (MRC) for the first of his three MRC treatment episodes. For the previous 20…