Portland Workforce Alliance

Mission

Portland Workforce Alliance sees meaningful youth access to career development as a matter of social and economic justice. 

PWA builds enduring partnerships between local businesses and Oregon high schools. By providing students with real-life experiences, enriching their academic knowledge and empowering them on their career journeys. 

Bottom Line for Portland

PWA has seen a growing demand from students, educators and employers for more college-and-career mentoring, soft skills development, and relationship-based programs that coach students in navigating their academic choices and post-graduation plans.  PWA’s role is to reduce barriers to access and connect students to resources and networks. Our focus is to mentor students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who are often excluded in a variety of careers.

You can support PWA by donating to our Give!Guide campaign, volunteering, and exhibiting or sponsoring our NW Youth Careers Expo. Visit our website to learn more about other ways to support PWA!

Quote

"[Today] made me realize that I definitely have a high possibility of pushing myself to succeed in this field and the resources made me more encouraged to get involved with my love for fashion and development." PWA Student

“I loved the hands-on experiences as well as learning how to become a firefighter after high school. It showed me the whole process of how to become a firefighter and a sneak-peak of what it’s like. I think everything was amazing! .” PWA Student

"As someone who came from another country, I liked that the [academic] requirements were explained. I was very interested in architecture before this and I had done some research, but hearing actual architects tell us their experiences was much better."  PWA Student

"I was able to learn steps to starting a business, along with people who've given me advice on how to grow and connect your business. I loved the presenters and groups, they've given me advice to use as a starter business." PWA Student

"Seeing people like me and the same background as me is so comforting and inspiring.... [It] gives me hope that as a first generation college student, I can do this.” PWA Student

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

PWA began as an idea shared by people with different perspectives on a common challenge: Connecting young people in Portland to great jobs. PWA has grown to offer thousands of career learning experiences annually for Portland-area high school students to discover their career aspirations. But our work doesn’t stop there. PWA is committed to continuously develop and revisit our Equity Commitment through best practices to ensure that the diversity of our membership and the broader employer community better serve all students, especially those from underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Incentives

-Give $25 and be entered to win a baseball cap and bandana from Oregon Film!

-Give $100 or more and be entered to win two tickets to a Timbers game in 2025, plus two Timbers scarves!

-Come celebrate with Portland Workforce Alliance and Schoolhouse Supplies at our festive end-of-year event (keep an on our socials for more details)! Volunteers, donors, and supporters are invited to enjoy great company, delicious Mexican coffee from Kilo D'Cofi, secret brews from Mudd Works Roastery, and the rewarding feeling of giving back to our community.

-Kilo D'Cofi is also offering a $25 gift card for the 20th person to donate to PWA! They’ll also donate $1 from a PWA specialty drink (keep an eye on their socials for more details) sold at their coffee shop throughout the campaign.

Partner(s)

First, a huge shout-out to Reading Results, a powerhouse nonprofit transforming the lives of young learners through personalized literacy coaching. And of course, a round of applause to Schoolhouse Supplies, the award-winning nonprofit ensuring that teachers and students in need are equipped with the free school supplies that make learning possible. Their mentorship and partnership have been invaluable during our first year with GiveGuide!

But that’s not all! We’re also grateful to some awesome local heroes: Kilo D'Cofi and MuddWorks Roastery, who are fueling our end-of-year party with their delicious brews, Oregon Film for adding some flair to the festivities, and Portland Timbers for making our raffles truly unforgettable. With these partners, we’re brewing up an exciting, caffeinated celebration to close out the year!"