Our Mission: To provide unique and engaging opportunities for individuals to be of service to their community and the world in ways that have lasting, visible impacts upon the community and those involved.
Our Founding: Beyond Our Bubble was created by Jacob and Deborah Shimkus, longtime residents of Lake Oswego. This mother and son team has worked together on many projects in the Lake Oswego area. Out of their extreme passion for the environment and helping others, Beyond Our Bubble was born.
Timeline: In 2006 Jacob and Deborah founded the Green Teens as a student group at Waluga Jr. High School promoting sustainability and environmental action. The organization expanded to become a city-wide organization and grew to address national and global issues as well as local projects. In 2009, with the desire to include humanitarian efforts, Jacob and Deborah created the Teen Challenge. Inspired by Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Oprah’s Big Give, this program offered teens the opportunity to expand their skills to provide for a local family in need. Expanding to include a global element, Village to Village was created in 2010. This unique program connects individuals in Lake Oswego, OR with peers on the opposite side of the world, in Taru, Kenya. Beyond Our Bubble encompasses all of these programs, providing environmental and humanitarian opportunities both locally and globally.
Directors:
Jacob Shimkus has always had a passion for giving back. Growing up in the outdoors with a love for the wilderness, Jacob dedicated himself from a very young age to environmental action. He has served on the Lake Oswego Sustainability Advisory Board and worked with former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury on climate change presentations. He has received extensive leadership training from the Sierra Student Coalition and New Organizing Institute, and been a trainer at the National PowerShift Conference and Sierra Summer Leadership Program. Jacob created the Green Teens in 2006 to share his passion and provide opportunities for his fellow students to become involved in environmental action. In addition to environmental protection, Jacob has pursued a lifelong interest in helping the community on a local and global level. Since 2010 he has served on the Board of Directors for Kenya Keys as the student outreach coordinator. While on a service trip to rural Africa with Kenya Keys, Jacob was inspired by the deep connection he felt with the people of the village. In an effort to give others the opportunity to feel this same, meaningful connection to rural Africa, Jacob started the Village to Village program. Today, Jacob continues to work with Beyond Our Bubble while pursuing an economics and international relations degree at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont California. There he works with the Kravis Institute for Leadership
and the Center for Civic Engagement.
and outreach for environmental and social service organizations, including the Friends of Tryon Creek, and the March of Dimes.
Deborah has been active in the community and schools, serving on the Lake Oswego Commission for Citizen Involvement, Lake Oswego Board of Natural Resources, LO-TAG PTA, and the Lake Oswego Eco Network. She served as the adult mentor for Destination Imagination, the Green Teens and the Teen Challenge.
Deborah has an extensive background in organizational development, is a skilled workshop leader, and is fully dedicated to empowering people to be and do all that they can - for themselves and others. Her strong belief that we are all one has resulted in her commitment to be in service both locally and globally, and to enable others to have opportunities to do the same. Deborah currently works as the volunteer coordinator for Metropolitan Family Service, serves on the Board of Directors for Kenya Keys, and is exploring additional local and global service opportunities for individuals, families and teens.
Beyond Our Bubble: About Us
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Jacob and Deborah Shimkus, Co-founders of
Beyond Our Bubble
Deborah Shimkus has dedicated her career to working in the non-profit world. With a degree in Psychology and a masters in Environmental Policy she has focused on volunteer coordination
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