Portland Children's Levy Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2017
Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner | Lisa Pellegrino, Director
 
Pass it On
The future of DACA: Supporting the rights of "Dreamers"

PCL supports our grantees, along with the families and "dreamers" they serve who are making our nation a better and stronger place for ALL. Here is a statement from Latino Network's ED Carmen Rubio:

"We strongly condemn the Trump administration's decision to end the DACA program and stand with Dreamers and families affected by this cruel decision. The federal government made a promise of safety to Dreamers who work, study and contribute as full, tax-paying members of our society. That promise has been broken by this administration.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to live their American dream, with dignity and without fear of being separated from their homes and familie s. DACA provides many young people with the opportunity to step out of the shadows and pursue their American dreams in the country they call home.
We urge Congress to do the right thing and act quickly to provide permanent protection for Dreamers across the country. At Latino Network, we will continue to advocate to make this a reality, and toward advancing all Latino and all immigrant communities."
Faces of IRCO: Tonga
Sept. 28th 
6:30-8:00 pm
IRCO's Sokhom Tauch Community Center

10301 NE Glisan St. Portland OR 97220
Join IRCO to explore the rich culture of Portland's Tongan community.  
Staff and community members from Tonga will share the history and traditions of their country -- and the barriers faced by their community here in Portland.
Come enjoy a taste of Tonga with music, food, cultural presentations and Q&A with the presenters. RSVP here.
City grant opportunities
The Portland City Council approved $1 million in its new budget for one-time grants. 
Of this amount, $350,000 has been allocated to the Office of Neighborhood Involvement for the Portland United Against Hate competitive grants process. Funding may be awarded in the following opportunities:
Capacity Building and Data Collections/Analysis. 
Also,  $650,000 has been set aside for:
  • Expanding Opportunities for Youth
  • Community-Based Arts and Culture
  • Expanding Economic Opportunities for Portlanders
  • Community Health
Go here  for more info.
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.
Mult Co appeals Trump's cut to teen pregnancy ed
Multnomah County is appealing an abrupt decision by the Trump administration this summer to cut short a multimillion dollar grant aimed at reducing unintended teen pregnancies. The hit to Multnomah schools and after-school programs is $1.25 million. Read more here.
Symposium: Enhancing Trauma-Informed State Systems
The Annual OR Infant Mental Health Association Symposium will feature: "The Ripple Effect" training, which will explore and define infant mental health from the perspective of the infants and their families, and include the broader perspective of professionals in the field, i.e. home visiting, early intervention, case workers, pediatrics, mental health, early care and education. 
When: Nov. 3rd
Where: Clackamas Community College, 19600 S Molalla Ave, Oregon City, OR 97045
Building: Gregory Forum
Time: 8:30-3:00 pm (continental breakfast 7:30)
Cost: $90 ORIMHA members and $125 for non-members.
Includes 5.5 CEUs and a box lunch
See more here: 
Hunger Relief info
IRCO has a new website to share hunger-relief related news and info to its families and surrounding community. Check it out 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
Allocation Committee News
The next AC meeting will be Monday, Oct. 2nd from 2 - 4 p.m. at City Hall. Notices will be sent to the database and posted on the Levy website.
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
An underlying problem with the child welfare system. See the article here. 

A new approach to a way out of poverty. Read the story here.

A "real-world" initiative puts new life into a Chicago school. See it here. 
PCL Making a Difference:
The College Possible Mentoring Program

It wasn't grades or test scores or transcripts that nearly prevented Gus Hernandez Jr from beginning his college career at University of Oregon on a scholarship later this month: it was red tape and bureaucracy over his name.
The David Douglas High School graduate spent five months dealing with the Social Security Administration, the federal student aid program and several enrollment offices at the colleges he applied at attempting to sort out the confusing situation. 
Because a mistakenly used  hyphen, the "junior" moniker that has no period, and two middle names were listed in different ways in various systems, it caused a lot of headaches for Gus and his College Possible mentor Kate Michaels.
"He was calm and patient," Kate says, adding that her student showed grit, persistence and maturity dealing with the situation. 
Gus, who wants to study architecture, says he was confident everything would work out: "I'm pretty much a relaxed person, so that helped me." 
He credits College Possible for helping him polish his writing skills during his junior and senior years, as well as assisting in the sometimes arduous application process. His tenacity paid off and he won a four-year scholarship to UO.
Congrats to Jose Gustavo Arroyo Hernandez Jr -- and no period on the junior Gus notes!
 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
The  Oregon Zoo is starting a new admissions rate called Zoo For All. Families who receive assistance though a variety of resources qualify for reduced admissions into the Zoo. The fair is reduced even more if they bring public transportation to the zoo.  Click here for more info.
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:
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 new five-year Levy began July 1, 2014 and includes hunger relief as a new focus area.

The Levy is supported through a property tax paid by City of Portland homeowners that generates $17 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