Episode 9: Anchors Outdoor Adventures-Isaiah Adams

Isaiah Adams, President and co-founder of Anchor's Outdoor Adventures shares how water action sports can help at-risk or neglected youth find hope and healing.

Isaiah Adams, President and Co-founder

Isaiah grew up doing action sports and knows first-hand the therapeutic benefits they can have. In college, Isaiah had the dream of creating an organization that used water sports to help at-risk youth. This dream lied dormant until Isaiah met up with a childhood friend, Trevor Gomez, who had a similar vision. The two began working on the project and Anchors Outdoor Adventures was born shortly after.

Research has shown that without access to recreation, young people find alternative, often destructive, ways of using their free time. Youth who participate in these destructive activities at an early age have a much higher chance of unlawful offenses. Research also supports the notion that outdoor recreation has considerable positive effects on mental health. By offering a safe, inclusive environment for at-risk youth to engage in action sports, Anchors Outdoor Adventures (Anchors OA) gives at-risk youth an outlet for the many trials they face elsewhere. Anchors Outdoor Adventures (Anchors OA) uses an anchor as a symbol of using Jesus Christ as an anchor for their lives.

You can learn more at https://www.anchorsoa.org

Episode 8: Transitional Youth-Rhona Mahl

Rhona Mahl, executive director of Transitional Youth, shares how a new mindset is required to truly impact Portland’s at-risk youth population.

Rhona Mahl

Ever since Rhona’s life was transformed at the age of 14, she knew she wanted to live for something more than herself. Having experienced life on the streets as a child, she knows first hand how hard it can be to break the cycle of poverty. Today Rhona oversees Transitional Youth, a nonprofit dedicated to loving at-risk youth and helping them find healthy transformation.

Rhona is also the executive director of Braking Cycles, a nonprofit coffee and bike shop in Portland that operates under the umbrella of Transitional Youth. Through its youth apprenticeship programs, Braking Cycles offers hope, tangible job skills, and real-world knowledge that will provide youth a place and opportunity to dream, reach, and achieve. The goal is that healthy self-sufficiency can become the new cycle.

Learn more at https://www.brakingcycles.org and https://www.transitionalyouth.org/

Episode 7: African Road-Kelly Bean

Kelly Bean, Executive Director of African Road, shares a model of making lasting change based on relationships rather than donations.

Kelly Bean-Executive Director, African Road

In 2007, Kelly Bean visited Rwanda and met inspiring East Africans who had a vision for their countries and communities. They kept in touch and began to form long-term friendships, out of which African Road was born.

Populations within many countries in Africa are faced with extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $1.90 per day. Many developed countries are working to eliminate poverty in Africa, with nearly $50 billion given every year. This money is helping save lives and meet immediate needs, but does not empower people to make lasting change.

Changemaker David Clemy

African Road partners with local Changemakers in East Africa who are already working for change in their own communities. African Road builds friendships with these Changemakers and helps them reach their own goals. This model of partnership takes a long time to develop but in the end makes a far greater impact.

You can find out more at https://www.africanroad.org/

Episode 2: Fly Fishing Collaborative - Bucky Buchstaber

Bucky Buchstaber, founder and executive director of Fly Fishing Collaborative (FFC), joins us to share how he uses fly fishing to help rescue children from sex trafficking across the world.

Many people tend to separate their spiritual lives from other aspects of life. But to Bucky, the idea that activities such as going to church, praying, and reading scripture are spiritual while things like fishing, sports, and working are not, is just plain wrong.

“I wasn’t looking for a new job. I was looking to find more meaning in every aspect of life”

— Bucky

Bucky has always loved fly fishing and wanted to turn an activity that had seemingly no spiritual aspect into something that could transform lives. As Bucky’s passion grew and other fishermen joined the cause to stop sex trafficking, eventually FFC was born. Now, FFC builds aquaponics farms around the world to provide financial support for impoverished communities that are at risk for sex trafficking. In addition, experienced fly fishermen and fishing guides donate their time, services, and products to FFC to be sold to the fly fishing community. Below is a video that explains what aquaponics farming is how it helps prevent sex trafficking.

You can learn more at https://flyfishingcollaborative.org/

I hope you enjoyed this episode! What are some creative ways you have seen people make a positive impact with something that seemed ordinary? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!