February, 2026 Newsletter
Save The Date For Our Annual Jazz Soirée!🥂
Event sponsorships are available! Gain visibility and marketing benefits for your company, show your business’s commitment to the community, all while helping to raise money to support Minds Matter students! Email Executive Director, Johnna, at johnna@mindsmatterportland.org for more information.
Thursday, May 21st
6:00 PM–8:00 PM
The Multnomah Athletic Club
Join us for an evening of drinks and appetizers as we come together to raise funds in support of our incredible students. More details coming soon. We hope to see you there!
Join Us For Career Day! 📢
Do you know professionals who'd enjoy sharing their career journey with high school students? Each guest will be paired with three Minds Matter students for ~20-minute informational interviews focused on educational paths and career experiences. Help us connect our students with inspiring professionals!
Date and Time: Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 12:30–2:30 PM
Location: PCC Cascade Campus, Cascade Hall (NE Site)
Welcome Our New Program Director Brironni Alex! 🎉
Brironni is passionate about encouraging, uplifting, and affirming members of marginalized communities. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. As a Black woman and a first-generation college graduate, Brironni understands the importance of mentorship and representation for young students. She brings over a decade of experience in corporate and nonprofit leadership to her role at Minds Matter Portland. As a lifelong student who has engaged in anti-oppression efforts for over 15 years, Brironni takes an intersectional approach to everything she does, understanding that all liberation struggles are interconnected. You can find Brironni volunteering in the community, eating a good meal, choreographing and dancing, gaming, and most importantly, kickin’ it with loved ones.
Now Recruiting New Students! Class of 2029! 🎉
Help us spread the word as we welcome our next cohorts of amazing students.
NE Site: 20 spots available
Hillsboro Site: 10 spots available
We also have a few remaining openings for the Class of 2028 at our Hillsboro site—only 6 spots left!
Volunteer Spotlight✨
Tom & Jewel
Co-mentors Tom and Jewel exemplify the power of partnership at Minds Matter. Reflecting on his experience, Tom shares that mentoring “demands that I be my best self,” pushing him to listen deeply and lead with curiosity. Jewel has found joy in building relationships with her mentees, saying, “I’ve loved getting to know about their lives, personalities, and aspirations.”
Together, they value the balance co-mentoring brings. “We complement each other well,” Tom notes, while Jewel adds that working alongside Tom has given her “the chance to collaborate with someone in a totally different field and learn from his perspective.” United by a shared belief in their students’ potential, Tom and Jewel are helping create a thoughtful, supportive space where young women can thrive.
Interested in making a difference like Tom and Jewel? Apply now to mentor our incoming Class of 2029 this fall—or share this opportunity with someone who would be a great fit!