BoyStrength, GirlStrength and WomenStrength are looking for men and women who are dedicated, caring and strong. Men and women committed to keeping our communities and children safe.
The Strength Programs are free community classes operated through the Family Services Division of the Portland Police Bureau. Classes and workshops are offered year-round and taught at multiple locations throughout the city. These programs provide boys, girls, women and men with personal safety options and skills.
The Strength volunteer instructor training has been described as rigorous and competitive. Volunteers complete 120 hours of free training in violence prevention topics, such as anti-oppression, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, physical self-defense skills (women only), bullying and digital violence, child abuse, human trafficking, gang involvement and more!. It is easy to apply, download an application at www.portlandoregon.gov/police/BoyStrength. The deadline for applications is February 5th,2015. Training begins on February 21st, 2015. For more information contact: GirlStrength at (503) 823-0239, GirlStrength.pb@Portland Oregon.gov, or BoyStrength at (503) 823-7467,boystrength@portlandoregon.gov.
Here’s what our volunteers say about the training
“New training provides candidates with an opportunity to gain skills they may not know they need, such as physical and verbal skills, self-care, etc. The offers individual empowerment and personal insight as well as the opportunity to develop a deep connection with peers in the training. It is priceless. I have been a professional teacher for over 28th years and this was by far the most powering experience and most insightful training I have ever encountered.”
— Portland Public School Teacher
“The most valuable aspect of NVT training was learning about trauma and how it impacts adolescent boys. The training gave me the tools and empathy to understand kids’ behaviors, which prior to this, I may have interpreted as simply acting out.” –BoyStrength Instructor, 2014
