FBI Sponsors Multi-Cultural Youth Academy
Oregon Teens Leadership, Life Skills, and Law Enforcement in Intensive Program

The Oregon FBI is bringing together a diverse group of teenagers, 14 to 17 years old, for a six-week Youth Leadership Academy. During this program, the FBI will challenge the students to examine the world around them—and how they choose to interact with those who come from different cultural, ethnic, or religious backgrounds. The students will also look at how they can help foster a positive relationship between their individual communities and law enforcement with the goal of creating a safer environment for everyone. The students, more than 30 in all, represent a variety of communities in our region.

The program kicks off Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24, with an intensive two-day leadership development event on the Portland State University campus. During this time, the students will work on team-building skills, and they will learn about a variety of law enforcement careers.

Over the course of the next five weeks, the students will undertake a series of tours and projects which will expose them to the world around them. Among the highlights:

• Trips to two forensic crime labs, where they will see how science and technology are shaping law enforcement for the future
• A meeting with a judge and a mock court experience
• A visit to the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization where they will look at how their perceptions and culture shape their interactions with each other and with law enforcement
• An opportunity to craft crime-prevention messages and public service announcements for their peers
• And more!

This Leadership Academy is co-sponsored by the FBI’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Council and the Oregon FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association.