Bend, Ore. – Kara Johnson, Program Director at Heart of Oregon YouthBuild, was recently honored with the President’s Award at a national YouthBuild USA Directors conference. The award recognized excellence in “Support of Young Leaders,” and commended Johnson for “increasing the self-sufficiency of every Heart of Oregon program participant.” Self-sufficiency and positive empowerment of youth are the top two priorities for local nonprofit Heart of Oregon Corps, who operates the local YouthBuild program in Sisters, OR. Johnson and her team are honored to be recognized out of more than 270 YouthBuild programs nationwide.
Johnson has worked at Heart of Oregon YouthBuild for 6 years, developing the program into one of the highest performing in the country that has been awarded three $1M grants from the Department of Labor. Her students look up to her. Current YouthBuild student, Jasmine McCool, shares, “She goes out and works with us on service days and wall raisings which is really cool.” Johnson has worked in the non-profit sector for 18 years, bringing 12 years of experience with her from the Treasure Valley Family YMCA in Boise, ID. She has a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Idaho, and currently lives with her husband and two sons in Bend.
YouthBuild is a national program model that seeks to provide disengaged youth with opportunities to gain job skills and pursue educational goals while also addressing the prevalent issues facing their communities like poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. Heart of Oregon YouthBuild addresses the needs of communities throughout Central Oregon through the construction of affordable housing. The program is currently building 6 homes in Madras and one in Redmond. Students in the program learn valuable job skills and work ethic while making a tangible difference in their home towns and learning what it takes to become a community leader.
Johnson and her dedicated staff work to ensure leadership and self-advocacy are instilled in to their students. Current participant, Angel, shares, “I’ve learned in YouthBuild that a good leader has the potential to move mountains. There are no boundaries.” Youth that have worked with Kara in the program have gone on to secure jobs in painting, manufacturing, and even nursing, or pursue education through college or trade school. She believes in the capability of her students, and sets high expectations because she knows the youth can and will meet them.
