STRYVE
Multnomah County Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE) works with community-based organizations and youth leaders on a public health approach to prevent youth violence and teen dating violence.
We think that violence is preventable, peace is possible, and that we are all part of the change. We envision safe and healthy communities where children, youth and families maintain healthy relationships and thrive with systems of support.
Our work is part of a national initiative led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other communities joined in this effort include Baltimore, Houston, Minneapolis and Monterey County.
How We Work
We engage young leaders ages 10-24 years old, who are primarily youth of color, using evidence-based strategies that build authentic, youth-adult partnerships. The youth lead projects to make change in their community, build peace and prevent violence before it starts.
Our team includes 2 community health workers with lived experience and deep connections to the community. They offer support and technical assistance to youth and community partners to engage systems for change.
Strategies are based on social factors that help protect against exposure to and impact of violence:
- Community cohesion
- Connection with a caring adult
- Association with pro social peers
- Sense of belonging and social engagement
- Skills in solving problems nonviolently
Strategies
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) - Placemaking as peacemaking. Engages youth in community-led projects such as peace poles, murals, festivals and other projects in the summer. Past projects include:
- Soccer field construction
- Futsal tournaments
- Youth-led food cart (economic development project)
- Street painting
- Little free libraries
- Cully Matters community celebration and photo gallery
Youth Leadership Group - Ages 16-24. Youth complete at least 275 hours of youth empowerment activities. As paid SummerWorks employees they also complete a community development project. Core values:
- Youth-adult partnership with a commitment to interrupting “adultism”
- Workforce development and financial literacy
- Empowerment and positive youth development
- Civic engagement and community service
- Facilitation methods based on popular education (Paulo Freire), experiential education
Coaching Boys into Men - A 12-lesson curriculum for groups of mostly young men, facilitated by the Health Department’s Youth and Sexual Health Equity Program. It uses youth-led, interactive discussion to build knowledge and pro social attitudes about healthy masculinity, healthy relationships, nonviolent problem solving, and how to be an active bystander. About the curriculum»
Coalition Work
Violence Prevention Coordination Team - Coordination with the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council Youth & Gang Violence Steering Committee and Defending Childhood Initiative on efforts to develop policies to prevent youth violence.
STRYVE Community Advisory Board - Informs strategy implementation and evaluation.
Partner with Us
Each year we implement our strategies through a number of funded community partners. Partners are selected through a competitive contract process that begins in the fall for projects beginning in the spring.
Some of the partner organizations we have worked with include:
- Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (Rosemary Anderson High School)
- Wood Village Baptist Church
- UNIFY Portland
- The Rebuilding Center
- SummerWorks
- Multnomah Youth Commission
- City of Gresham
- Independent business owners (such as Ty White Enterprises)
To be considered, your organization must already have:
- Community buy-in for the project or program
- Connections to youth
- A project coordinator or program facilitator
- A secured location
To receive notices about upcoming competitive opportunities, register in the Multco Marketplace Supplier Portal»
Documents
STRYVE Evaluation Report (1.43 MB)
