Chifin Native Youth Center

Springfield's Native Youth Center was completed in spring 2014, thanks to a grant from the Oregon Community Foundation through the Springfield Education Foundation, along with an outpouring of support and generous donations from community members and organizations.

The center, with an office, full kitchen and bath, along with plenty of shelves and storage place, is located in an unused corner of Two Rivers–Dos Ríos Elementary School. Students, parents and program staff collaborated with architects to make their vision of the Native Youth Center a reality.

Thanks to skilled and loving renovation from the district's own maintenance staff, the light and bright space is actively being used as a central meeting location by families in the district's Indian Education Program for studying, gathering, drumming, crafts and honor meals.

In November of 2014, the center was renamed the Chifin Native Youth Center, after the tribe of Kalapuya Indians who used to reside at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers.

• Program Brochure