At Propeller, serving our local communities has been a focus since our founding. Community is core to our culture. We’re committed to giving back to the communities we live and work in with time, strategic thinking, and support for nonprofit partners. Through our Uplift program, we leverage our people's business acumen and problem-solving skills to support nonprofit organizations.

As we approach the end of the year, a time that many of us focus on giving, we reached out to a few of our Uplift partners to learn more about their mission, the work they’re doing, and what seasonal giving means to them. Today, we’re featuring a conversation with Mark Jackson, the Executive Director at REAP in Portland, OR.


Q: Thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Can you tell us about the mission of REAP and your role within the organization?

REAP is a multicultural leadership program committed to empowering culturally diverse youth in grades 3-12. With a mission to “proactively ignite, elevate, and engage the next wave of leaders for the future now.” Using culturally responsive programs, we invest in students and their future by:

  • Elevating student voices and empowering them to converse with business, community, and political leaders
  • Teaching the importance of health and wellness
  • Developing innovation toward entrepreneurship
  • Engaging students in problem-solving for analytical and critical skill building
  • Empowering global leaders today

REAP was founded 22 years ago by Levell Thomas and myself as co-founders. We attended Portland Public Schools together and wanted to help culturally diverse students like ourselves. REAP’s programs are designed to specifically target those students most underserved by our current system and provide experiences to increase educational and future employment success and economic prosperity. I serve as REAP’s Executive Director.


Q: Where can the community see your team’s work in action?

Currently REAP provides programs in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington, and Clark counties at 9 different school districts for a total of 24 school sites and serves over 800 students a year. Programming is delivered by REAP’s Youth Essentials Coordinators (YECs) who are stationed at the schools we serve and work with teachers and counselors to monitor student progress, provide academic and personal support to students, and organize activities. REAP also provides training, coaching, and various tools to help school and community partners improve cultural responsiveness.


Q. We’d love to hear about a program you’re particularly proud of.

I am proud of our Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP). REAP’s Young Entrepreneurs Program creates opportunities for students to unleash their innovative potential and explore ways to create their own wealth to become self-sufficient. YEP’s mission is to build the next wave of entrepreneurs and community leaders. Our program empowers students between the grades of 6-12 by developing baseline skills to pursue business ventures. YEP works to develop employment skills and dismantle barriers for culturally diverse students. YEP works with youth to develop general business knowledge, effective self-presentation, networking skills, and access to job markets and training. It also provides integrated career and entrepreneurship training to middle and high school students, including mentorship, curriculum, workplace tours, and project-based learning.


Q: We know many nonprofits are supported by individual donors. Can you tell us the impact seasonal giving has on REAP?

REAP is proud to be one of 235 nonprofits featured in the Give!Guide. Give!Guide is Willamette Week’s annual effort to raise funds for — and draw attention to — the good works of local nonprofits.

Last year we raised over $36,000 to provide leadership opportunities for over 800 culturally diverse students in the Portland Metro Area. We’re asking our friends and supporters to help us get the word out so we can raise funds to provide College & Career connecting opportunities for REAP students. Thanks to a generous challenge 1:1 match from one of REAP’s board members all gifts made toward REAP’s $50,000 Give!Guide goal will be matched up to $50,000!


Q: Anything else you think our readers should know?

REAP’s vision is to transform economic and education systems to be equitable and responsive to the needs of culturally diverse students, families, and communities. We work to realize our vision by deploying diverse staff who are stationed in schools, providing a supportive presence, and working directly with students on issues including leadership development, discipline equity, academic enrichment, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, and youth voice.

REAP’s programs have a proven track record of supporting positive behavior patterns, academic gains, positive engagement with school and community, and strong graduation rates. Our model supports students along a continuum from elementary through high school graduation and continuing into post-secondary education and/or career pursuits.

In 2020, REAP International School of Bamako – Mali was launched. It currently serves 35 students in grades kindergarten through 8th grade.

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About Uplift

Serving our local communities has been a focus since our founding. This commitment to community and corporate responsibility reflects the shared values of our employees. Through our Uplift program, our people can do good work in their communities and make a lasting impact by leveraging their business acumen and problem-solving skills to support nonprofit partners. We uplift organizations through pro bono strategy, professional development, and direct service.

We’re always seeking ways to engage with our local communities. Whether you need help solving a complex problem with pro bono project support, seek volunteers for a project or event, or would benefit from brief mentorship — the Uplift team is devoted to supporting our communities. Reach out to the Uplift team to learn more.