Jaaron Penn-Harris

If you don't learn to write your own story, someone else will write it for you

I have been an active community member in Portland since I was eight years old. I would help my grandmother hand out toys to the kids in the projects. During my Sophomore year and Junior year, I volunteered as a basketball coach to third and fourth graders. The community centers of Portland raised me to be the person I am today. I want to use my education in Politics and International studies to give back to the underserved neighborhoods, the underfunded community centers, and the disenfranchised. I want to make cultural bonds overseas and bring them right back to Portland. I want kids to start learning again. I want to empower kids to dream big, to love themselves, and to choose faith over fear.