Danielle Martin, Human Resources Director |

ClackCoKids kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with an inspiring All-Staff Event at Marylhurst College in Lake Oswego. More than 200 employees from all centers and programs came together to learn, connect, and grow.

The highlight of the day was the keynote speaker, renowned author Cheryl Strayed. Cheryl captivated the audience with her talk on resilience and finding the strength to tackle seemingly impossible challenges.

During the Q&A session that followed, we discovered that Cheryl has also worked with youth at Boys & Girls Aid, adding another layer of connection and inspiration for our staff.

Each staff member received a copy of Cheryl’s book, Brave Enough, and eagerly lined up for a book signing after the Q&A. The excitement was palpable as everyone got the chance to meet Cheryl and get her autograph. Visit our Facebook page to see the photos. This year, our agency has chosen a powerful quote from Brave Enough as our annual theme: “Work hard. Do good. Be incredible.”

After a delicious lunch provided by Crave Catering, staff had the opportunity to explore the beautiful Marylhurst campus. This location is not only home to our Central Kitchen but will soon host our new Early Learning Center. In addition to the new center in Lake Oswego, we are excited to announce plans for new centers in Milwaukie and Gladstone.

We also shared some other exciting updates: we will be hosting a STEAM Camp for staff and parents and opening a new food pantry in Sandy. Our Gardening Club will be focusing on planning gardens at all of our centers, helping teachers incorporate gardening into lesson plans and meals for our children.

The event was a fantastic start to the new school year, filled with inspiration, connection, and exciting plans for the future. We are looking forward to all the incredible things we will achieve together this year!