KAIROSPDX

KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY KAIROSPDX IS AN EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OPERATING A COMMUNITY SCHOOL IN THE HISTORIC ALBINA NEIGHBORHOOD OF NORTHEAST PORTLAND, OREGON. FOUNDED IN 2012, KAIROSPDX EXISTS TO DISRUPT LONG-STANDING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES BY SERVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON CENTERING JUSTICE. KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY SERVES CHILDREN AGES 3-11, FROM PRESCHOOL THROUGH 5TH GRADE. APPROXIMATELY 83% OF ENROLLED STUDENTS IDENTIFY AS BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, REFLECTING THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY FOR THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY SYSTEMIC DISPARITIES. AS ONE OF THE FEW BLACK-FOUNDED, BLACK-LED, AND BLACK-SERVING EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, KAIROSPDX CENTERS A CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, WHOLE- CHILD EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT PRIORITIZES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE RACIAL, ACHIEVEMENT, AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS BY CULTIVATING CONFIDENT, CREATIVE, AND COMPASSIONATE LEADERS WHO EXCEED ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS AT EACH DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING STRONG, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH KAIROSPDX FAMILIES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THROUGH CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CAPACITY BUILDING, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, AND INTENTIONAL PROGRAMMING, WE FOSTER CONNECTION, COLLABORATION, AND COLLECTIVE GROWTH. KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY DELIVERS INTEGRATED PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE LEARNING ACADEMY, INCLUDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, COMMUNITY ACTION SESSIONS (CAS), CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCES, AND HBCU EXCELLENCE INITIATIVES. THROUGH THESE INTEGRATED PROGRAM AREAS, KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY ADVANCES A STRENGTHS- BASED EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT AFFIRMS IDENTITY, FOSTERS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND EQUIPS STUDENTS WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. MENTAL HEALTH AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES KAIROSPDX PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS' SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHEN SELF-REGULATION, AND FOSTER MEANINGFUL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND AND PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO INTEGRATED, NO-COST MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS DURING AND BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY. SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, FAMILY CHECK-INS, AND MONTHLY WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND OVERALL FAMILY WELL-BEING. ALL SUPPORTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, ACCESSIBLE, AND ALIGNED WITH KAIROSPDX'S WHOLE-CHILD EDUCATIONAL MODEL, ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO THRIVE BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. COMMUNITY ACTION SESSIONS (CAS): KAIROSPDX PROVIDES WEEKLY COMMUNITY ACTION SESSIONS THAT OFFER HANDS-ON ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM, ARTS AND CULTURE, SERVICE LEARNING, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS. STUDENTS SELF-SELECT ACTIVITIES, FOSTERING AUTONOMY, ENGAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND PARTICIPATE IN UP TO 45 HOURS OF ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING ANNUALLY. THROUGH STRATEGIC COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, KAIROSPDX DELIVERS CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING, EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN THESE FIELDS. THESE SESSIONS SUPPORT SKILL-BUILDING, EXPOSURE TO DIVERSE CAREER PATHWAYS, AND INCREASED STUDENT CONFIDENCE IN PURSUING FUTURE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. CULTURAL IMMERSION WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIP KAIROSPDX FACILITATES AN ANNUAL CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR ALL FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS, SUPPORTED BY STAFF AND FAMILY VOLUNTEERS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO DEEPEN STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF U.S. HISTORY, STRENGTHEN CULTURAL IDENTITY, AND BUILD PEER RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. OUR STUDENTS REPORT HAVING STRONGER PEER RELATIONSHIPS AND AN INCREASED SENSE OF COMMUNITY. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS REPORT GREATER CONFIDENCE IN PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION AND REDUCED FEELINGS OF ISOLATION. HBCU EXCELLENCE KAIROSPDX INTEGRATES HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS) INTO THE DAILY STUDENT EXPERIENCE TO PROMOTE REPRESENTATION, BELONGING, AND COLLEGE-GOING IDENTITY. CLASSROOMS AND SHARED SPACES ARE NAMED AFTER HBCUS, AND MONTHLY ASSEMBLIES FEATURE HBCU ALUMNI AND CURRENT STUDENTS WHO SHARE THEIR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS AND EXPERIENCES. PARTNERING WITH HBCUS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, SCHOLARLY GROWTH, AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY FOR BLACK STUDENTS. THESE INITIATIVES AIM TO INCREASE STUDENT AWARENESS OF HIGHER EDUCATION PATHWAYS, REINFORCE POSITIVE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT, AND FOSTER LONG-TERM ACADEMIC ASPIRATIONS