Caldera

Mission

Caldera’s mission is to inspire and support youth from underserved rural and urban communities by awakening the potential of their creative voice.

Bottom Line for Portland

Our creative community continues to thrive because of your support. Caldera's involvement in year-round school art programs and our well-established summer program is more critical than ever. We mentor the rising generation of youth to find their voice through art education, leadership building, and natural environment immersion. For many young learners, Caldera is their first experience with creativity methods and in-nature summer learning. Caldera students from Portland and Central Oregon experience long-term mentorship, and exposure to creativity methodologies, which in turn make stronger communities—galvanizing our 28-year commitment to igniting whole-brain learning through creative practice, which has impacted over 16 thousand Caldera alumni. 

Thanks to your contributions, we can continue to share safe spaces and programs with our growing community. This is a community of alumni, art educators, artists, mentors, volunteers, and you, supporting this very special ecosystem of creativity.

Quote

“Caldera has helped me break out of my shell, that's probably the most valuable skill Caldera has helped me overcome.”

 —Young Learner

“I really like film, I like working together to create like something that people can watch, I like being part of a team, and being able to put our heads together and create sets and stuff. [Youth Mentors] Ohm and Sticks are really fun to work with and they’re great teachers.” 

–Young Learner

“There is support everywhere you go.”

 —Young Learner

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Caldera was founded with the simple premise that we really have to do something different for the youth of underserved communities in Portland and beyond. We acknowledged a huge equity gap in youth art programs and the creative industry, and for over a quarter century we have continued to make it better one student at a time. 

We are committed to those who are underserved because of the many systemic injustices and ongoing impact of discrimination in our country, state, and institutions present.

For our comprehensive history and Statement of Equity & Inclusion please read further here.

Incentives

• Donors who give $100 or more will get a Caldera tote bag and a plantable pencil!

Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines the estimated value of the benefits received is not substantial; therefore the full amount of your payment is a deductible contribution.

Partner(s)

We believe in the power of creativity and those dedicated organizations that serve Portland's creative communities. This year we are honored to amplify the powers of creativity with North Pole Studio, a partner focused on increasing opportunities for artists with autism & intellectual/developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community.

Thanks to our partner, Deschutes Brewing, in which every Tuesday in December, they will be donating $1 of every pint sold at their Portland Brewery ( 210 NW 11th Ave. Portland, OR 97209)  in support of Caldera.