Youth Connect is an in-person gathering space for teens that meets throughout the school year for 8-week sessions in Ashland, Oregon.
During our in-person meet-ups, we utilize the Council format centered around a specific topic or theme. Through the use of sharing, active listening, games, activities, and hanging out, participants are able to build a sense of community and belonging and find their own voice.
Sessions are a good mix of lighthearted fun paired with moments of deeper group work and solo time. There is a minimum enrollment of 6 participants and a maximum of 12 for each program. (If we don’t meet our enrollment numbers, refunds will be issued).
“It’s a break from the world. I can come here with no expectations or pressure and be myself. I love all the adults and kids and I’m so happy I got the opportunity to make these friends. I think I know how to handle quite a few more real world experiences now and how to live happier.”
“It’s fun and creative and there is free food!!!”
“They have good snacks, and it’s a great place to say what’s on your mind. I started opening up more.”
“It’s amazing!”
“I loved the people and Jasmyne. This Youth Connect program is so welcoming and really helped with my social anxiety, which has decreased, and I now have the best friend group ever.”
“It’s really hard for me to make friends, so it was really nice to go somewhere where there were more opportunities to do this. Just go every time. The more you go, the more connections you can make, and the more open you can be.”
“It’s easier than you think, and enjoyable. I liked the communication and connection with other people, the free food, and the outside games a lot. I like that nothing was forced upon me, like religion.”
“It was super fun.”
“It’s fun, and they have great snacks, and fidget toys, and it’s led by a great lady.”
“I like how accepting everyone was. I felt more at home here than in my actual home. It was amazing from start to finish. I found out a lot more about myself, and it was worth it. The biggest thing I got was re-learning that my feelings are valid, and I always look forward to these meetings.”
“I like that we can talk about everything and nobody judges you. There isn’t anything I didn’t like. You guys did an amazing job with us. The advice that you guys give really helps my day-to-day life. I would highly recommend this program for someone who wants to join.”
“I liked the group of people that were there and the positive energy. This experience strengthened bonds with me and the people that also participated.”
“I liked how I could be myself without feeling judged. I least liked nothing really. You guys are awesome. I’d tell someone that this group is really positive and helpful in tough situations, and in general, it’s a good group to just be yourself.”
“I got more friends!”
“After years of little socialization, Youth Connect got me to feel like I could be vulnerable around people besides my family again.”
“I would say to others that this truly became a safe and comfortable place to talk about the good and bad things in life. I never felt like I would be judged for something I said. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place where I felt like I wasn’t going to be judged.”
“My 9th grade daughter LOVES this group and its leader Jasmyne. She did one of Jasmyne’s circles a year or so ago, and it was super helpful for her mental health and kind of coming back from the pandemic social trauma that happened for a lot of our kids. Jasmyne has another session coming up and still has a few spots available. Please check out this offering, it is super thoughtful, and Jasmyne is really good at connecting with teens and tweens (who aren’t always the easiest to connect with if we’re being real, right?)”
“This program has helped my child come out of their bubble and has started a dialogue within our family.”
“I have really enjoyed this group. It has helped make me feel a lot more connected post Covid and having just moved here. I loved the games and activities; they were all fun. Another thing I liked about this group was that it didn’t feel like work in the way other counseling and therapy has felt. It felt more like just thoughtfully hanging out.”
“These meet ups have been the thing I look forward to every Monday. Rain or shine, they’re always wonderful. I particularly like the parts where we talk about our day (rose and thorn and weather check). It always feels so nice to get things off my chest but I also don’t feel shamed for not saying anything. If you ever need a place to interact with other kids on a more emotional level, this is it.”
“Thank you so very much for creating such a wonderful private, inclusive space for our girls. My daughter had a great time yesterday. She talked all about the experience and is eager for next week to arrive. My heart is bursting with joy! Thank you! Thank you!”
True Belonging doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.
Kerrick was raised in the Hill Country of Austin, Texas where he studied at the University of Texas. After some travel, he moved to the Rogue Valley of Oregon with a vision to farm and support youth. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Cultural Anthropology with Honors in 2004 at Southern Oregon University, and devoted over a decade supporting youth and their families navigate local and state social service programs. During this time, he and his partner cultivated a food forest at their home and founded Verdant Phoenix as an educational mini-farm in 2016.
Verdant Phoenix Farm became an expression of a way of life for Kerrick. He is interested in the relationships between humans, soil, microbes, plants/trees/shrubs, food, culture, time, and the web of life. As these elements inform his horticultural practice, Kerrick enjoys supporting landscapes, gardens, farms, and their people who are interested in belonging to the land.
