What is SOAR In Portage?

 Youth in America are living in crisis.  An unprecedented number of today's young people are experiencing ongoing depression, anxiety, and feelings of emptiness.  These issues are intensified by cell phones, social media, and parasocial relationships. They are further fueled by the pressure to fit in, the increasing sexualization of culture, the degradation of pop culture, turmoil at home, and the absence of faith in their lives, among other factors.

Portage County is not immune.  The sextortion suicide of Streetsboro High School student James Woods in November 2022, is a heartbreaking example of this crisis.  Unknown actors enticed James to provide sexually explicit images of himself that were later used to extort and bully him to the point of taking his life.  You can learn more about James Woods via https://www.letsdifj.org/  

Bringing awareness to sextortion, suicide and human trafficking is one way we attempt to meet the  challenges facing todays youth.  Prevention is another. Through SOAR we provide mentoring and curriculum aimed at inspiring anti-fragile youth.  

SOAR in Portage trains youth to identify trusted adults within their network, establish authentic face to face connections with peers, and expose concerns and struggles.  Virtually all forms of extortion, abuse, and coercion take place under the darkness of isolation.  Therefore, we encourage the youth in Portage to SOAR into the light of freedom and interconnectedness.  

 Currently, SOAR in Portage works in various youth community centers across the county, including the Skeels Center in Ravenna. If you are interested in joining SOAR in Portage, or would like more information about the program, please contact us today!