Staff: Matheu Islas

Matheu Islas was born and raised in San Diego, CA where he faced significant adversity being diagnosed with leukemia at two years old. Shortly after remission and returning to school, he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). As a result of both his physical and mental health, Matheu struggled immensely in his early education and was years behind in academics. Despite these barriers, Matheu persevered and with support from his family and teachers, graduated with distinction. In his senior year of high school, he interned at an elementary school where he met children with unique stories and barriers which ignited a passion for empowering youth.

In 2022, Matheu graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in psychology. In May 2023, Matheu moved to Bend to begin a career mentoring youth while enjoying the many lakes, hiking trails, and mountain life. A few months after moving to the area, Matheu found the position of Professional Mentor at Friends Central Oregon. When Matheu first read the job description he could not believe how perfectly aligned it was with his professional goals and approach to mentoring. He strongly believes in the power that fostering meaningful and positive relationships holds and jumped at the opportunity to join the organization. He is eager to continue to develop his skills as a mentor and have the chance to truly see the impact of the work he is a part of.