ABOUT US
Here’s how it all started
Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI) was established in 1981 by Tony Hopson, Sr.
A lifelong resident and community leader in North Portland, the program started as a one-week summer enhancement camp to offer a positive alternative for African-American teens in a neighborhood that was neglecting them.
SELF ENHANCEMENT, INC.
SEI TODAY
SEI is a comprehensive, one-stop resource for youth and families, primarily serving African Americans and others living in poverty or seeking culturally responsive services. It is also one of the city’s leading multi-service organizations, providing thousands of youth, families, and adults with a wide array of education and social services on an annual basis.
SEI’s strength lies in its ability to meet the complex needs of its children and families, including helping people overcome cultural, educational, and economic barriers.
OUR COMMITMENT
To help youth and families realize their full potential. SEI believes that every child has a gift and that our shared responsibility is to help them find it. By expanding learning opportunities and teaching every child that “Life Has Options,” SEI is seeing excellent results, proving that SEI is the solution.
SELF ENHANCEMENT, INC.
OUR HISTORY
SEI created the first comprehensive summer camp that trained students how to transfer skills learned in sports back to academics — classrooms and/or career fields
1981
Conducted a capital campaign and built, paid in full, and opened the first and only Black owned and operated Community Center in the State of Oregon.
1997
Replicated the SEI program (The Relationship Model) in Miami, Florida, partnering with NBA Hall of Famer, Alonzo Mourning.
2002
SEI established the most successful Charter School (The SEI Academy) serving African American students 6th - 8th grade in Oregon and received a report card rating of 5 which was considered outstanding.
2004
SEI celebrated its 25th Anniversary year and had a historic record-breaking Art + Soul fundraising event raising over 4 million dollars in one night.
2006
SEI was recognized by the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation as one of the nation's top Youth Development programs.
2007
SEI started the Jefferson Whole School model (with the opportunity to serve incoming Freshmen) which moved the student graduation rate from 54% to 93% over a four-year period.
2011
SEI was identified by the Portland Business Journal as the largest Black-led nonprofit in Oregon.
2017
SEI received a highly coveted 25 million dollar Promise Neighborhood grant from the federal government, Department of Education. SEI was one of the 25 grant recipients in the nation.
2019
SEI initiated conversation with Phil Knight and Penny Knight to pledge 400 million dollars to help rebuild Portland's Black community known as Albina. This pledge is the largest private gift ever given to a Black community in the United States.
2021
SEI over the past 43 years has invested one billion dollars of services, resources, and support into our community.
2023
Year to date, SEI has served over 100,000 youth and families. We've added three affordable housing buildings in the Albina community