Reflecting on Roadmap Goals

Even the best of us needs a roadmap to achieve the goals we set for ourselves, and yes, that road can be foggy. In those times when we lack clarity, we lean on our caregivers, role models, mentors, and Friends to find the road that will spark our passion. Our commitment to being here for the youth we walk alongside for youth 12+ years includes early-on guidance and the creation of Roadmap Goals.

These goals are set by the youth to work on throughout the year with the support of their Friend. Roadmap Goals provide Friends with direction for the types of activities and outings to plan with the youth they serve. The benefit of Roadmap Goals reaches further than just year-to-year; they help build goal setting and achieving into a youth's routine – and that lasts a lifetime.

Taj Wortham was selected from King Elementary and joined the FriendsPDX program in 1999. 80%+ of the youth served by King Elementary qualify for free or reduced lunch, indicating high levels of poverty, and it also has a demographic majority of Black youth. From what Taj remembers about his childhood, both of his parents were holding down full-time jobs. They were (and still are) his biggest supporters, but he spent a lot of time hanging out alone or with friends as a kid. So, when he was selected by FriendsPDX and matched with a professional mentor, he could start counting on getting out of the house and trying new activities on a regular basis.

Around 2006, when Taj was finishing fifth grade and headed into middle school, Darren Linder became his mentor:

Darren was solid from the get-go. He introduced me to film festivals and obscure 80s films. He took me to my first metal concert and passed a lot of his musical knowledge onto me. We bonded over classic rock. One of the best things Darren did for me was to get me out of my comfort zone and explore new things.

We snowboarded on Mt. Hood! That's a classic example of something I wouldn't have done because no one else I knew at the time was doing it. And suddenly I'm going up to Mt. Hood and snowboarding and skiing on weekend excursions with FriendsPDX! Now, these winter pastimes are some of my biggest hobbies. Darren completely changed the trajectory of my life.

By the time Taj graduated from the FriendsPDX program, he had a high school diploma and a deep interest in history, social justice, and international conflict that he wasn't quite sure what to make of at the time. So, he found employment and settled in. But after a couple of years, he realized he was stuck in a pattern he didn't find fulfilling. There were fewer adventures and exciting achievements. It was a monotony of going to work, coming home, going to work, coming home. He and his Friend Darren still talked frequently enough that Darren resumed the discussion of Roadmap Goals. He helped Taj to identify new goals and interests and how to connect these to career aspirations. Eventually, Darren suggested Taj reach out to a friend who worked for American Medical Response. The introduction to a paramilitary style of profession helped expand Taj’s horizons. "Rank, order, and uniforms gave me structure. I was a scatterbrained kid with lots of energy and this gave me a specific outlet to channel everything into."

With this pivot into a demanding career that asked him to commit wholeheartedly, Taj found his place. "The things that have spawned from that single conversation with Darren’s AMR connection really did change my life. I wouldn’t have become an EMT or gone to paramedic school." Last year, Taj worked for the City of Portland as a firefighter. Before that, he was with Gresham Fire Department (FD) for three years using his EMT and paramedic education to serve the city and community.

Providing youth with long-term, intentional, and individual mentorship does not happen without the support of our community. Please consider giving to FriendsPDX today!