Project PAVE

School may be out, but YCEP is in!

Last week, we welcomed our new group of Summer YCEP interns. Through the Youth Community Educators Program, interns will hear from leadership panels, learn about healthy relationship boundaries, build critical job skills, and explore what it means to be a community leader.

We can’t wait for a summer full of learning, laughter, and leadership!

Today, we honor Juneteenth as a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

At Project PAVE, we recognize that building safer communities also means working toward justice, dignity, and belonging for all youth and families.

We celebrate today with reflection, gratitude, and continued commitment to this work.

Campfires, river rapids, and a whole lot of connection.

Outsiders is more than a group. It is a space for boys and young men to build trust, strengthen supportive relationships, and explore identity, culture, community, and masculinity in an affirming environment.

Throughout the school year, participants come together to reflect, connect, and grow, culminating in a multi-day camping and river rafting trip where those conversations deepen through shared experiences, teamwork, and time outdoors.

We are so proud of the connection, courage, and belonging built throughout the year and on this trip.

Learn more about our Outsiders program and more at www.projectpave.org

Staff Highlight: Meet Joel!

Joel has been a guiding force within PAVE for the past three years. In addition to being our People and Operations Administrator, Joel also moonlights as our resident gardener and snack manager, keeping our office plants alive and making sure PAVE staff never go without our much-needed peanut butter-filled pretzels.

Outside of work, Joel enjoys hanging out with the family cat, bowling, and baseball. His favorite part about working at PAVE is “continuing to improve processes and making life easier for staff.”

Joel’s support, humor, and behind-the-scenes work help keep PAVE running smoothly every day. We are so grateful for the thoughtfulness, consistency, and dedication he brings to our team!

Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ youth while also recognizing the relationship and sexual violence many continue to experience. Healthy relationships should be rooted in safety, respect, trust, and clear boundaries. At Project PAVE, we work with youth to help them understand what healthy relationships look like, build skills to set boundaries, and process trauma from violent or harmful relationships. This Pride Month and always, we believe LGBTQ+ youth deserve relationships where they feel safe, supported, and respected. Learn more at www.projectpave.org.

Staff Highlight: Meet Emma!

Emma first came to PAVE over 10 years ago as a YCEP intern. After earning her degree in Community Health Education, she returned to PAVE as a Healthy Relationships Educator.

Outside of work, Emma enjoys walking in nature with her dog and painting, especially during thunderstorms. Her favorite moments at PAVE are having passionate, in-depth conversations with students about healthy relationships and dating violence.

“When students are engaged, I know I’m doing something right!”

We’re so grateful to have Emma on the PAVE team and appreciate the care, passion, and experience she brings to this work every day.

Teen mental health is a serious and growing concern, especially for young men who are often taught to hide their emotions or struggle in silence. Through our True Man program, Project PAVE creates space for young men to talk openly, build supportive relationships, and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health. Learn more at www.projectpave.org.

Online safety is more important than ever. Did you know 1 in 5 teens have been sexually solicited online? Swipe through for key facts, warning signs, and practical tips to help keep your child safe in the digital world. Let’s work together to empower youth and end the cycle of violence.

🏳️‍🌈 Healthy relationships are part of pride. LGBTQIA+ youth experience dating violence at higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This Pride Month, we're celebrating LGBTQ+ young people and promoting relationships rooted in respect, consent, safety, and belonging.

Still feeling the impact of this night. ✨ We’re still so grateful for everyone who showed up, gave generously, and helped make Transformations in Bloom such a meaningful celebration of community and collective impact. 🌸 We truly can't do this work without you!