Martin Rafferty is an American activist and philanthropist who is the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization Youth ERA (formerly known as Youth Move Oregon).[1]
Martin Rafferty | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Philanthropist, activist |
| Years active | 2009 - present |
Early life
editRafferty lived through a period of homelessness when he was 12.[1] He is an adoptee.[2]
Career
editRafferty founded Youth ERA in Eugene, Oregon under the name Youth Move Oregon (Youth MVO) in 2009, when he was 22 years old.[1][3][4] Youth ERA provides youth mental health services in areas such as peer support,[5] crisis response,[6] and suicide prevention.[7]
Rafferty was named the 2013 Children’s Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the Oregon Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.[8]
Rafferty was one of eight individuals profiled in the 2017 exhibit titled “Inspiring People & Projects” at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Discovery Center in Seattle, Washington.[1][9]
Rafferty was also named one of Rising Business Stars’ 20 Under 40 in 2018.[10]
In 2020, Rafferty and Youth ERA opened a youth drop-in center known as the Eugene Drop in Eugene.[11] Rafferty and Youth ERA also collaborated with Oxford University to develop the pilot event Uplift in 2020, which taught participants how to exercise self-care and help prevent child abuse.[4][12] Rafferty also partnered with Oxford University on a research project centered on online peer support, co-developing the peer support training program used in the project.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Honors Martin Rafferty's Inspirational Life Journey". The Optimistic Advocate. 2015-06-08. Archived from the original on 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Helping Lane County youth overcome suicidal thoughts: 'You can create a better life'". KVAL. 2019-09-12. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Pate, Natalie. "New youth center creates safe, social place for Salem-area teens". Statesman Journal. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ a b "Virtual 'Uplift' event helps teens manage mental health". kgw.com. March 10, 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Carey, Erin (7 November 2022). "Local program Youth ERA aims to help youth struggling with suicide and trauma". Daily Emerald. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Oregonian/OregonLive, Melissa Binder | The (2014-08-09). "Oregon school shooting: Tech fair starts long-term effort to help Reynolds students recover". oregonlive. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Bulletin, Markian Hawryluk • The (24 May 2019). "Suicide prevention groups turn to social media to save lives". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Annual Awards". Oregon Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Rendleman, Raymond (25 November 2017). "Milwaukie youth organization honored by Gates Foundation". Clackamas Review. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ "Martin Rafferty". 20 Under 40. 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
- ^ "Youth Drop-In Center to Open in Eugene, Provide Resources for Underserved Students". KLCC | NPR for Oregonians. 2020-12-23. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
- ^ Pavarini, Gabriela; Reardon, Tessa; Hollowell, Anja; Bennett, Vanessa; Lawrance, Emma; Brooks-Hall, Ellie; Foster-Estwick, Ashley; Juma, Damian Omari; Lewis, Peter; Power, Lucy; Rogers, Maia; Pinfold, Vanessa; Singh, Ilina (2022). "Online peer support training to promote adolescents' emotional support skills, mental health and agency during COVID‑19: Randomised controlled trial and qualitative evaluation" (PDF). European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 32 (6): 1119–1130. doi:10.1007/s00787-021-01933-0. PMC 8853257. PMID 35174419.
- ^ Pavarini, Gabriela; Reardon, Tessa; Hollowell, Anja; Bennett, Vanessa; Lawrance, Emma; Pinfold, Vanessa; Singh, Ilina (2022-02-17). "Online peer support training to promote adolescents' emotional support skills, mental health and agency during COVID-19: Randomised controlled trial and qualitative evaluation". European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 32 (6): 1119–1130. doi:10.1007/s00787-021-01933-0. ISSN 1018-8827. PMC 8853257. PMID 35174419.