ANTFARM INC

ANTFARMS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM COMBINES YOUTHCORE, COMMUNITY CONNECT, FARMERS MARKET, AND PLANET 365 PROGRAMS AND EXPANDED. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PUBLIC LANDS, AND AGENCIES WHILE TEACHING YOUTH VALUABLE WORK SKILLS. ANTFARM WORKS WILL ALL YOUTH, YET MANY ARE CHALLENGED WITH AND OFTEN DEMONSTRATE LOW ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND ADDITICTION. WE ENGAGE ALL YOUTH IN LEARNING OBJECTIVES THAT NOT ONLY ADDRESS THE BASIC WORK READINESS SKILLS, BUT ALSO ADDRESS LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS NEEDS. YOUTH ENGAGED IN ANTFARMS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LEARN FIVE BASIC WORK READINESS SKILLS IN ADDITION TO THE SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED TO DO THE WORK. IN ADDITION, VALUABLE LIFE SKILLS AND SOCIAL SKILLS LEARNING AND SUPPORT ARE BUILT INTO THE DAILY ROUTINES YOUTH ARE GIVEN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PART OF THE TEAM THAT CREATES AN UNDERSTANDING OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM. OUR YOUTH HAVE MINIMAL OPPORTUNITIES TOO, SO IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WITNESS THE PRIDE IN OUR LOCAL YOUTH WHEN ENGAGED IN ANTFARMS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS THEY WORK ON LOCAL PROJECTS. YOUTH WHO NEVER VENTURED INTO THE LOCAL NATURAL LANDSCAPE ARE NOW REGULARLY ENGAGED. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A STRONG SENSE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PRIDE. PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE WORKING WITH MOUNT HOOD NATIONAL FOREST, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, RECREATIONAL TRAIL PROJECTS, VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, YOUTH TRANSITION PROJECTS, AND MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS. ANTFARM EMPLOYS YOUTH AND ADULTS, PROVIDING MANY OF THE YOUTH FIRST TIME JOB EXPERIENCES. THE PROGRAM (FORMERLY COMMUNITY CONNECT) ALSO PROVIDES FREE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, MAINLY ELDERLY, BY YOUTH WORKERS AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS. THE YOUTH GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN TRADE SKILLS AND HOW TO BE PART OF A PROFESSIONAL TEAM, WHILE ALSO LEARNING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THE VOLUNTEER TEAMS INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM DO THINGS LIKE CLEARING STICKER BUSHES FROM PROPERTY AND OTHER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES, REPAIRING DAMANGED PROPERTY, PAINTING, ETC FOR THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE GO WITHOUT THESE SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM SEES A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS EACH YEAR. THE 2430 VOLUNTEER HOURS GIVEN TO THIS PROGRAM IN IS HUMBLING.

ANTFARMS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PROGRAM INCLUDES ARPA BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM SERVICES, AND OTHER VARIOUS SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS DISPLACED OR FACING FINANCIAL DETERIROATION DUE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AND OTHER FACTORS. THIS PROGRAM IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TO CLACKAMAS COUNTY. THE TEAM WORKS CONSISTENTLY HELPING PEOPLE AFFECTED BY COVID 19 AND OTHER FACTORS.