Youth M.O.V.E. (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience) Oregon is a youth led, state-wide, ever-expanding 501(c)3(c) non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the services and systems that foster and promote the positive growth of Oregons transitional age youth and young adults (ages 14-25) by using peer support and uniting the voices of individuals who have lived through and experienced a vast array of obstacles with various state-run systems including (but not limited to) mental health, addiction/recovery, juvenile justice, incarceration, foster care, education, and child welfare. Our movement began as a demonstration project funded by the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, and through the enduring hard work of the Youth M.O.V.E. staff, has transformed into the overwhelmingly successful organization that it is today. Every day, Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon serves at the state wide, local and regional level. We provide community members with drop-in centers, youth support groups, and various trainings dedicated to helping at-risk youth and young adults. These staples of our organization work cohesively to develop leadership skills in our young individuals, help them give back to their community, and speak on various system committees in order to fundamentally change how these often inefficient state-run systems interact with the young adults who depend on them.
Youth M.O.V.E. Oregon works as a diverse, collective organization to unite the voices and causes of young individuals while raising awareness around youth issues. We will encourage youth voices to be heard by coordinating young leaders from across the state to sit on and participate in advisory committees and boards in their communities. We will also encourage young adults to directly give back by serving their fellow community members.?