Ryan Marrs serves as the Boy's Case Manager at H.W.A.M

Why do you feel called to serve at H.W.A.M.?
I have worked with teens and adolescents since the age of 17 and found (and have been told) that I have a knack for reaching teens. In my past I experienced lots of trials and tribulations individually and through my living environments with family and feel that I can relate to teens which allows them to be open and honest with their own issues. I was blessed with role models in my life that helped me get to where I am today and I want to be the same for teens in my community. Especially for teen males who often don’t have good positive male role models in their lives.

What is your role at the H.W.A.M.?
My job title is Case Manager which means I help teens set goals and work on those goals to improve many facets of their present lives and short term/long term future. In addition to case managing, I feel that I serve as positive role model. I try to model what it takes to be a good man in society and in my community. In addition to those roles, I also run the Aftercare and Outreach programs here at H.W.A.M.

What are your favorite things about working at H.W.A.M.?
What gets me out of bed each morning is knowing I have the opportunity to interact with teens and possibly impact their lives - giving them little golden nuggets of insight that will influence them to make good choices which leads to positive outcomes. For me it is all about serving the youth, and the opportunity that comes with working at H.W.A.M. is an awesome one.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love hunting, working out, playing baseball/basketball, and most importantly, spending time with my wife and newborn son, Jordan. If I have the spare time, I like meeting up with past teens I have helped and playing some streetball. Every winter and spring, I use my free time to coach a gang outreach basketball team made up of 10-16 youth between the ages of 14-18.

What is one funny thing about yourself?
When most people see me for the first time, they might think I am this tough guy because of all the tattoos I have. But what they do not realize is that I am a big kid with a soft side, who cried like a little baby when he got married and watched the birth of his son.

Hometown: Medford, Oregon
Studied at University of Oregon, B.S. in Primary Education & minor in Special Education