Portland Children's Levy Newsletter
DECEMBER 2017
Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner | Lisa Pellegrino, Director
 
Pass it On
Stand up for Dreamers!

Click here to learn how you can make a difference by advocating for Dreamers. We can all play a part to ensure Dreamers have the chance to pursue their American dream.
       
Hunger Relief Info
For Mult. County Providers: please spread the word that breakfast and lunch is available at most schools and is free to all students who qualify. Info for families available  here!

Many of you have probably heard that some schools in Multnomah County will no longer be serving universal free breakfast and lunch this school year due to changing demographic, decline in participation in SNAP, and families not filling out the free and reduced-price meal application. 

At the request of school district partners, the county is working to address the issue so families know that free meals are available for those who qualify, applying is easy and students should have the food they need.

* Help spread the word that breakfast and lunch is available at most schools in Multnomah County and is free to all students who qualify.
* Encourage families to apply and to eat at school. 

If you have any questions about this campaign, please reach out to  Frances Hall, DCHS Co's SUN Hunger Relief & Youth Development Specialist at frances.hall@multco.us

       
City of Portland Fix-it Fairs!
The City of Portland's 2017-18 Fix-it Fairs are scheduled for the following Saturdays: 
*Jan. 27, 2018                             
George Middle School
10000 N Burr Ave.
Portland

*Feb. 24, 2018
Madison High School
2735 NE 82nd Ave.
Portland

The fairs are a free event where people can learn simple ways to save money and connect with community resources, with many workshops available in Spanish. Go here for more info. The PCL has several tables at the fairs: if your organization is interested in attending any or all of the fairs to spread the word about your services, please contact marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov
       
SAFE Training: Screening Youth Program Volunteers
Do you run a youth program and wonder about the safety of your volunteers? Are you looking for strategies to ensure your organization engages adults who represent a safe and suitable fit to work with youth? Do you live in a rural community with a population of 30,000 or less?
Contact the Institute for Youth Success at Education NW for a FREE all-day SAFE training for your community. Call 503-275-9580 or go here.
       
YWCA Social Change trainings
The YWCA offers high-quality and engaging social change trainings. Training info can be found here. The org is also looking for women of color who want to work with other women of color for racial justice. More info here.

PCL News
Thank you Fix-it Fair participants
A shout out to everyone who stopped by the PCL table at the Nov. 18th Fix-it Fair at Ron Russell Middle School. And a thank you to Saturday Academy staff who were busy telling folks about their great program.


Saturday Academy's Hailee Hunter
PCL Helps Nonprofits Recruit Volunteers

I t's a good idea to be listed on our Volunteer Opportunities page.  If you are an org that accepts volunteers, please  email us  with: 
  1.  A link: either to your website where volunteer information can be found, or the email and/or phone number of the name of the person responsible for volunteers.
  2. A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.
  3. If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.
In the Headlines
The state will put $35M toward children's health insurance as feds stall funding this vital program for low-income families.  Read story here.

As children experience food insecurity throughout the nation, some cities are expanding how they help feed students. Read it now.

The number of homeless students in Oregon, and Portland, increases again this year. Take a look at the story here. 
PCL Making a Difference:
Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon
PCL funds nine Portland-area after-school Girls Inc. programs focused on youth development  for girls ages 8-14. Levy staff worked with the Girls Inc. group at Arleta Elementary recently for our upcoming 2018 Community Report. The 4th-6th graders had a wonderful time with the art project that included unique self-portraits. Stay tuned for more info on the PCL report in the months ahead, as well as videos of the project.


 PCL Community Report
This year, we used flowers to help tell the story of some of the families and children PCL programs serve. Click here to view the full report.


Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Early Childhood Updates
For early childhood educators wanting books that help explain the immigrant/refugee experience for their young students, go here.
PCL Staff Contacts
Director, After School & Hunger grants
Assistant Director and Early Childhood & Mentoring grants:
Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention & Foster Care Grants Manager:
Communications Director:

Community Outreach and Information Assistant
john.coghlan@portlandoregon.gov

Fiscal Specialist:
Who We Are

The Portland Children's Levy was created by city voters in 2002 and overwhelmingly renewed by the electorate in Fall 2008 and Spring 2013. Funding for the latest five-year Levy began July 1, 2014, with program investments made through June 2019.

The Levy is supported through a property tax paid by City of Portland homeowners that generates $17.8 million toward investments in proven programs in areas of Early Childhood, After School, Mentoring, Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention, Foster Care and Hunger Relief. The Levy reaches over 8,000 children and their families annually; in addition, Levy-funded hunger relief services provide food to over 11,000 children and 9,167 parents/caregivers annually.

The Levy is annually audited and administrative costs do not exceed 5 percent.
Questions? Contact: Call Mary Gay Broderick at 503-823-2947 or e-mail
See our website at www.portlandchildrenslevy.org