Together We Are Greater Than

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER STUDENTS FROM POVERTY-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL, COLLEGE, AND CAREER. WORKING ALONGSIDE PARENTS, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, GREATER THAN SEEKS TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC EDUCATION OUTCOMES IN OREGON FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED STUDENTS. WE VIEW EVERY ASPECT OF OUR WORK THROUGH THE LENS OF RACIAL EQUITY, WHICH GUIDES OUR DECISION-MAKING, RELATIONSHIPS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES. OUR WORK IS BUILT ON THREE PILLARS: OUR PROGRAMS AIM TO ADVANCE A RACIALLY JUST FUTURE FOR LEARNING BECAUSE EQUITABLE EDUCATION IS A RIGHT, WE ARE INTENT ON MOVING FROM A SYSTEM OF HOLDING POWER OVER COMMUNITY TO HOLDING POWER WITH COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO RACIAL EQUITY AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF SYSTEMS THAT CREATE INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED STUDENTS.

THOUGH SCHOOLS RETURNED TO IN-PERSON FOR THE 2021-22 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC WERE STILL VERY MUCH PRESENT FOR THE 1,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH WHOM WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO PARTNER. CO-CURRICULAR AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WERE EXTREMELY LIMITED AND MASKS WERE STILL PREVALENT, SO THIS YEAR WAS CLEARLY NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. STILL, WE WERE ABLE TO STEP UP OUR EFFORTS TO PROVIDE MORE ROBUST ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS. THIS INCLUDED CONTINUED BASIC NEED SUPPORT, INCLUDING FOOD DELIVERIES TO 110 FAMILIES, REACHING A TOTAL OF 181 STUDENTS, DISTRIBUTING $10,000 IN GIFT CARDS, AND CONTINUED RENT AND/OR UTILITY ASSISTANCE FOR DOZENS OF FAMILIES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.WE WERE ALSO VERY PLEASED TO SEE SIGNIFICANT STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS, INCLUDING A 30% DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO NEEDED OUR TIER 3 LEVEL OF SUPPORT (OUR HIGHEST LEVEL FOCUSED ON TAILORED INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY/SUPPORTS). AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, WE SAW SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING TIER 3 SUPPORT, IN INCLUDING IMPROVEMENT IN GRADES AND ATTENDANCE. OUR AFTER-SCHOOL MATH STARS PROGRAM ALSO PRODUCED AN AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF 0.7 GRADE LEVELS, WITH ALL STUDENTS SEEING GROWTH AND SOME STUDENTS SEEING AS MUCH AT 2.0 GRADE LEVEL ADVANCEMENT. AFTER LAUNCHING OUR SECOND SITE IN THE HILLSBORO SCHOOL DISTRICT LAST YEAR, WE CONTINUED WITH GREAT PROGRESS IN PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS, AND DELIVERING MORE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC SUPPORTS. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO SECURE FUNDING TO ADD MIDDLE SCHOOL POSITIONS AT BOTH SITES IN RESPONSE TO MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT AROSE DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS. GREATER THAN CONTINUALLY STRIVES TO FOSTER RACIALLY JUST LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED STUDENTS, INCLUDING BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND STUDENTS OF COLOR (BIPOC). WE ARE COMMITTED TO RACIAL EQUITY AND THE RESTRUCTURING OF SYSTEMS THAT CREATE SAID INEQUITIES FOR THESE RESILIENT AND HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED STUDENTS.