Our Programs

Our award-winning no-cost programs empower young Black men to learn, grow, and be. Each program is built on our four curriculum pillars: Identity development, global leadership, wealth-building, and health and wellness.

Programs

July – August

Rising Leaders is our award-winning flagship program, which is the first program we launched in the summer of 2017. It is a dynamic three-year leadership incubator program that is part internship, part rite-of-passage program.
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September – May

Level Up is our school year program that’s all about leveling up as a leader and as an individual. Level Up connects participants with mentors, resources, tools, and workshops that help them achieve their goals and freedom dreams.
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Program Starts in March

Civic Leadership Forum is a seven-day leadership trip to Washington D.C. focused on public policy and college exploration. It is a government civics class brought to life in real-time where ambassadors engage community members, elected officials, and public servants to shape public policy.

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Program Runs Year-Round

In My Shoes is an interactive community walking tour project curated and facilitated by the community ambassadors of Word is Bond. The project features walking tours in neighborhoods across. The tours are designed to highlight the voices, dreams, and experiences of rising Black men as well as the neighborhoods in which they live.
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Program Starts in July

The Black Star Homecoming Expedition is the capstone leadership experience of Word is Bond’s three-year Rite of Passage program, Rising Leaders. Ambassadors must complete the first two years of the program in order to be eligible for the Expedition
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Program Runs Year-Round


 Young Black Men Are______ is a multimedia campaign built around our new mission statement, an open-ended statement that holds space for infinite expressions of Black boy joy.

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OUR SPONSORS

Today

Latest Past Events

4th Annual In My Shoes 5k Community Walk

1661 N. Wheeler Ave. Portland, OR 1661 N. Wheeler Ave., Portland

Join us for an interactive event centered around promoting healthy habits, celebrating history and community safety. Free Food, Haircuts, and Community Vendors

Featured

Rising Leader 2025

UN-APPLICATION IS LIVE! Welcome to Rising Leaders, the ultimate leadership incubator for young Black men in the Greater Portland area. This isn't your average application. This is the UN-Application, where […]

Featured

We Better When We Outside!

Secret Grove 1425 NW Flanders St, Portland

DJ Solo, DJ Afreakano & Word is Bond present: We Better When We Outside! Join us at Secret Grove, an intimate cocktail lounge and music venue in Portland's Pearl District, […]

SUPPORT

SUPPORT

Word is Bond empowers young Black men as they transition from boys into adulthood navigating a world that provides very few answers to unlocking their highest selves. Support our mission with a donation to keep the work going.

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SPONSOR

What if young Black men were empowered to their fullest potential? Corporate sponsorship allows us to create dynamic programming to provide an answer to our mission statement.
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