On any given day in Portland, Oregon there are hundreds of homeless youth on the street. For the individuals affected, homelessness is personally devastating. For the community, the financial and opportunity costs are infinite. Victor Cavalcante, a Purchasing Manager with Avangrid Renewables and based in Portland, grew up in Brazil, “a country that didn’t have a lot of resources to help young kids who were marginalized, whether through physical or social disabilities.”  He was inspired to think about support for disenfranchised youth by his twin brother, who was born with Cerebral Palsy and needed support to build a sustainable and independent life.

When Victor learned about p:ear  – an organization that creates positive relationships with homeless and marginalized youth through programs in education, art and recreation (the acronym!) to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives – he was moved  by their unique model that regards youth homelessness and disenfranchisement as critical human rights issues that needs to be addressed through a lens of dignity, respect and positive community engagement.  p:ear was founded in 2002, with the goal of creating a place of hope, growth and nurturance for homeless and parent-less young people by helping them prepare for a healthy adulthood.  Since then, p:ear has served over 5,000 youth, ages 15-24 providing basic need, life/work skills and a supportive community.