Always connect

Ways thumb Roberta Phillip J.D. ’06 (far left), believes that concrete steps make dreams real—especially when they begin with one-to-one relationships. That thinking prompted her to start a mentoring program that brings together Lewis & Clark law students with high school students at Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), an alternative school for at-risk students.

“I believe strongly that ‘at-risk’ students, and students of color in general, benefit greatly from relationships with adults who are strong and positive. My hope is that these students will see themselves in us, and as a result dream bigger and achieve more than they thought possible.”

The POIC Mentor Program currently has 30 middle and high school students taking part in individual and group mentoring with volunteers from the community and the law school’s minority law student associations. Since the program began in 2004, many participating law students have been recognized through the school’s Community Service Honors Award program.

Ways of Knowing and Ways of Serving

When knowledge and service intersect, wisdom grows and communities thrive. Students at Lewis & Clark explore knowledge from many perspectives and sources. They also find ways to animate that knowledge and transform values into action by engaging in community service—and doing so as part of rather than apart from their education.

Moving forward

Always connect

Let the sun shine back in

Knowledge in service

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