The Shadow Project is pleased to announce that we have been selected to partner with Youth Development Oregon (YDO) through their 2025-27 Community Investment Title XX (twenty) grants program! Due to issues related to the Federal Government shutdown in the fall of 2025, YDO was not notified until March of 2026 that Title XX funds would be available. We are thrilled to be included in the extended awards made possible by these funds.

The Youth Development Oregon Community Investment Grant supports programs that help young people stay engaged in school, overcome barriers to learning, and thrive in their communities. YDO is supporting The Shadow Project’s Reading Mentors partnership in Centennial School District through the 2025–27 biennium.

Supporting Reading Mentors

Since 2022, Reading Mentors has helped Centennial students in grades 3–8 who struggle reading traditional print. Using an assistive reading platform, Learning Ally, mentors show students how to access reading in new and exciting ways. The combined support of assistive technology and a caring adult helps students build confidence and make progress toward their reading goals.

Over the past four years, 262 Centennial students have received more than 1,250 hours of individualized support from trained volunteer and staff mentors.

Expanding Our Reach

This new funding will help us reach even more students. This fall, we’ll hire two part-time program coordinators who will spend most of their time in schools, working directly with students and helping educators use the tools and strategies that make Reading Mentors successful. By increasing our capacity, we’ll be able to strengthen the program, learn what works best in different settings, and prepare for expansion into additional districts in the coming years.

We are honored to partner with Youth Development Oregon in their continued commitment to supporting programs that advance youth engagement, career exploration, and positive development across Oregon and the nine federally recognized Tribes. 

Learn More

Read more about the YDO grant awards here.

Read more about the Reading Mentors program here.

The Shadow Project envisions an education system that normalizes and celebrates learning differences, and supports every student to thrive in school. Learn more about our school-based programs for students with disabilities.