About Us

The Roots of HWI

The seeds of the Holistic Wellness Initiative were planted during one of the hardest seasons of my life.

Back in 2018–2019, I worked at the Matt Dishman Community Center’s teen force program. That space was more than just an after-school hangout, it was a sanctuary. I saw firsthand how powerful it is when youth have somewhere safe to be, where they’re seen, supported, and challenged to grow. I watched teens step into leadership, build friendships, and find purpose. These programs were lifelines, especially for young people from low-income and marginalized communities.

Then the pandemic hit, and with it came devastating budget cuts within Portland Parks & Recreation. Those lifelines disappeared. Within a year, three teens I had mentored were killed by gun violence. Others ended up incarcerated, trafficked, or pulled into gang activity. These weren’t headlines, they were kids I knew.

That loss lit a fire in me. It made it painfully clear what happens when we remove spaces of care and connection. I knew I had to do something.

In my own healing journey, I had found grounding in wellness practices like yoga, mindfulness, and community care. These tools helped me find balance, clarity, and resilience. I started to imagine what it would look like to bring those same tools to youth, especially those navigating systemic violence, mental health struggles, and social pressure.

In 2022, I became the Wellness Coordinator for the Inquiry for Justice Program, where I worked directly with high school students from underserved backgrounds. I began integrating wellness into our curriculum.

That’s how the Holistic Wellness Initiative (HWI) came to life.