“To whom it may concern”, recently, I wrote a letter that started just that way. When it comes to the kids in our community, ‘whom it may concern’ is us. Stan recently graduated welding training at 71Five VoTech. Though both parents are at home and involved, home life still has many challenges due to a variety of factors. To look at Stan, most would see a good kid, and he is, but there’s much more going on inside. Stan’s real story brings concern. In the summer of 2022, Stan took the construction training with 71Five and now he has completed welding. More important, the connection with Stan is growing along with trust that leads to hope.

Thank you for being concerned about young people who look good on the outside but on the inside are struggling with hard challenges. Your concern is changing lives and that changes our community.

Recently, I took 3 young men to a job fair in Canyonville, Oregon. One I met in Juvenile Detention almost 7 years ago. We have stayed in touch over the years and continue to have a close bond. There is something truly special about the friendships I have formed with the youth in Detention, and I feel so blessed to be a trusted person in their lives. The job fair was a huge success. Each of these young men found a different career path which suited them. The level of excitement in the van ride home was glorious. As we talked, they revealed just how hopeless they had been feeling without direction and purpose in their lives.

Thank you for partnering in this work of building trusting relationships that bring hope and purpose to bleak situations.