Dispersed throughout West Linn and neighboring cities, multiple organizations and nonprofits are dedicated to improving the lives of those in need. From the West Linn Food Pantry, Hope’s Closet, Hands Helping Hands, to Lavender Girls, dozens of West Linn-Wilsonville (WLWV) students and staff members are involved in charitable work. Two organizations directly tied to the district are the Family Empowerment Center and Interact Club. 

The Family Empowerment Center (FEC)

Dedicated to supporting families year-round, the WLWV Family Empowerment Center (FEC) is a branch of the school district that primarily specializes in financial and resource assistance. The FEC provides materials such as school supplies, food, clothing, education classes, and mental health programs to households in the district. According to the FEC website, the organization believes “that the empowerment of families’ fundamental rights and needs contributes to students’ maximized success in school and in life.” 

Since its launch in August 2020, Maria Horton, FEC coordinator, has acted as the communication bridge between the district and families. Horton researches and connects with local organizations, collaborates with Clackamas Community College (CCC), works with the McKinney-Vento program to attend to families’ needs, and more.

“I support the vision of our FEC to help empower our parents to advocate for themselves and their children in our district,” Horton said. “We also support the work that counselors and social workers do, or really any staff member who’s doing community engagement. So, a large part of the job is connecting those families with the right resources. There are times and seasons where it can get crazy, but I’m not alone; there’s always staff that are right next to me.”

Horton has been a part of the district since 2002, working in two elementary schools and the Human Resources Department District Office before becoming a bilingual engagement specialist and later accepting her current role in the FEC.

During the first year of the center’s launch, it began offering free language classes to WLWV district members, and continues to do so. These community classes are offered to people aged 16 and older in English, Spanish, and Chinese. To fund its operations and provide instructors with small payments, the FEC collaborates with CCC. 

“We had to keep [the classes] a little bit static the first two years because of budgeting and grants, and also the implications of the pandemic,” Horton said. “Part of the reason [we began offering them] was because parents wanted to learn the language their kids were learning and communicate with them. They just wanted to understand a little bit of what their kids were doing.”

Unlike official teachers, the instructors are required to have proof of a formal education, but do not need a teaching license. They are often community members who are familiar with the school district.

The classes run from October to May but are broken into two-month courses. Each language has its own location; the English classes are online, the Spanish classes are at the FEC in Wilsonville, and the Chinese classes are at Bolton Primary School, which will move to Willamette Primary School once Bolton closes after this school year. Specific dates and times, as well as the enrollment form, can be found on their website. There are normally 12 people per class, although the limit is 20, and childcare is available if the FEC is informed in advance.

“We’ve always been evolving on how to do these classes and how to offer these opportunities because they are for everyone, whoever needs it,” Horton said. “There is no formality to how they are taught, and there is no curriculum because each group is different. Ideally, the group that starts in the fall would continue into the spring and the following year to be in a more advanced class. But, we can’t do that for two reasons: there’s often not enough students to advance because people’s schedules get busy, and our instructors have their own responsibilities outside of our classes.”

Another way the FEC supports its community is through back-to-school events at the start of every school year. Every August, the FEC hosts an event during the back-to-school season. It is intended to connect with families who might need support from the center and allow community members to learn more about the organization. A specific date has not yet been selected this year.

“[At the event] we provide supplies and backpacks, as well as other resources from the different organizations we also have on site,” Horton said. “In the past couple of years, we’ve donated about 400 backpacks in total.”

Although the FEC is located in Wilsonville, it is not limited to a physical location; staff meet families wherever is most convenient for them. To contact the organization and learn more, visit their website or email Horton ([email protected]).

Depending on the day of the week, the FEC is open for a few hours, typically starting at 8 a.m. To view the organization’s office hours, visit their website. “I encourage people to come and visit,” Horton said. “If a family or person can not come to meet with me, I can easily go whenever they are, whatever is easiest for them and whenever they feel comfortable.”

Interact Club

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Linn, the Interact Club participates in local and global outreach. It follows the traditional structure of a high school club with student officers and adult advisors. According to the West Linn High School’s website, the Interact Club “[focuses] on improving the equality of opportunity and peace in the world.”

Eloise Guarisco, senior, is one of the club’s co-presidents and has been involved in it since her sophomore year. She assumed her current role in her junior year and leads club meetings alongside Rachel Gerber, senior, the other co-president. In her position, Guarisco also communicates with local organizations and the Rotary.

“All of our funding is through [the Rotary],” Guarisco said. “They help with our kettle corn fundraiser in the fall, where we sell kettle corn at football games to raise money. That helps to set the club up for the year, and they also come to us with volunteer and outreach opportunities.”

Interact Club regularly partners with Clay Street Table, a Portland food pantry and meal program. On the first Sunday of each month, the club sends high school students to Clay Street Tables to cook a meal and serve it to people in need.

“It feels really good to serve, and in West Linn, we have a lot to give,” Guarisco said. “I think it’s really empowering to go out into your community and feel like you’re making a real difference.”

In addition to the Clay Street Table fundraisers, the club recently held a global fundraiser that sold donuts to raise money for hurricane relief.

All of Interact Club’s current student leaders are seniors, including the treasurer, secretary, and social media and outreach manager. The club is currently in the process of electing new officers to manage the club next year.

For those interested in joining, there are no requirements or prerequisites to be a member. The club meets on the last Thursday of every month in room E203.

“I wish people knew that it’s really easy to serve your community, and that’s why we don’t have any requirements like the honor societies,” Guarisco said. “We just want people out in our community, building connections and finding new ways to solve problems.”

To learn more about Interact Club, email either of the club’s co-presidents ([email protected] or [email protected]) or visit their Instagram.