About Us

HOW we do it

UPLIFT Leadership helps young Oregonians overcome financial, class, social and cultural barriers to higher education and the workforce.

Our Problem: Young people today face extraordinary employment challenges and this is especially true in underserved communities. The primary issues impacting the incoming workforce include: unemployment, underemployment, and mismatches between education and available jobs.

• In the 2024 Oregon Talent Assessment, 41 percent cited access to education and training programs as a primary barrier affecting underserved populations in the state.

• Left unaddressed, these young people face uncertain economic futures with the potential for long-term unemployment and cycles of low-paying work.

• Beyond the individual impact, the whole economy suffers when workers are disengaged and dejected.

Our Solution: UPLIFT Leadership addresses a critical career education and job training gap in Oregon. In our pro-workforce and professional growth programming, we focus on education, experience and empowerment. Our approach engages both professionals and the business community, including prospective employees and potential employers. UPLIFT Leadership mentors empower young people to:

• Achieve economic equity.

• Reach their professional potential.

• Discover career-industry interests.

• Build critical job skills that employers need.

• Find meaningful work and apply for jobs.

• Connect with a community of mentors who support their continued professional growth. 

• Give back to others and ‘send the elevator back down’ when they attain success.

Our Service: We provide: a free-of-charge career advancement resource for diverse young professionals; and pro-workplace programs for businesses and employer partners. We offer workshops, resources, mentorship and support for young people to develop career pathways and build job readiness skills. 

• We conduct classroom visits, partner with youth organizations, and present at conferences on a variety of professional development topics, including employability and entrepreneurship.

• We also host our own events, including a four-day career camp. 

• We create connections between employers and job seekers—matching young people with work-based learning experiences, job shadows, internships, apprenticeships and entry-level jobs.

• We facilitate mentor matchups with skills-based growth goals and free career coaching.

WHO we are

At the center of this organization are people who believe in economic prosperity for all.

• Our Values: Spread the good. Share success. Send the elevator back down.

• Our Approach: Customized. Collaborative. Considerate.

• Our Culture: Inclusive. Equitable. Purposeful.

Leadership Team