Updates from Looking Glass
National Safe Place is a national program that provides youth with safe places to seek help 24-hours per day. Youth ages 11-17 can access any of the 68 Safe Place sites across Lane County identified by the yellow and black diamond-shaped signs.
The Looking Glass Counseling Program is pleased to partner with the Springfield School District to discuss suicide prevention among youth in the Latinx community. This presentation will be presented in Spanish and is open to the general public.
El Programa de Consejería Looking Glass se complace en asociarse con el Distrito Escolar de Springfield para discutir la prevención del suicidio entre los jóvenes de la comunidad latinx. Esta presentación se presentará en español y está abierta al público en general.
Looking Glass’ Riverfront School GED program offers a flexible, individualized and self-paced opportunity for young adults in Lane County to earn their General Educational Diploma (GED). Although school looks different due to COVID-19, the GED Program is excited to offer these classes and one-on-one learning opportunities to any 18-24-year-old in the area who wants to enroll. Students can join the program at any time due to its flexible timeline.
Unity of the Valley began an outreach to Looking Glass Residential Services in November 2019. They provide a weekly celebration service based on the outline of Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.) meetings. Prayer shawls are provided to all participants and some of their family members. Since the end of June, Unity of the Valley has also provided an evening Zoom Prayer time when the teens are able to connect one-on-one with a chaplain.
In September 2020, it was announced that Looking Glass had received recognition from Oregon Business as a top nonprofit to work for in the state of Oregon. Organizations that finish in the top 100 are included and the criteria for making the list is entirely from existing employees providing feedback via online surveys. “Looking Glass Community Services is honored and proud to have been included among the top 100 best nonprofits list,” said Looking Glass President & CEO Craig Opperman.
On Saturday, June 27th, the day before the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall riots, Looking Glass Station 7 hosted a Pride celebration with Trans*Ponder and HIV Alliance. Youth and staff enjoyed a barbecue in the backyard while getting the chance to learn about these valuable LGBTQ+ resources in our community.
Professionals from a variety of industries came for a visit to Riverfront School on Wednesday, January 22nd to try and help students explore possible career paths and have the opportunity to ask questions and seek out more information. Representatives from Greenhill Humane Society, Oregon Supported Living Program, Pipeworks, NuRealms Entertainment, Black Label Tattoo Collective, and an independent photographer and home health care worker were on hand. During lunch a representative from LCC Admissions available for students who wanted to learn about the admissions process.
At this year’s Looking Glass Annual Board Meeting, recognition was the theme with a Guiding Light award presented to Sid & Hank Voorhees for their years of auctioneering services provided at the annual dinner auction gala and a 35 years of service plaque given to a surprised and honored Marie Jackson, Looking Glass’ longtime CFO who is retiring at the end of the calendar year.
The week of June 3rd was Spirit Week at Looking Glass' Center Point School. The activities of the week ended with an open house at the school preceding graduation events on Thursday, June 13th.
