Jimmy Jones, executive director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency. Before becoming director of the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA), Jimmy Jones taught Western Civilization as a professor. When asked to explain the crisis of homelessness in Salem, he reverts to his background in history and sociology. Starting[Read More…]

Oregon’s youth depression and suicide rates consistently outstrip the national average for youth across the board – but for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) youth, the numbers paint an even gloomier picture for mental wellness.  Half of LGBTQ+ youth reported they had considered suicide and one fourth attempted[Read More…]

When Salem-Keizer Public Schools (SKPS) conducted a district wide survey of secondary and elementary students, they found something they didn’t expect.  “A high number of kids reported that they did not feel connected to their school,” said David Fender, director of the SKPS Office of Behavioral Learning.  Mental health advocates[Read More…]

Youths nationwide are struggling with their mental health at rates higher than previous generations. Oregon has the highest rate of youth depressive episodes in the country, and rates of depression – alongside anxiety and self-harm – are trending upward.  Many of those kids can’t get the help they need before[Read More…]

City officials are looking to make sidewalks throughout Keizer more accessible for their intended purpose and it might mean basketball hoops will need to be removed when not in use.  Sidewalk obstructions were the topic of a Keizer City Council work session on Monday, June 10. Over the years, complaints[Read More…]