Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington has opened its first dedicated outreach program space in Evergreen Public Schools, providing a consistent and welcoming space for teens in the Evergreen community. The new space, a portable classroom on the Evergreen High School campus, is the result of a long-standing partnership with Evergreen Public Schools and was funded through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Supporting Local Teens

The outreach program, which has been in operation since 2014, offers specialized services to teens and young adults referred from across Clark County, including intentional support, engaging activities, and case management designed to interrupt cycles of violence and expand access to safe, healthy pathways forward. With the support of Evergreen Public Schools, the program can now operate closer to home, reducing transportation barriers and giving outreach teens in the Evergreen community a consistent and welcoming space of their own.

According to Shane Gardner, Director of Safety and Security at Evergreen Public Schools, the outreach program has made a significant difference in the lives of students who have been connected to it. "I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference the outreach program makes for the students who get connected to it," said Gardner. "Watching that success made it an easy decision to invest in making this program more accessible to our students."

Izzy Queeser, Outreach Program Director at Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington, also expressed enthusiasm for the new space. "Our outreach program has grown so much, and this space is a huge step forward for the work we do," said Queeser. "Having a consistent place within Evergreen Public Schools means we can show up for these teens more reliably and build deeper trust."

Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.