Neighborhood Nonprofit Spotlight: Dan Ryan, All Hands Raised.

Patch talks to Dan Ryan, CEO of All Hands Raised.

Patch: Tell Patch a little about you and your organization!

Dan: I am a children and youth advocate, especially for those we have chronically failed – kids of color. My role as CEO is an extension of my passion, as All Hands Raised aligns the community’s efforts to make positive change for children, youth and young adults – with an acute focus on improving outcomes for kids of color.

We bring together six Multnomah County school districts with business, nonprofit, higher education and government leaders to help individuals and organizations understand how they fit together to create change. We work in seven key areas spanning from cradle to career, each of which have been shown to be statistically significant points in determining a child’s future:

· Ensuring Racial Educational Equity

· Strengthening the Kindergarten Transition

· Improving K-12 Attendance

· Strengthening the Ninth Grade Transition

· Supporting Access to College and Financial Aid

· Building Stronger Pathways to Construction & Manufacturing Careers

· Managing the PPS Parent Equity Fund

For more information, please visit us at All Hands Raised

Patch: When did you open/launch?

Dan: We began our work in 1994 as the Portland Public Schools Foundation, and in 2011 we changed our name to All Hands Raised to reflect the broadening of our footprint to include East County, where gentrification pushed many communities of color and those in need of low-income housing. We also expanded the scope of work to ensure we were working together as one system, both in and out of school to improve conditions for our kids.

Patch: How does the work that your organization do strengthen the community?

Dan: All Hands Raised aligns Multnomah County’s many efforts to strengthen supports for kids—from cradle to career. Over the past five years we have accomplished much together—some of our recent impacts include:

· 12% increase in county-wide on-time high school graduation rates for students of color over the last five years.

· 38% fewer suspension and expulsions of students of color in Multnomah County in 2014-15 as compared to 2010-11.

· 75% of chronically absent students at Glenfair Elementary School improved their attendance.

· 73% of Franklin High School seniors completed the FAFSA – the highest rate in the county.

· 6 Multnomah County Department of Human Services case managers moved into our schools to strengthen family relationships and improve student attendance.

Patch: What do you like best about it?

Dan: Our laser focus on equity to ensure all children, youth and young adults achieve their full potential. I like transparency and accountability. Grown-ups must stop blaming each other and failing our kids.

Patch: What is your biggest struggle?

Dan: Moving people from “I” to “We.” There is a struggle to share responsibility, accountability and credit for helping all kids succeed. It’s easy to show up to the first meeting and vision platitudes, but how do we support one another and commit to play our part? How do we keep hands raised and stay at the table through failures and successes? This is long-term culture change work. It is messy and uncomfortable. It is innovative and exciting.

Patch: What do you see for the future?

Dan: A future where every child in Multnomah County is on track to graduate and succeed, where all kids are seen and supported in safe, respectful learning and community environments that embrace them – rather than exclude them – when inevitable conflicts arise. We are comfortable with the uncomfortable. We are brave and willing to improve. Adult behavior change work is difficult and inspiring!

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