Muse Maker Guide by The Source Weekly

MUSE MAKERS

Supporting those who work to inspire positive social change in their communities and in our world.

WORLD MUSE began as a youth empowerment organization in 2009. Supporting youth as change makers will always be at the heart of what we do. This year, we chose seven organizations that work to support youth within Central Oregon to receive our 2024 MUSE Maker Grants.

World MUSE has contributed well over $50,000 to individuals, projects, and organizations that work to create positive change. MUSE Maker Grants have provided support to efforts ranging from a creative writing program for survivors of domestic abuse to non-competitive cycling events for young girls, from women’s farming cooperative projects in Zambia to programming that supports our LGBTQIA+ community here in Central Oregon. These grants allow us to directly support those who are working to inspire positive social change in their communities and in our world.

We invite you to learn more about the amazing organizations that received MUSE Maker Grants this year and support them in whatever ways you are able. We will be hosting a very special Night Light Show event on November 19th to celebrate them in person. We hope you will join us for an evening of community, comedy, and inspiration. Tickets are sliding scale and are available now. More details can be found on the back of our MUSE Maker Guide.

With

Gratitude, Amanda Stuermer World MUSE Founder

WORLD MUSE PRESENTS

2024 MUSE GRANT RECIPIENTS

Family Access Network (FAN)

FAN’s mission is to offer assistance, possibility and hope to Central Oregon families in need by connecting them with crucial resources that will help children flourish in school and in life. FAN is unique to Central Oregon, located in nearly all public schools across Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. Working through a dedicated FAN advocate, a child or parent is connected to essential services such as food, shelter, heating, health care, clothing and more.

FAN advocates link children and families to critical basic need services with the goal of keeping children healthy and in school. FAN provides a direct and convenient way within the school to connect children to vital resources, and coordinates with over 100 partners to ensure those in need are assisted quickly. FAN advocates support our most needy families, removing barriers and paving the way for a child’s success. Every year, FAN advocates improve the lives of over 7,500 children and family members in our community.

RAICES

RAICES is a program of the Latino Community Association. It is aimed at school-age Latino youth from low-income, immigrant families. The goal is to provide relatively simple, yet impactful interventions that produce lasting change, propelling kids to succeed in both school and in life.

The Youth Rising Program provides integrated services with several community partners that focus on bilingual literacy, cultural literacy, social-emotional skill building, fun, adventure, and leadership development. The components include: Youth Literacy & Empowerment, Amiguitos Summer Club, Biblioteca en Camino, and Paseos Recreativos.

Better Together

Better Together activates networks across sectors and communities to transform the systems that serve children, youth and families. They work collectively to identify gaps in opportunity, build knowledge and align strategies, so we can act together to change policy and practices.

Too many children and youth in Central Oregon do not have what they need to thrive. Fixing this multi-layered systemic issue is not about adding programs that only address surface-level symptoms of the problem nor is it only about meeting the needs of a few impacted individuals. It’s about thinking differently, adding seats to decision-making tables, and listening to community members. It means acting collectively, outside of our siloes to transform systems. The Better Together solution remains rooted in the value that we can do better if we do it together.

Papalaxsimisha

Papalaxsimisha focuses on supporting indigenous students and their families in 6th through 12th grade on their educational journey using culturally based educational practices that are grounded in the acknowledgment and awareness of historical trauma and healing.

Papalaxsimisha’s programming incorporates historical trauma, healing, self-identity, cultural awareness, high school readiness, college and career readiness in a curriculum developed by three native teachers.

J Bar J

J Bar J is the largest social services organization helping youth in Central Oregon. To provide an ever-evolving continuum of resources for at risk and unhoused youth, J Bar J Youth Services prioritizes the leadership and voices of youth with lived experience in implementing new opportunities and improving existing programming. The Central Oregon Youth Action Board, a board of youth with lived experience, fills this key role.

J Bar J’s programming includes: The J Bar J Boy Ranch, J5, Cascade Youth and Family Center, AT: Project, Grandma’s House, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Central Oregon, The Academy at Sisters, J Bar J Learning Center, and Kindred Connections.

Infinite Healing Solutions

Infinite Healing Solutions' mission is to develop, deliver and disseminate research-based programs addressing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements to strengthen individuals, families and to increase accessibility for every community in Central Oregon.

Infinite Healing Solutions plays a vital role in our community by weaving the social, cultural,

environmental, and economic fabric of our society together. They provide needed services and opportunities for community members to participate, advocate for inadequately serviced communities, and pioneer solutions to major social problems.

Gender Hive

Gender Hive is a project envisioned by the Central Oregon Trans Health Coalition and launched in March 2023 as part of the Trans Health Equity Project — a year-long effort to improve access to trans-inclusive and genderaffirming care in Central Oregon.

Transgender and nonbinary people — in every community — deserve access to healthcare that affirms their gender and meets both their transition-related and holistic health needs. That’s why Gender Hive was created.