Jasmines heart is with this population of young people who quite literally have no other advocates. We cant imagine her doing anything else simply because she values the youth so much. She has already made such a huge impact in the programs that she has worked for and the youth she has connected with, but she will continue to do that same mission-driven work over the course of her career.

Kathy Oliver, executive director, Outside In

Jasmine Pettets office at Outside In is a judgment-free zone.

On any given day, the homeless 18- to 25-year-olds she works with could be watching Netflix under her desk, nodding off from heroin while propped up against her wall, getting help finding services or asking for outfit advice.

Im just providing a safe, quiet spot, says Pettet. On the streets, theres no comfortable space.

Outside In, located in downtown Portland, has been providing social services and health care for homeless youth and other marginalized people since 1968. Pettet works as a peer mentor supervisor, drug and alcohol specialist and administrative coordinator. She works with more than 200 youth a year, helping them access services and find stability.

With her neon pink hair, knuckle tattoos, sarcastic sense of humor and open-minded approach, Pettet, 32, stands out from a lot of care providers whose more formal methods can be alienating. She builds rapport first, only directing her young clients to services when theyre ready.

I think the fact that you arent so formal is what makes this place so successful, says Jamie, one of the youths Jasmine works with, whos been coming to Outside In for seven months. Jamie, who is gender non-binary, found the welcoming nature of Outside In a positive change of pace after constantly being judged by adults.

Pettet understands what its like be alienated from the mainstream. She was home-schooled in a small town in Indiana and never felt as if she could fit in, even with other home-schooled kids. Then, after moving to Portland at 17, she had trouble getting satisfaction from her jobs, including stints at bakeries and porn shops.

She started working at Outside In almost on a whima friend told her that the organization was hiring entry-level employees as peer mentors.

She wasnt sure how well shed do peer mentoring people her ageand youngerwith drug and alcohol problems. While she didnt have experience with addiction, she soon found she had plenty in common with the young people with whom she was working: She could identify with their struggles with isolation, poverty, trauma and mental illness.

Thats the time of your life that sucks the worst, Pettet says. Youre expected to have things figured out.

Ten years later, Pettet cant see herself working anywhere else. People are convinced that they are alone in the world, she says. If Im able to connect with youth going through that and make it easier, everything is worth it.

Bottom Line for Portland:

Outside In provides services to more than 11,000 homeless and otherwise marginalized people every year. Through Outside Ins Recovery-Oriented Support and Engagement project, Jasmine hires, trains and supervises peer mentors and provides support to more than 200 homeless youth annually.

This prize is generously sponsored by Willamette Week.