Project Youth+

Project Youth+ Project Youth+ provides access for opportunities for youth to thrive in school, careers and life.

Project Youth+ began as a pilot program in 1998 with 33 students in the 6th grade at South Middle School and Fleming Middle School in Josephine County, Oregon. The one of a kind program was created by Tom & Judie Drummond and has now grown to serve over 1,700 at the end of 2012. Today, Project Youth+ serves over 1,200 primarily rural youth annually, partnering with school districts in Josephine, J

ackson and Douglas Counties. Our College and Career Preparation Specialists provide long-term school outreach services from 6th grade through post-secondary to build healthy relationships, establish a college-going peer culture, promote academic excellence, build key success skills, and facilitate interactive group activities from our grade-by-grade College & Career Preparation Curriculum. In addition, eligible youth have access to the +Accounts Program to earn matched savings for post-secondary education and our Career Build program to participate in work experiences, summer work crews, and career exploration and development. Eligible students will be enrolled in any of our programs, based on whether they meet eligibility requirements, and if there is space available. Students are pre-screened by Project Youth+ Administration and then invited to apply to our program.

06/02/2026

Recently, Project Youth+ students spent time volunteering at Eagle Point Cemetery, carefully removing Memorial Day flags from veterans' headstones following the holiday observance.

This meaningful act of service provided students with an opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by our nation's service members while giving back to the community. Through their efforts, these young people demonstrated respect, responsibility, and gratitude for those who served our country.

We are incredibly proud of our students for stepping up to help preserve this important tradition and for showing that even small acts of service can make a lasting impact.

Thank you to our students for representing Project Youth+ with compassion, dedication, and community spirit. ❤️🤍💙

🌟 Career Build Success Spotlight: Juliet Saldivar 🌟Project Youth+ is proud to recognize Juliet Saldivar for completing h...
06/01/2026

🌟 Career Build Success Spotlight: Juliet Saldivar 🌟

Project Youth+ is proud to recognize Juliet Saldivar for completing her internship at Trinity Home Care! Through this experience, Juliet spent time supporting residents, helping with daily tasks, and building meaningful relationships with both staff and residents.

One of the highlights of her internship was the strong connections she formed along the way. Juliet shared that she gained valuable social experience while enjoying the opportunity to work closely with others in a caring environment.

As an aspiring nurse, this internship provided Juliet with firsthand exposure to the healthcare field and helped her better understand what a future career in nursing may look like. She also strengthened her communication and interpersonal skills through daily interactions with residents and staff.

In addition to Career Build, Juliet is an active member of the Project Youth+ Student Advisory Board, demonstrating her commitment to leadership and personal growth.

We are excited to see where Juliet's dedication, compassion, and hard work take her in the future. Keep up the amazing work, Juliet! 💙

At 14 years old, Belen was handed a reality that most adults would struggle to navigate. She was removed from her home a...
05/29/2026

At 14 years old, Belen was handed a reality that most adults would struggle to navigate. She was removed from her home and left to figure out the world on her own. She did not have a safety net. She did not have someone to call. What she had was herself and that turned out to be enough.

Belen found temporary shelter with her aunt and uncle, a family of seven already stretched thin. They converted an unused shed on their small farm into a room for her. A gesture of love that she has never taken for granted. She is not the kind of person who complains. She made that space her own, and she got to work.

While navigating housing instability and the emotional weight of being essentially on her own, Belen graduated from high school, enrolled in college, and began pursuing an associate's degree in Manufacturing and Technology. She showed up. She kept going.

Through her participation in the PY+ programs (Whatever It Takes & +Accounts), Belen obtained her learner's permit, driver's license, and opened an IDA savings account. Tools she used to purchase a 2025 Honda HR-V. Before that car, she was at the mercy of cousins, friends, and her aunt and uncle's schedules just to get to class and work. Now she gets there on her own terms.

As the school year transitions into summer, a time most college students use to rest, Belen was hired as a wildland firefighter with Grayback Forestry. She is spending her break doing some of the most physically demanding and essential work there is.

And this month, Belen will close on her own mobile home in a trailer park, becoming a property owner before most people her age have considered what that even means.

Belen represents what is possible when someone refuses to let circumstance write the ending of their story. She is building a life, piece by piece, on her own terms, and she has earned every single part of it.

Congratulations to the outstanding students at Prospect who were recognized for their hard work and achievements!This ye...
05/29/2026

Congratulations to the outstanding students at Prospect who were recognized for their hard work and achievements!

This year, 15 middle school students each received $100 awards, while 3 high school students were each awarded $200. In addition, the second place high school recipient received a $500 award in recognition of their exceptional accomplishments.

We are incredibly proud of these students for their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to their futures. Their achievements reflect the bright potential within the Prospect community, and we are honored to celebrate their success!

🎓 Success Story Spotlight: Victoria Gavlik 🎓Project Youth+ is proud to celebrate Victoria Gavlik, a Grants Pass High Sch...
05/29/2026

🎓 Success Story Spotlight: Victoria Gavlik 🎓

Project Youth+ is proud to celebrate Victoria Gavlik, a Grants Pass High School graduate and participant in our Education IDA program, on earning her degree from Oregon State University!

Victoria worked incredibly hard to achieve her goal of graduating with as little student debt as possible. While attending college full time, she balanced three jobs and used her IDA savings and matching funds to help pay for tuition, housing, and other educational expenses. Because of her determination and the support of the IDA program, she graduated with only one student loan of $3,500.

Victoria shared that the IDA program provided more than financial support. It gave her peace of mind during difficult times and helped her save enough to foster and eventually adopt her emotional support dog, a companion who made a profound difference in her life throughout her college journey.

"Without this program, I would not have been able to get him or graduate almost debt free. Thank you for working with me and doing all you can to help me achieve my goals."

Stories like Victoria's demonstrate the life changing impact of investing in young people. Congratulations, Victoria! We are incredibly proud of your perseverance, dedication, and success, and we cannot wait to see what comes next.

💙

🌼 Seeds of Kindness in Bloom 🌼Project Youth+ students at SOSA recently completed an incredible community beautification ...
05/29/2026

🌼 Seeds of Kindness in Bloom 🌼

Project Youth+ students at SOSA recently completed an incredible community beautification project, creating the "Seeds of Kindness" Community Flower Garden in Merlin. What began as a patch of bare ground became a beautiful garden through five days of hard work, teamwork, and determination.

Students learned valuable hands on skills including site preparation, safe digging practices, landscaping, brick laying, soil preparation, planting, and project completion. Along the way, they worked together to overcome challenges, support one another, and take pride in creating something meaningful for their school and community.

The project also provided important opportunities for personal growth. Students shared that they gained confidence, improved their social skills, learned the value of hard work, and developed a greater sense of responsibility and teamwork.

Today, the finished garden stands as a lasting reminder of what can be accomplished when young people come together with a shared purpose. More than just flowers and landscaping, the garden represents courage, resilience, service, and community pride.

A huge congratulations to the SOSA Work Crew and everyone who helped bring this vision to life. Your hard work has made Merlin a little brighter and a lot more beautiful! 🌷🌻🌿

🎉 A Huge Thank You to the Grants Pass Active Club! 🎉Project Youth+ is incredibly grateful to the Grants Pass Active Club...
05/28/2026

🎉 A Huge Thank You to the Grants Pass Active Club! 🎉

Project Youth+ is incredibly grateful to the Grants Pass Active Club for their generous $1,000 donation to support our Student Advisory Board's trip to Salem!

This investment helps provide our student leaders with a valuable opportunity to engage in civic learning, develop leadership skills, and gain firsthand experience in how government and public policy impact their communities.

Experiences like these inspire youth to become informed, engaged citizens while building the confidence and skills they need to become future leaders.

Thank you, Grants Pass Active Club, for believing in our students and investing in their future. Your support helps create opportunities that will have a lasting impact on the lives of young people throughout our community. 💙

💙 Not all heroes wear capes… some drive trash carts at Boatnik! 🗑️😄Over Memorial Weekend, Project Youth+ staff and parti...
05/28/2026

💙 Not all heroes wear capes… some drive trash carts at Boatnik! 🗑️😄

Over Memorial Weekend, Project Youth+ staff and participants rolled up their sleeves and helped keep Boatnik clean through trash retrieval efforts during the busy festivities. While the job may not have been glamorous, it was incredibly important and our team brought positive attitudes, teamwork, and plenty of laughs along the way!

We are proud of our youth for giving back to the community, building work experience, and showing that every role matters when it comes to supporting community events. Thank you to everyone who worked hard throughout the weekend to help keep Boatnik running smoothly! 💪🌟

🎉 Congratulations to Maysin Wolgamot, the Prospect Project Youth+ Student of the Year!Maysin has demonstrated incredible...
05/28/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Maysin Wolgamot, the Prospect Project Youth+ Student of the Year!

Maysin has demonstrated incredible initiative, determination, and commitment to her future goals. From arranging medical job shadows and pursuing her CNA certification to maintaining strong grades and actively preparing for college and scholarships, she continues to go above and beyond.

Maysin was also accepted into the Project Youth+ IDA Program, where her hard work and savings will be matched to help support her college journey and future success.

We are incredibly proud of all Maysin has accomplished and cannot wait to see the amazing things her future holds!

05/27/2026

🚀 Career exploration in action!

Through a Career Build internship with Lorica Technologies Inc., Sayjune Park gained hands-on experience observing aerospace, mechanical, and software engineering workflows involved in drone development.

During the internship, Sayjune explored CAD-based 3D modeling, industrial 3D printing for prototyping, soldering, wiring, and software and hardware installation. These real-world experiences provided valuable opportunities to develop technical skills beyond the traditional classroom setting.

“This internship helped shape my future goals by giving me experience with the mechanical side of engineering. Since I plan to major in engineering, it gave me a glimpse into working across different areas of development and helped me build skills that will support me in future interdisciplinary projects.”

We are proud to support students like Sayjune as they discover career pathways, build confidence, and prepare for bright futures in STEM and engineering fields.

Address

789 NE 7th Street
Grants Pass, OR
97526

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15414768146

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Project Youth+ posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category