Lane County appreciates ‘youth whisperer’ Ron Davis

Presenter: Lane County recognizes its very own youth whisperer, Ron Davis from Lane County Youth Services. On Jan. 14, County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky:

Steve Mokrohisky (Lane County administrator): We’re really pleased to recognize Ron for his outstanding contributions to Lane County Youth Services over the past 10 years of dedicated service, in this current interim role that he’s been serving in, as well as a senior group worker in Detention. Ron has played a crucial role in the success of our detention facility. He has an exceptional ability to connect with youth, often referred to as ‘the youth whisperer.’

[00:00:35] Ron is truly inspiring. He’s remarkable, his remarkable skill in de-escalating challenging situations, and you can imagine in a youth detention facility where emotions and tensions can sometimes run high, Ron helps to create a safe environment for both staff and the youth that we serve. His expertise in training, leading youth groups, conducting audits, and shaping policy has significantly improved our operations.

[00:01:00] He’s a key member of our leadership team, and Ron’s insights have been invaluable in guiding our efforts. I think it’s important to note that great work that Ron does is reflected not only in the youth that he served, but the environment and the culture that he helps to create among the Youth Services team. His dedication and positive impact that he continues to make in our organization and the youth that we serve are a source of pride for all of the colleagues that Ron serves with at Youth Services. And we’re just so pleased to have you here, Ron, this morning.

[00:01:32] Presenter: Director of Lane County Community Justice and Rehabilitation Services, Greg Rikhoff:

[00:01:37] Greg Rikhoff (Lane County Community Justice and Rehabilitation Services, director): I’m very pleased to be with you to express the county’s appreciation of Ron Davis. Ron has served as a senior group worker for juvenile detention and treatment for the past 14 years.

[00:01:49] That itself is a significant leadership role. As a senior group worker, he’s been a leader in working with justice-involved youth. He’s also been a teacher, a trainer, a mentor, a coach for not just the youth, but their families, for staff, and for partners. That work alone deserves recognition, but what brings us today is that for the past 18 months, Ron has stepped into an interim supervisor role.

[00:02:15] All of Youth Services is grateful for his willingness to take on the leadership responsibilities, none more than Manager Patty Robb, Assistant Manager Kim McGrew, and myself. If ever there was a right person for the job, it has been Ron Davis working with justice-involved youth.

[00:02:31] His blend of care, compassion, resilience, and clarity makes him extraordinarily successful working with youth, families, peers, colleagues, and leaders. I consider him my teacher and my mentor.

[00:02:47] I’ve never known Ron to lose sight of that higher calling, that of aiding youth on some of their hardest days. Should you need to, on one of those hard days, when it’s hard to keep track of why you have chosen your particular form of public service, schedule some time with Ron. See if he can’t help you regain some resilience and perspective .

[00:03:10] Presenter: Patty Robb:

[00:03:12] Patricia Robb (Lane County): Just a few more words that I want to add onto what has been said. Ron shows up in every sense for our youth, for our families, for our, his team. He is amazing. He is a trainer. He is an audit policy and procedure guru. We really appreciate that.

[00:03:29] We have countless letters, kudos from parents and youth over the years, all of them voicing how he has changed their life and made a difference in their trajectory. Often some of those parents have also been our youth previously and grandparents who have been the parents. His legacy now and going forward is that he is a coach. He was actually a college football coach for 10 years, and that definitely carries over into his style.

[00:03:53] And he’s a generational hero, to the youth and families we serve and to his team members. He embodies safety, trust, and wisdom. When he’s in the unit, the youth know that they absolutely have safety, trust, and wisdom there. I do want to extend a thank you to his wife, Yvette, and family for lending him to us for the many extra hours we’ve asked over the years.

[00:04:15] And today and everyday, we thank you, Ron, for your commitment to improving lives and keeping our community safe and being one of our most treasured team members. I would like to hand it over to Ron, if he has anything to say.

[00:04:29] Ron Davis (Lane County): I appreciate the gratitude today. This has been a lifelong commitment for me to work with youth and families and I appreciate the county’s effort in helping young people get their lives back together. Those who’ve fallen off the rails a little bit.

[00:04:48] I think it’s really important that we continue to embrace and take care of the youth and families of our community and those who are in need in general. It’s the human thing to do. And I appreciate the opportunity to do that in Lane County.

[00:05:05] Presenter: Commissioner Ryan Ceniga.

[00:05:06] Commissioner Ryan Ceniga: Thanks, Ron. Man, there was so many great keywords hit on in such a short amount of time: de-escalation, child whisperer, and I just sense so much consistency and, you know, kids long for consistency. And when they see that in someone, it’s a magnetic bond. So thank you for all your amazing work, and we truly appreciate it. Thank you.

[00:05:27] Ron Davis (Lane County): Absolutely.

[00:05:29] Presenter: Commissioner Pat Farr:

[00:05:30] Commissioner Pat Farr: Ron, you know, when I look at the myriad things that we do in Lane County, we have roads, we have bridges, we have solid waste. What is more important on that one day than the work that you do? There’s nothing more important than the work that you do with that one individual that you’re supporting, that you’re working with on that one day. Your words are helping young people get their lives back together.

[00:05:51] And the critical moment in time, you know, if we look at the spectrum of the days of our lives, and pick the moments in time, quite often, you know, the people that you deal with will look back, the people that you work with will look back and say, ‘The day I talked to Ron was a critical moment in my life.’

[00:06:09] Thank you beyond words that I can say, for the work that you do with one child.

[00:06:14] Presenter: Commissioner Laurie Trieger:

[00:06:16] Commissioner Laurie Trieger: Thank you so much for being here. I know some folks find it a little uncomfortable to sit and have people talk about how great you are in your presence, but thank you for bringing not just your presence, but such a peaceful presence to a program where a lot of people are really not at peace when they’re in that program.

[00:06:32] And I think the fact that folks that you have worked with in the past and their family members get back in touch to say how much your peaceful presence helped ground them and helped them do the hard work of turning around speaks volumes, right?

[00:06:46] Your colleagues, of course appreciate working with you. We appreciate you choosing Lane County but the folks who you have worked with in their hardest days, to come out of that and feel safe enough to remember those hard days and reach back out to tell you what it meant, is what really stood out for me.

[00:07:02] So thank you so much for doing that. And I hope you do good things for yourself because you do an awful lot for other people to keep yourself in the place you need to be to show up the way you do. Thank you.

[00:07:14] Presenter: Commissioner Heather Buch:

[00:07:15] Commissioner Heather Buch: I wanted to also give my huge thanks. I know there may be times when those of you that are coming in may not necessarily appreciate all that you bring to them. (At least maybe in certain moments.) But I know the work that you do is so important to them and their families. It’s great to know that some do reach back out to you and recognize all that you give to our community and for their success. So thank you again for working for Lane County. We appreciate you.

[00:07:51] Presenter: Commissioner David Loveall:

[00:07:52] Commissioner David Loveall: Ron, thank you so much. ‘Youth Whisperer.’ I’ve never heard that before, not to mention youth whisperer for a period of 14 years. Talk about the heart of perseverance, my friend. That is a very good heart for perseverance. I’m also looking forward to that parental pamphlet that you’re going to write after this to help the rest of us with our youth so we can whisper a little bit more.

[00:08:13] Something came to mind just about your demeanor and your spirit that people have spoke about you: ‘That the gifts and calling from above are irrevocable.’ And sir, I want to thank you for sharing your gifts and your calling with us to Lane County and also that coaching spirit. You know, you’re in athletics, many of us have been in athletics, and we know that there’s nothing better than a coach who puts the best of themselves into those they inspire.

[00:08:35] And I want to just thank you for putting the best of yourselves into the county and working for us, sir. We want to salute you and give you an applause and appreciation, so thank you.

[00:08:41] Presenter: Lane County shows its appreciation Jan. 15 to Ron Davis.