Oregon Community Summer Grant Program funding provided an opportunity for Douglas ESD’s Youth Development to partner with the YMCA of Douglas County to create Youth Space, a hands-on learning opportunity at no cost to participants.
“Partnerships between organizations increase the support provided to our youth, which is why partnerships matter.”
Bryan Hinson, Douglas ESD Deputy Superintendent
Dreaming Big
The Oregon State Legislature provided $50 million to help fund statewide K-12 community-based summer learning opportunities through the Oregon Community Summer Grant Program administered by the Oregon Association of Education Service Districts (OAESD).
Douglas ESD encouraged our community to dream big! We are thrilled to announce that a total of $1,476,860 was awarded to eleven nonprofits and government entities throughout Douglas County to provide summer learning opportunities for youth. The groups awarded include:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Umpqua Valley
- Camp Millennium
- Douglas ESD, Partner Sports Camp
- Douglas ESD, Youth Development
- Elkton Community Education Center
- Mercy Foundation
- Phoenix Charter School of Roseburg
- Roseburg Public Library
- Umpqua Valley Arts Association
- Umpqua Valley Farm to School
- Umpqua Valley Youth for Christ
- YMCA of Douglas County
The funds were used to increase access to summer enrichment to provide deeper learning, creative spaces for hands-on projects, environmental education and opportunities for youth to explore interests and possible career paths. The focus of these grants prioritized historically underserved populations while mitigating the impacts of the pandemic.
While the grant was used to support existing programs such as Umpqua Valley Farm to School, new opportunities were also created like Youth Space, a hands-on activity-based program developed in collaboration between Douglas ESD and the YMCA, with support from the Umpqua Valley Arts Association.
“Partnerships between organizations increase the support provided to our youth,” says Douglas ESD’s Deputy Superintendent, Bryan Hinson, “which is why partnerships matter.”
The financial support from the grants help grow the programs and services that benefit the advancement of children in our community.