Shannon Stearns’s class is over for the day, but the education isn’t. The soft-spoken petite educator addresses one of her students about the new clothes he will need soon. “We’ll have to get you some new pants,” she says eyeing the baggy jeans, cuffs dragging the floor, “before your job
interview.”

Stearns is more than a career teacher, she is an advocate for the Focus Team Council and a mentor. She fulfills the very definition of mentor; an experienced and trusted advisor. An experienced person in a school who trains and counsels students.

One advantage Stearns shares with her students at Inn Sight Alternative High School is identification. She moved here from Wisconsin , with her sister, at the age her students are now. She knows what its like to feel left out, to not fit in. To complicate matters she was pregnant.

“Personally I understand, because of my situation when I was a senior in high school.”

She was pregnant and on track to graduate but did not see herself completing school because she planned to have her daughter before graduation. Stearns explained, “I wasn’t going to leave her and I wasn’t going to go back to school. But one of my friends told me about the alternative teachers at the high school and they had everything figured out for me. I never asked, but they were there to help.”

“I know – and realize – how hard it is to fit in. I wasn’t from around here. “Now I just like to help kids at risk,” she smiles.

“Some of these kids get hooked up in different lifestyles that are either undesirable or they get into trouble and become alienated. They still deserve chances in life. I think that is important for them to know there
are folks who will help them achieve their goals. I feel like they need to understand there is something out there for them. They don’t have to continue doing the things they do in order to fit into which ever group they are trying to fit into. They can have a sense of success.”

Inn Sight does just that, besides providing education. “We implant a lot of democratic policies here,” Stearns says. “The kids have a big say in what’s going on. We have a democratic system. The students themselves help enforce the rules and determine the outcome from matters that arise such as attendance or behavior infractions. They don’t want to see their classmates screwing up their lives. We also have a student run president.”

“You have to deal with issues that come up, demand accountability right then,” she continues. “For the most part the new students are willing to learn and like it here.”

“Don’t lead by bad example,” she encourages the class. Stearns, with her youthful looks, could be mistaken as a current student, clarifies by adding “the mentoring here at Inn Sight is the staff that works here. We do a lot of one on one talking with the kids. We have 39 and we get to know them a lot better since we have the same group with us all day long. They tend to call on us a little bit more, and utilize us in a sense that we can help them with more than just school work, we can help them figure out problems. And if we aren’t able to assist them, we know other resources to put them in touch with, so they don’t feel awkward asking. They
know we can help them,” she says with her gentle eyes smiling.

Stearn continues, “we do a career exploration with the students, and we help them with a job shadowing program. Some employers are getting less tolerant of that, due to insurance regulations. We also do a college exploration and help them with placement tests. Inn Sight works closely with Rogue Community College for placement tests and financial aid,” she says.

“We’re part of the non-profit Inn Between; Inn Sight (the alternative high school) and L.I.F.T. social survies project (Life through Independence, Family and Trust) programs are projects of the Inn Between Corporation. L.I.F.T. is the homeless youth program. We have an advocate in that program who works a different schedule than the school, but also in conjunction with Inn Sight, she’s here during some of the hours we are.
She serves the 21 and under youth, which are usually the street kids. And that’s one of the objectives we have; to get those kids enrolled in school. Just not anyone can come here, the student must be referred by the high school they would normally attend. Those include Grants Pass, Hidden Valley, North Valley and Illinois Valley high schools,” she says.

Stearns mentors every day, in the form of guidance and asset building. In fact she won the Social Competency Builder award in 2007.

“They’re kids, they make mistakes, but there are certain things that we do not tolerate, and drugs around the campus is one of them. They can be suspended for that, and if a second time occurs they are then referred to Drug and Alcohol Treatment in order to maintain their space here. Even in that case we don’t want to give up on kids, because … where else do they have to go ? And we know that a lot of kids are here to make changes but they need a little help and they help each other a lot.”

“We also expect regular attendance,” she emphasizes. “Even if this means giving rides to students who needs rides. However, public school buses are provided for students. But they need to communicate with us, if they’re having problems.”

Stearns says, “Some of the kids are here because they’ve been expelled from their high school, it’s not like they’ll never be allowed back, but they might have done something on their campus that they can’t be part of their school.” She elaborates further, “some of them just don’t go to school, don’t like the cliques at the school.”

“We have some really talented kids here that are not stupid by any means, and that can probably go back to their high school, but it’s just tough for them to be around the social environment, that in itself can be a problem. Many who have graduated through here, are doing quite well. It’s not like they came here for an easy way out, because they still must complete state testing requirements, they still have to pass all the same classes as in the high schools. We use the same core classes as the high school, we get our text books from the high schools. We are accredited, but we don’t issue diploma’s, their home school gives that,” she says.

“So they are not rejected from their home school,” she describes further. “Some students go back to their home school, if they play sports or whatever. They can go back to their high school at the semester. This is a pretty therapeutic place.”

Inn Sight began as a GED program over 27 years ago for teen parents before Stearns came aboard 14 years ago. She fills in a little background, “Brian Burgess the executive director of the Inn Between was asked to open a high school alternative completion program. He decided to try and he hired an administrative company out of Seattle to start things up. I came two months afterwards as a volunteer for Inn Sight.” However it didn’t take too long for Stearns to get hired.

Currently negotiations are underway to purchase the Avista Utilities building on SE J Street where Inn Sight and L.I.F.T are located. “It does look promising we’ll keep the building,” Stearns says.

The nurturing services have leased the building since 1997. “We don’t really want to move,” Stearns sighs.

“These walls are movable, and we have computer stations , finally the technology is coming together. The students can do state testing requirements right there. There are a lot of benefits why we should stay here at this location. This area is not too rural , not too residential. We’re accepted by our neighbors.”

“I like it here,” Stearns beams. “I would hate to see anything happen to a place like this, because I do know the value of it.”

Her message to the students is clear. “There are people out there that do care about what happens to you and you can do it, and it’s your job right now. Above all don’t quit and don’t give up on it. Because this is something you can never go back too, these high school years. Sure you can go to RCC to get an adult diploma but you can’t go back to high school.”

“We ask them, do you really want to get a GED, when a diploma is available? Stay in school.” She knows a youth will regret getting his GED, when a diploma is so accessible. A diploma increases the job opportunities
they need.

Stearns is expecting her second child in July. She plans to return to the classroom and students she cares so much about in the fall as soon as she’s able.

“I like it here, I would prefer to work here than other places because our boss is very dedicated. He thinks the same way we do, and understands the way kids are nowadays. He will come and speak to the students and be involved. He’s a great director .”

by Mary Ann Bullard

If you’re a KAJO listener, you’re probably familiar with the voice of Scott Jorgensen, the 28-year old news director at the Grants Pass-based radio station. Whether covering all the state and local political races, moderating forums or interviewing local newsmakers, Scott has become the familiar voice of KAJO’s news department since 2007.

Scott has always been a political junkie with a journalist’s perspective, so the job is a natural fit. Born in 1980 (as he puts it, a “Reagan Baby”) in Twenty-Nine Palms, California to a Marine Corps family, he moved to Grants Pass in time to attend Grants Pass High as the new campus replaced the old, leaving in 1998. He attended RCC – one of his “favorite places on earth” – before receiving his B.S. in Journalism and Political Science from Southern Oregon University in 2003.

Scott started his reporting career during his days in Ashland, first as an intern at the Daily Tidings and later as a stringer for the Central Point Sun. From that vantage point, he quickly became one of the go-to reporters for the local political races throughout Jackson County during the 2002 election season.

On graduation, Scott took a full time job with a daily paper in Turlock, California. After six months he headed back home to Oregon, landing a job as press secretary to the Republican candidate running against the ever-popular Peter DeFazio for the 4th Congressional District in 2004. That later led to a job as legislative aide to State Representative Dennis Richardson, until he returned from Salem and fell in love with Annaka Leverett of O’Brien.

He and Annaka were married after a seven-month courtship in 2007. They now have an 11-month old baby, James Kennedy. We spoke a little about the old Fairness Doctrine, which was largely dismantled by Ronald Reagan in 1987. KAJO’s conservative programming schedule includes not only a monthly interview with County Commissioner Jim Raffenburg, but also a 3-hour daily dose of Rush Limbaugh. Scott said that if the old Fairness Doctrine were restored, the station would have to choose between balancing all of its conservative commentators with liberal ones – and risk losing its established audience – or else cut out political commentary altogether.

Scott, being a smart man with lots of ambition, has already set his sights on the next level. He’s pursuing an MBA from Southern in their Saturday program at the Joint Learning Center in Medford while juggling duties at the station and as a new father. Asked where he’d like to be in 10 years, he replied, “I’d like to be using my MBA to help start up small businesses throughout this county, so I can help get more people employed.”

“I feel that a person should help out when they can.  It just so happens that I own a company with a lot of cool toys and that is why I seem to help out in fun ways.  Besides, it feels good to help out.”  – Jes Webb

Jes Webb was only five years old when his family moved from Massachusetts to Oregon. Like other young people, he occasionally dreamed of moving to a big city to become famous, but over the years Jes came to appreciate the small town atmosphere of Grants Pass. He now is married with children, thanks to a chicken dance at a party, but that’s a story for a different time.

While Jes spent over 15 years working for the Fire Department and even played a role (as himself) in the television show Rescue 911, he now has dedicated himself full-time to Sights and Sounds Unlimited, a venture started in 1988 as a part-time DJ service which operated out of a back room. Sights and Sounds Unlimited  has now blossomed into a successful mobile entertainment and on-site multimedia services corporation with two offices and numerous employees. Sights and Sounds Unlimited also provides video and multi-media productions for businesses and public service organizations. Although their primary service area is in Southern Oregon, they have also performed in other places, such as Washington and Las Vegas, Nevada. Production remains the favorite service Jes provides. His business has done everything from making a DVD from a cell phone for evidence in a trial to shooting a one man documentary in Nepal for a non-profit agency. In 2008, they will be present at approximately 400 live events and plan on producing around 25 videos for individuals, attorneys, companies, and non-profit organizations.

Despite his success, Jes remains humble. He describes his employees as simply amazing people, and he tries to make sure they enjoy their work and the time spent with Sights and Sounds Unlimited. This makes him a desirable employer, although Jes still seems surprised at the number of skilled and talented people who submit their resumes to him.

This type of work comes naturally to Jes. His father is a photographer who used to put multi image slide shows together before video projectors came about. It really caught the attention of Jes, and although he didn’t have a television for much of the time he spent growing up, he loved movies and spent time watching movies with his friends. His family was into Theater Arts and family summers were spent in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where the Williamstown Theater Festival offers a variety of classic and modern plays, along with workshops, readings, and other related events. For Jes, it served to further pique his interest in becoming involved with the entertainment industry. He ended up studying in Williamstown under Bob Burns of the Burns Summer Learning Center and the Berkshire Ensemble for the Theatre Arts.

If being a family man and the owner of an increasingly successful business isn’t enough of an achievement, Jes is voluntarily involved in a number of local organizations. He is in the Gateway Rotary Club, serves as a Public Information Officer with the Rural/Metro Fire Department, is involved with the Chamber of Commerce in both Jackson and Josephine Counties, and is on the JoCo Chambers Political Action Committee and Advisory Board for Access Foodshare. He also dabbles a bit in the Boys and Girls Club. He is a member of the Law Enforcement Video Association and a recipient of the Oregon Department of Health’s Media Recognition Award for Video Production.

Just when you would think there couldn’t possibly be room for one more thing in his life, there is. His latest project is the Josephine County Parks “Movies in the Park” program. This program started in 2007 and had an attendance of over 550 people who came to see the two movies shown, Rooster Cogburn and Happy Feet. Although the program lacks adequate sponsorship, Jes has found it to be such a gratifying program that he has promised it will continue for the rest of this season. Thankfully, there have been a few more contacts from sponsors to help defray the costs of this free program. The moves are being shown at Tom Pierce Park on Fridays and being at sunset. Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket and arrive early in order to find a comfortable spot. Drinks and snacks are available for sale, but they may also be brought into the park, which waves entrance fees for those who arrive after 7 P.M. The next two movies to be show are as follows:

August 22nd: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
August 29th:  Bee Movie

For more information on this event, visit http://www.southernoregonevents.com/
Mr. Webb hopes that people in the community will take advantage of this free program, and that the program will be able to return next year with a bigger, better screen and more sponsorship.

The main office and mailing address for Sights and Sounds Unlimited is this:

Sights & Sounds Unlimited
1867 Williams Hwy Suite 215
Grants Pass OR 97527

Their office hours are  Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.

They may be contacted by writing to the above address, or by calls, faxes, or email to the following:

Grants Pass Area: 541- 476- 8558
Toll-Free: 1- 800- 511- 8558
Fax: 541- 476- 8575
Email:info@ssounds.com

Located at 1867 Williams Hwy, the Guild Building houses Grants Pass’ most prestigious professional networking facility: The Boardroom.

While driving by or visiting The Boardroom, which comprises the entire second floor of the new Guild Building on Williams Highway here in Grants Pass, a number of words come to mind. Professional. Stylish. Modern. Luxurious. And, perhaps, “I wish I could afford an office there!”

Chances are you’re already paying more for your current office space, while receiving less in return. Suites begin at just $500 for 144 sq. feet. As your business grows, or if it has already expanded, larger offices are available, with prices ranging up to $1,800 for an exterior office with multiple windows. These offices have up to 548 sq. feet, with up to 757 additional sq. ft. when common areas such as conference room, kitchen, and others areas are factored in.

You may wonder what your membership will include. Let’s have a look.

First, check your mailbox when you walk in the door. After that, take the elevator or use the curved staircase and step onto the second floor of the Guild Building. Look slightly to your left. There you will meet Shelene Pederson and Deborah Carrigan in the reception area. Ms. Pederson will be greeting you and your visitors with a friendly smile, answer any questions you may have and if you have an executive suite, she will be your receptionist. If you have a business suite, Ms. Carrigan will be assisting you. They will be handling your visitors and escorting them to your office. They will also be handling your telephone calls during business hours. After hours, your calls will be forwarded to your voice mail or to your cell phone. The choice is yours.

To your right is the client lounge where your visitors can relax on plush sofas and either enjoy the beautiful surroundings or watch cable television until you are ready to receive them.

You will walk through the glass door and step onto rich, deep red carpet. To your left is the glass enclosed Thomas Edison meeting room. This is one of three rooms designed for group meetings. For clients who require complete privacy, the Henry Ford room is available. All meeting rooms come with state of the art digital projectors.

Depending on your office location, you will then continue walking the red carpet towards one of three hallways, where you may wish to stop and admire the paintings of local artists.

When you reach your suite, you will not find a single utility bill as this is included in the membership cost. You will find that the janitor has paid a visit, again at no additional cost. Your office contains internet access and a telephone line. Yes, these are also benefits for having an entry-level (gold) Boardroom membership.

There are a variety of other amenities that can be paid for a la carte, but by stepping up to Club Platinum for an extra $150 per month, you ensure that these are available to you daily. They include access to the Club Platinum Lounge, where you can help yourself to an espresso or other beverages and snacks. Take them to your suite or enjoy them in the comfort of the lounge, which also has a gently lit area complete with a small rock water fountain so you can relax and read or simply take a few calm moments to reflect.

You will also enjoy a massage chair and be able to take a private shower with complete linen service.

As a platinum member, you will enjoy an upgrade to your internet service and have greater access to meeting rooms, along with use of Guild Hall (which seats over 60 people) once a month for a two-hour event.

The royal treatment doesn’t stop there. You also have access to concierge services, part of which includes such luxuries as color copies, packing and shipping services, or perhaps you would like your to-go lunch order picked up, or yourself picked up from the airport.

Whether you have outgrown your home office, wish to impress your clients with a more professional look, or simply want the best Grants Pass has to offer, consider making a drastic cut to your overhead costs while gaining a host of big city benefits at a fraction of what they cost in other areas of the country.

To arrange for a tour of The Boardroom, located at 1867 Williams Highway in Grants Pass, please call 541-244-2650 or stop by to receive an informational packet on complete prices and services.

You may also visit The Boardroom online at this address: http://www.guildbuilding.com/boardroom.php

Giff Gates – Owner of Gates Home Furnishings.

Being born and raised in Grants Pass has many advantages. For Giff Gates, it means he has had decades to learn every aspect of the family business, which is now known as Gates Home Furnishings.

While his original goal was to become a lawyer, Giff began working at the family business on a temporary basis while waiting to enter law school. He had already graduated from Lewis and Clark College as a political science major and was well on his way, but then he fell in love with the buying, advertising, and presentation of furniture. It proved to be more than a fleeting affair. Giff has now been in the business for 35 successful years. His personal life reflects his worth ethics. Giff has been married to Chris for 26 years, and together they’ve raised two sons. Nick is attending the University of Oregon, while Chad is a current Rotary Exchange Student in Ecuador.

Mr. Gates is very pleased at the company’s ability to provide people the opportunity for a career with Gates Home Furnishings, and enjoys sharing the success of the business with staff members, who are likened to family. He finds his job interesting, and enjoys being able to help customers create gorgeous and functional home interiors. There’s also an element of excitement to his career, as the company buys products from all over the globe. Fortunately there are usually no problems with bringing furniture in from other countries, but one shipment from an exotic location did give him an unpleasant surprise – it came complete with bugs that had been hibernating. They woke up upon arrival and tried to chew their way to freedom, but were deported right back to their home island along with the rattan furniture they’d used for their passage.

In order to keep current with the world of interior design, Giff attends the Las Vegas Furniture Show twice a year and sees factory’s representatives every week. He reads a dozen trade publications every month and takes notice when a customer cannot find something they are looking for in the store’s current selections. This dedication to customer service is part of why Gates Home Furnishings is the longest running furniture company in Grants Pass. They have won numerous awards for excellence in furniture and business, including National Furniture Retailer of the Year, a spot in the Top 50 Businesses to Work for in Oregon, and the Oregon Business and Ethics Award.

The newly designed exterior of Gates Home Furnishings is yet another way to show the business is interested in making the people of Grants Pass feel welcome. They wanted to give the store a fresh, updated look while still fitting in with the river town theme. This was accomplished by a complete face lift of the building’s exterior, using a combination of stone, timber, copper, and stucco. Their customers have given extremely positive feedback on the new look since its completion, and many believe it is one of the most attractive buildings in town.

All these customers are important to Mr. Gates. “Without them, there is no Gates Furniture. We try very hard to not just provide furniture to our customers but also focus on developing a relationship with them. They can get furniture from many places, so we try to make the experience here at Gates as friendly and flexible as possible.” It is this attitude that attracts so many to his store, along with their friendly policies such as no hassle returns, buy it your way options, and same day delivery coupled with a low price promise on quality furniture.

Without them, there is no Gates Furniture. We try very hard to not just provide furniture to our customers but also focus on developing a relationship with them. Let’s face it, they can get furniture from many places so we try to make the experience here at Gates as friendly and flexible as possible. Things like “No Hassle Returns,” “Buy It Your Way Options,” and same day delivery coupled with a low price promise make us unique.”

Because it is the people in the community that have made the store successful, Gates Home Furnishings sets aside a generous portion of their profits for nonprofit organizations. They are one of the sponsors of Wellness on Wheels, 31-foot recreational vehicle which is set up as a mobile medical unit. Staffed with local medical and dental care providers, Wellness on Wheels takes education, medical screenings, and preventative care to Josephine County residents who may have little or no access to health care.

Gates has also absorbed over $20,000 worth of furnishing for the new Family House at Three Rivers Hospital. Not only does the company accept the majority of requests for help from nonprofit organizations, Giff Gates believes it is also important to give personal time to the community. His staff is heading up a Relay for Life team, and Giff is active in the Rotary Club. He thanks his parents for having raised him with the understanding that it is important to give back to the community that supports him. Giff looks forward to many more years of successfully serving the community of Grants Pass.

Gates Home Furnishings

• SW 6th and L Streets, Grants Pass OR 97526 541-476-4627
  http://www.gatesfurniture.com/

Jeff Krolick, Clinical Director, Options for Southern Oregon

Options for Southern Oregon has served members of our area with mental health issues since 1981. Today there are many programs available for the 3,000 members of our community who require psychosocial treatment and rehabilitation. Among the amazing staff members who make life better for many in need, Jeff Krolick, Clinical Director, stands out.Jeff Krolick has been involved with Options for Southern Oregon since 1993, and in the mental health field for twenty-one years with a masters degree in mental health. He moved to Southern Oregon with his family in 1992 when his wife had an unexpected job offer in Ashland. Jeff was a stay-at-home dad for one year until taking on the position at Options for Southern Oregon and has put in many years to make the organization what it is today.

Back then, Options was a very small organization which offered day treatment for adults with severe mental health disabilities along with a small deli and bakery. Soon the organization grew and grants were earned to expand research and new treatment options for the ever-growing need in our community. More recently a merger with Josephine County mental health agencies changed the organization for the better.

With a staff change from thirty-five members, Options for Southern Oregon grew to an amazing 140 member team. This change meant that more people could be served and more lives changed. With over 3,000 Southern Oregon residents served today, Jeff Krolick still finds time to inspire a different crowd. He has shared his photography with the public for four years, but this passion is even older than his love of the mental health field. His masters degree in art speaks volumes for his love of jewelry making, welding, sculpting, and his main passion: photography. Jeff Krolick’s thirty plus years has taught him very much and has guided him to his favorite pastime.

“I have an eye for an intimate piece of landscape,” quotes Jeff. The intricate details of his work create a challenge for the eye. Jeff Krolick’s atypical style has led his work to be featured in many galleries across the United States. Locally, his work is displayed at Ashland’s Davis and Cline Gallery. Other locations include galleries in New York City, Raleigh, Boston, and Chattanooga to name a few. In 2008, he will visit various visual arts centers to keep his goal of active exhibition. His work is also sold at these locations, and he hopes for many more shows.

The photograph is just the beginning, as the final work is displayed enlarged and a creative twist is given. Rather than the typical frame where the photo is under glass, Jeff Krolick feels the photo should be reachable. With the photo mounted on aluminum and sprayed with a lacquer finish, the non-reflective finish makes the picture more accessible and has a tangible feel. The finish also provides a protective barrier from moisture and dust and is very durable.

Jeff Krolick is a very amazing person with many talents. Not only does he serve as a leading mental health professional in our area, offering a hand to thousands of residents in need, his art inspires many and his work will continue to be featured in galleries across the United States. If you would like to know more about Options for Southern Oregon, visit www.optionsonline.org. To see more of Jeff’s work and other local artists, please go to www.davisandcline.com.

Jim Jorgensen, headmaster of the Alternative Learning Center

With ten successful years and many young lives changed, Jim Jorgensen, headmaster of the Alternative Learning Center, looks over the years with a smile. With twenty-five years in the United States Marine Corps, Jim Jorgensen has many fine leadership qualities as well as team-work skills to assist in the serious yet rewarding task of shaping young minds. After retiring from the service, in 1991 he stated his teaching career. In 1994 Jim Jorgensen moved to Josephine and was a substitute teacher for one year, followed by two years as a full-time teacher at North Middle School. When the Alternative Learning Center opened its doors in 1997, Mr. Jorgensen accepted the position as the first headmaster of the private school.

The Alternative Learning Center is located within the Boys and Girls Club of Grants Pass and operates on the same values instilled within the guidelines of Boys and Girls Clubs nation wide. The four key goals are to teach youth competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. The first Rogue Valley center was formed in 1970. Their mission statement, ‘The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley works to provide year-round positive, fun and safe places and program for all kids, helping them to build self-esteem and develop skills necessary to make right choices, becoming responsible and productive citizens,’ confirms the positive influence to the community and its residents. The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley include locations in Cave Junction, White City, Talent, Phoenix, and Grants Pass where the Alternative Learning Center is located.

Since the opening date of the school, the Alternative Learning Center has met the state required curriculum which includes language arts, science, social studies, math, computer use and knowledge, and physical education. To offer close contact and one-on-one instruction, there is one teacher and one aide for each class of about fifteen students. The sixth and seventh grade class is combined into one and the eighth grade class is in the next building. The school operates based on the traditional setting for public school and the main advantage is the general atmosphere. The students do not have to change classrooms and all assignments and belongings are kept in one place. This is a major advantage with a student with educational or social insecurities, and it is one of many benefit’s the Alternative Learning Center has to offer students and parents.

Thousands of adolescents across the United States are taught in an alternative fashion than the complexity of a traditional public school. Many youth can be intimidated and confused by the sudden change from the nurturing environment of elementary school to the fast-paced  setting of public middle school. Alternative schools allow a more gradual change in atmosphere for children who have specific educational or social needs that a decreased class size can accomplish. In Josephine County, at the Alternative Learning Center of the Grants Pass Boys and Girls Club of the Rogue Valley, you will find dedicated teachers and aides providing a secure atmosphere for middle school aged youth struggling in the traditional public school setting.

With the school’s stable structure, all that is needed is a guide to steer youth in the right direction. Jim Jorgensen is an amazing mentor to students and parents alike. With compassion, knowledge, and experience he has lead hundreds of students to achieve their own personal goals. Although all students having problems are welcome at the Alternative Learning Center, the ultimate purpose of the school is to ready students for a second chance in the public school setting.

In 2007, one of Jim Jorgensen’s main goals was to help as many children back into the traditional public schools as possible. Although some students spend their entire middle school careers at the Alternative Learning Center, most are able to excel in the carefully structured environment of the school and then can transition more easily into one of the four public middle schools associated with the program, which include Fleming Middle School, Lincoln Savage, North Middle School, and South Middle School.

With this year coming to a close, Jim Jorgensen has personally seen over fifty students, many of them already returned to public school. ‘That is what makes it worthwhile. When I get stopped in the street and thanked by a former student, I know I have helped at least one more child.’ Although this will be his last school year in Grants Pass, Jim Jorgensen knows the plans for the Alternative Learning Center. ‘Teaching children to live healthy and respectable lives, of course.’ He may substitute in Jacksonville, Oregon where he currently lives and will spend retirement.

A famous Chinese proverb says, ‘One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade.’ If you would like to ‘plant the tree’ for children all over Josephine County, please visit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley at www.bgcrv.com or call 479-5258. To speak with members of the Alternative Learning Center located in the Boys and Girls Club in Grants Pass, please call 291-0416.

Amazing Mentors at College Dreams Jenifer Pohling, Rebecca Clark, Monet Talty.

The definition of a mentor is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, but from a student who has been influenced by the College Dreams program’s ‘amazing mentors’ you can get  a much more clear insight.
 
A large part of College Dream’s success lies with the Prevention Specialists, the most recent addition to the team is Jenifer Pohling. She has been a Prevention Specialist for one year and a College Dreams team member for a year previous. Jenifer is an easy-going person who loves her students. She is very casual in her approach and her calm demeanor makes her a wonderful friend and mentor. Her connection with at-risk youth is very unique, as she is always open for new friendships. Jenifer is known to be a very patient person and will wait for the student to be comfortable enough to gently guide them in the right direction.

Rebecca Clark has been a Prevention Specialist for 7 years and she works with students at Grants Pass High School and both North and South Middle Schools. Her passion for her work allows her to guide many at-risk youth in the right direction. Rebecca has often been referred to as a “kid magnet” and because of her loving presence she is able to connect with youth on a healthy level. Not only does she participate in many community service projects and spend many extra hours helping students after school, the students can ask any question and seek advice without receiving judgment.

The most senior Prevention Specialist is Monet Talty. Monet works with Illinois Valley children at Illinois Valley High School and Lorne Byrne Middle School. She is so dedicated to her students she declined a leave of absence after her son was born. Monet is known to go above and beyond for at-risk youth and is well known for her yearly scramble to the post office to submit college application to be post-marked before the deadline. Monet also contributes many late nights writing letters of recommendation for her students whenever asked, and does so with a smiling face.

Each and every staff member of College Dreams does amazing things to better our community and its citizens. The goals are clear and very inspiring, as we all would like to see healthy and happy children. The students influenced by the Prevention Specialists of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Tom and Judie Drummond’s vision of providing a solid preventative program for students of today will continue to make a positive impact on our community.

College Dreams is a local program that was established nine years ago by Tom and Judie Drummond through the Josephine County Human Services Department and was originally called the Josephine County Prevention Program. This organization is productive due to the fact that it is entirely an evidence based program providing scientific proof that the structure of the organization is sound. The prevention program was modeled after more expensive national programs but offers a unique insight into the selection of students and the preventative measures in which the selected may over come many hurdles and become active members of our community.

The screening process created by Tom Drummond from many years of research begins at the middle school level, preferably the sixth grade, as the transition from the structured and nurturing environment of elementary school to middle school takes place. Students records are used to find children who are intelligent and who have good marks but may have some challenges at home. Students and parents sign contracts designed to give the child incentive to attend school and participate in healthy developmental activities and community service activities in hopes that the program will see many healthy productive adults.

Proof of College Dreams’ success can be found in their many awards. In 2001 they were named a Promising Practices Network program, which is an organization designed to recognize organizations that use evidence-based practices to promote healthy children and families. The program has earned several other awards such as service recognitions from the Three Rivers School District, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and most recently the organization was presented with the first ever Gordon Elwood Foundation Award of Excellence.

If you or someone you know would like to contribute to College Dreams and help make a difference for at-risk youth, please visit collegedreams.org or call Judie Drummond at 476-8146.