Mission Statement

The Mission of Teach Me To Fish is to provide the tools and resources necessary for middle and high schools students that might be struggling, to excel academically, secure meaningful careers, and develop into tomorrow’s leaders in the community, and is comprised of three (3) main objectives:

  • We identify potential roadblocks that may stand in the way of students (our protégés) graduating high school, and provide the necessary resources to help them to overcome these obstacles.  We accomplish this by:

    • Engaging with teachers and administrators in middle schools and high schools located in or around the Portland Kenton neighborhood, to identify students that are trying their best, but are still coming up short of achieving their academic goals, and matching them with mentors to help them to succeed.

    • Identifying and addressing environmental barriers (e.g., family socioeconomic challenges, food/clothing/housing/transportation instabilities, a deficiency of positive role models, inadequate study habits, etc.) that are making it much more difficult for students to do their best.

    • Working with local agencies and community partners to identify and qualify potential mentors to pair with these students to provide guidance and ongoing support.

  • We create opportunities for students to consider, explore, and realize sustainable trades or careers.  We accomplish this by:

    • Working with local colleges, universities, trade schools, etc., to identify courses and programs that might meet the interests and aptitudes of our students, and identifying available funding sources for classes and associated courseware.

    • Realizing that not every student has the desire or resources to pursue a traditional college/formal educational path, we work with them to explore marketable roles that do not require a degree, and spend the time necessary for them to weigh the pros & cons of various occupations they might consider pursuing.

    • Creating relationships with local employers and other community partners to identify job fairs, apprenticeships, internships and entry-level opportunities to offer career options that match the interests of our youth to help them secure their dream jobs.

  • We provide training and mentoring opportunities to help students become strong leaders in support of their personal and professional growth, and find ways for them to contribute to their community.  We accomplish this by:

    • Creating opportunities for students to meet with leaders in their community to listen to, and be inspired by, their stories, and at the same time learning about some of the challenges they faced and had to overcome to get where they are today.

    • Providing training and mentoring so students can learn about the traits, attributes, and behaviors that are associated with being an effective leader.

    • Exploring ways for students to give back to their community, and opportunities to test their acquired leadership skills in a safe and supportive environment.