Community Engagement

Upper School Students packaging frozen carrots at the Oregon Food Bank
upper school students making bagged lunches for Blanchet house under canopy outdoors
three BLS students facing viewer bagging disposable diapers for NW Childrens Outreach

At Catlin Gabel, community engagement occurs at every age. We want students to discover the many ways they can act on their values while exercising empathy, leadership, and personal responsibility.

From the earliest grades, students are encouraged to think beyond themselves and reflect on how their actions impact others. As students develop, we promote their awareness, ability, and agency to take responsible action, driven by empathy, care, and a strong sense of purpose.

Beginning & Lower School

In the youngest grades, the emphasis is on being good stewards of shared spaces and turning ideas into action. Students participate in the school garden, implementing library equity audits, and engage in cross-age buddy experiences. Beyond the classroom, our curriculum often inspires students to develop their own initiatives, which have included launching clothing drives, raising funds for climate change, and creating care kits for people experiencing homelessness.

Middle School and Upper School

Middle and Upper School Students engage in community partnerships across the Greater Portland area. These experiences emphasize mutual respect, sustainable change, empowerment, and capacity building, and are designed to nurture dialogue, reflection, and civic learning.

Students in grades 6-12 partner with over 25 local organizations focused on social services, environmental stewardship, STEM education and more.

Through these experiences, students do more than serve—they engage in reciprocal relationships that encourage learning, humility, and solidarity. In doing so, they begin to understand their capacity to contribute meaningfully to a more just, inclusive, and connected world.

Past Community Engagement Projects

  • Supporting children, families, and elders alongside the Children’s Healing Art Project, Friendly House, Project Lemonade, Project HOPE and Store to Door of Oregon.
  • Addressing basic needs, housing, and social challenges with the Oregon Food Bank, Feed the Mass, Hopewell House, Rose Haven, Transition Projects, Seeds of Hope and St. André Bessette.
  • Accompanying individuals navigating complex transitions with Oregon City ODHS and Seeds of Hope.
  • Participating in environmental stewardship efforts with the Wetlands Conservancy, Friends of Baltimore Woods, Friends of Tryon Creek, Hoyt Arboretum, and the Portland Fruit Tree Project.
  • Advocating for equitable access to STEM education at the OMSI Science Festival, BunnyBots, and FIRST LEGO League tournaments and showcases.