Our Story

Unapologetically Black

Word is Bond is a Portland-born, Black-led nonprofit leadership incubator for young Black men sprouted in 2017. Word is Bond empowers young Black men ages 15-19 years as they transition from boys into young men and find themselves navigating a world that provides very few answers to unlocking their highest selves. Harnessing the soul force of Black boy joy and the power of storytelling we create dynamic programming to provide an answer to our mission statement;

What if young Black men were empowered to their fullest potential?

In creating Word is Bond, we felt strongly about the need to center the unique experiences of young Black men. We saw the deficits; the lack of Black male mentors and decades of data pointing to the underachievement of Black men, as well as the opportunities; the rich history of Black leadership, and the power of narrative ownership to impact self-identity. Thus Word is Bond stands unapologetically in its power and mission to serve young Black men.

What We do

Word is Bond engages young Black men ages 15 through 20 )years old across Portland including Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties (OR), and extending into Clark County (WA)through five award-winning programs: Rising Leaders, Level Up, In My Shoes, the Spring Leadership Forum, and the Black Star Homecoming Expedition.

We offer dynamic programming through our ten core areas:

1. Leadership Development

2. Storytelling

3. Identity Development

4. Workforce and Career Development

5. Literacy: Academic, Financial, Digital

6. Outdoor leadership and Environmental Stewardship

7. Civic Engagement

8. Black History

9. Food Accessibility and Sustainability

10. Health and Wellness

The importance of our programming cannot be overstated. In Oregon, Black youth makeup only 1.8% of the state’s general population yet account for 15.5% of Measure 11 indictments. Young Black men face huge disparities in our state’s education system. The biggest achievement gap in Portland Public Schools, about 50 percentage points, was between white students and African-American students. By focusing on the unique needs of Black male youth, WIB gives these young men a platform to share their experiences while gaining the leadership skills and personal development necessary to realize their full potential and effect positive change in their communities.

Our participants come from a variety of backgrounds including alternative, private, and public schools, from two-parent households, single-parent households, and those who have directly and indirectly experienced issues including incarceration, gang violence, and or homelessness. Some participants have had traumatic contact with the criminal justice system, and some have had no contact at all. That creates an environment in our program spaces where young Black men from all walks of life in Portland can engage, learn, and grow together. Each participant's lived experience and unique skills and talents greatly enrich our programs.
Through a multifaceted approach, Word is Bond aims to equip our program participants, known as community ambassadors, with the resources, opportunities, and support necessary to pursue their individual dreams and work towards a collective future.

Word is Bond is proud to serve youth from a variety of backgrounds including those who are neurodivergent. Our curriculum is designed to utilize the inherent strengths of youth participants, while also utilizing a wide variety of methodologies and learning styles to be as inclusive as possible. We train our staff on best practices in teaching, trauma-informed care as well as being responsive to different abilities, and learning patterns. All Word is Bond programs and community events are facilitated and spaces and buildings that are ADA compliant and have multiple mobility access options.

The vision of Word is Bond is for young Black men to possess the agency and autonomy to control and advocate for their own lives, reclaim their narratives, and contribute meaningfully to their local communities and collective humanity.

Our goal is to be a national leader in the development of young Black men.