The Greater Gresham Area Prevention Partnership (GGAPP) acts to identify, coordinate and implement strategies that promote the reduction of substance abuse among youth by building a safe and healthy community for the residents and families of East Multnomah County, Oregon.

We are a group of diverse leaders and organizations committed to integrating and aligning our resources to make our community safer and healthier. We have established a coalition that is dedicated to engaging our entire community in this endeavor. By moving in this direction, we work smart, spend smart and strive to reduce our tax burden as we focus on preventing such costly problems as drug abuse, violence, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, crime and school drop outs. Our prevention efforts are results focused, identifying and implementing proven, cost effective programs, policies and activities. The bottom line is that the work of our coalition is a common sense, smart spending, sound investment in the future of our youth and community.
Patrick G. Aaby, Ed.D Semi-Retired Prevention Specialist

Special Announcements and Upcoming Events!

Peer Court leaders describe Ricardo as a "very committed youth volunteer always willing to serve in our court and shows exemplary behavior in the courtroom — very respectful, on time, comes prepared, and takes his role very seriously. In his personal life, Ricardo is also a positive role model for other youth as he is an A-B student, attends the Center for Advanced Learning (CAL) in Gresham, where he takes advance courses for engineering, and, in addition to attending Gresham High School, is involved in the wresting team at Gresham High School, and volunteers for a family and community center. Through his leadership, Ricardo has made an impact on our program, as he providers an example to youths who come through our peer court who are struggling with drugs and alcohol and gang involvement. He is also a good role model for Latino youths."

Ricardo is a Latino youth who has overcome many obstacles, such as growing up in a single-parent household with limited resources and resisting peer pressure for gangs, dropping out, and drugs and alcohol. He states that he made a conscious choice different from many of his friends and decided to focus on school and volunteer for his community instead.

Ricardo has already experienced what it is like to work to contribute to his family household income. He is bilingual, bicultural, and proud of his heritage. Ricardo's dream is to graduate high school and go to law school.

Read Ricardo's full biography here.

• GGAPP Action Teams »
  • Faith Team
  • Parent Team
  • Youth & Schools Team
  • Outreach & Media Team
  • Leadership and Sustainability Team
  • Work Drug Free Oregon Team
• GGAPP Projects »
  • Community Livability
  • Peer Court
  • Drug Free Community Ad
  • Measuring GGAPP's Impact
  • STOP Act Grant
• Resources »
  • About the Greater Gresham Community
  • Partners and Community Resources
• Get Involved