W.I.S.E. PROGRAMS
At The Blueprint Foundation, our program model follows a 4-phase W.I.S.E. approach, where Black youth (W)itness natural areas and ecosystems, (I)nvestigate environmental issues, (S)olve problematic environmental impacts, and (E)ducate their community about the environmental issues they learn about and efforts to mitigate them. These phases are integrated into culturally specific mentoring programs focusing on environmental science and green sector career exploration in the Portland Metro Area.
A 9 month long environmental leadership development internship program for Black-identified high school youth in the Portland Metro region. Created and hosted by a collaborative group of community-based organizations including ELSO Inc., The Blueprint Foundation, Friends of Tryon Creek, and Wild Diversity. Tappin Roots is a culturally specific community investment and restorative justice project. Tappin Roots seeks to train and empower the next generation of environmental educators and community leaders using: Storytelling, Mentorship, Career exploration, Place-based learning, Cultural enrichment, and Healing practices.
VISIT: Tappin Roots
The Leach Back 5 Project, led by a collaborative effort including Johnson Creek Watershed Council, Wisdom of the Elders, The Blueprint Foundation, David Douglas High School, Lent K-8 School, African Youth Community Organization-AYCO, and Connecting Canopies, alongside expertise from Portland Parks and Recreation, and dedicated volunteers, embarked on a multi-year endeavor to restore the eastern 5 acres of Leach Botanical Gardens. Restoration encompasses removing non-native species, planting natives, creating walkable trails, and ongoing maintenance, while prioritizing educational and community science opportunities, especially for underserved demographics, aligning with Leach Garden’s mission and values. Additionally, the project involves ongoing assessment and analysis, with nearly 3,000 person-hours invested in documenting vegetation, surveying wildlife, constructing a vernal pond, and implementing restoration practices without herbicides, aiming to extend efforts to adjacent acres until the entire site is revitalized and monitored.
Learn more about the Back 5 Project and Leach Botanical Gardens at their website: Here
What it Means to be a Blueprint Mentor
What you get to do as a Blueprint student
Blueprint Student
Please contact Bria our Program Manager
Bria@theblueprintfoundation.org