POIC

"..an eloquent voice is a way to communicate our difference, a means of proclaiming to the world there is but one of us—and we have something to say in a way only we can say it.” - Mitchell S. Jackson

Following his keynote address at this year's Rosemary Anderson Prep commencement, POIC was further honored to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning author and native Portlander Mitchell S. Jackson for an "Intro to Voice" writer's workshop with our Community Safety team.

Jackson, who regularly works with justice-impacted communities, developed the seminar to help participants share their stories with clarity. The interactive lecture also defined and explored the significance of eloquence in a narrative voice.

According to Jackson, an eloquent voice is singular—a way of understanding identity and asserting its value to the world around us. This is especially true for marginalized groups navigating systemic harm and historical trauma. Through his teaching, Jackson showed that crafting one's voice is as personal as it is political.

The “Intro to Voice” lecture is a key addition to POIC's Community Safety Worker professional development module, giving our team practical tools they'll carry into job interviews, client documentation, community engagement, and beyond.

We'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to Mitchell S. Jackson for his time, wisdom, and belief in the power of our voices. We are forever grateful to have you in the POIC community. 🖊️💚🤝🏾

Onto the next! 🎉🎓🫶🏽⏩

This week, a typically sleepy cafeteria was packed to the brim with families, students, faculty and walls of tinsel in celebration of our Rosemary Anderson Prep Middle School 8th grade continuation! The "Met Gala" themed ceremony gave students a chance to shine in the spotlight they so deeply deserve.

Our 11 continuing 8th graders are prepared to take on a new chapter with their heads held high. Their remarkable growth is due, in large part, to thoughtful guidance from our RAMS educators.

Thank you, staff and faculty, for teaching with care. And thank you, students, for your hard work and bright character — these qualities will follow you always.

Congratulations, and have a wonderful summer! ♥️♥️♥️

✨🎓 HATS OFF TO OUR GRADUATES!! 🎓✨

The Rosemary Anderson Prep Class of 2026 gathered last evening to celebrate their graduation, surrounded by the teachers, family, friends, and mentors who supported them every step of the way.

This year's graduates are brought together by shared experiences but leave Rosemary Anderson Prep with a story all their own. Together, they built a community defined by care, determination, and endless potential.

Congratulations to our students on their monumental achievement! We are so proud of you ❤️❤️❤️

Did you spot Bigfoot 👀🔎🌲? We sure did! All smiles and big dreams at this year's Grand Floral Starlight Parade with 🧡

Together, we're celebrating what it means to advocate for the health and wellness of our participants. POIC is proudly building awareness and creating access to mental and physical health services, so families have the resources they need to achieve their dreams.

A huge thank you to our partners for your support, collaboration, and commitment to building a healthy Oregon and thriving communities!

"You have to remember that through all the chaos in these photos, a good story came out of it. A lot of recovery came out of it." - Ronnie Salu, POIC Frontline Worker and Photovoice Team member.

POIC's Healing Hurt People team and researchers from the OHSU Trauma Center and the OHSU Gun Violence Prevention Research Center recently gathered to present their collaborative project in a soft launch exhibition. The study, "Journeys: A Photovoice Project," is rooted in visual storytelling and centers on the experiences of POIC intensive case managers to capture the unseen aspects of their work.

The project has drawn national attention for its unique research approach: the Photovoice methodology. Photovoice reimagines how violence prevention and intervention programs can collect and assess data by putting cameras into the hands of frontline workers. The resulting images offer an unfiltered look at the experiences of our team and the community members they serve.

Frontline workers are the core of the violence prevention and intervention movement. By documenting their realities, we can make this work more visible, valued, and viable.

Thank you to our research partners at OHSU for their dedicated time and collaboration on this project. We are proud to work alongside you on the path toward safer communities. ❤️

Great teachers make the world better 🌎🫶🏽 Rosemary Anderson Prep's Kay Shoemaker (pictured far left) is one of those teachers.

Kay is a science educator at our North campus, specializing in Marine Biology. Students come to expect a sense of belonging when they enter Kay's classroom. Where exactly her class meets is less predictable, often leading students out of the building and into Oregon's natural landscape.

This year, Kay facilitated a series of coastal field trips, with hands-on lessons exploring everything from Oceanography to Watershed and Salmon Ecology. Their final trip (a favorite among the class) concluded with a tide-pooling session led by practicing Marine Biologists with Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators. Under the guidance of field professionals, students participated in ongoing research investigating sea star wasting, intertidal zones, and sea urchin recovery.

Kay believes the most impactful way to learn is by doing. Whether at a tide pool, on a riverbank, or back on campus, students leave Kay's classroom with a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Thank you, Kay, for sparking curiosity and expanding real-world opportunities for our kids. We are so lucky to have you ❤️