2019 Community & Civic Engagement Projects

Central Northeast Neighbors awarded $10,000 in grants to five groups that will engage community in projects that build healthy, connected, and more resilient communities and neighborhoods.
Grantees will be leveraging and
contributing resources equivalent to $80,000.
Grant awards range from $1,000 to $3,000
African American Organizing
Culturally focused engagement and
advocacy with the Cully neighborhood’s African American community. This project is to organize community events/meetings by and for Black residents and create opportunities to convene and build relationships in Cully. At these gatherings participants decide if and how they would like to take part in civic engagement efforts.
Verde, Living Cully
Growing Food and Community
This project promotes community leadership, neighborhood connections, cross-cultural sharing and family health. This is achieved through a vegetable gardening training program for low-income English and Spanish-speaking families living in Cully and the surrounding neighborhoods.  
Growing Gardens with Oregon Food Bank, Hacienda CDC
New Year in the Park
SE Asian communities celebrate the New Year in April at Glenhaven Park in Madison South. Performances, food, music, and activities for all ages bring thousands of Portlanders together. The culturally diverse celebration is one of the most attended events in the area. Volunteer organizers develop strong leadership skills and strengthen neighborhood cross-cultural ties. 
Hmong American Community of Oregon
Obra de Teatro Bilingue
The bilingual theater for restorative justice in schools project is in response to children of immigrant families experiencing discrimination in schools. Culturally diverse leaders are hosting events in Central NE to create a safe and empowering space for families to share their stories and work together through theater.
Intercultural Action with Heart with Leaven Community
Watch Me Rise
Community workshops to empower middle and high school aged Somali girls who live in Cully and attend Madison High School. The goal is to promote understanding of the value of civic engagement and strengthen the leadership skills of this underserved group to become active community change agents and to advocate for themselves and their community. 
Somali Women Coalition of Portland

The Community & Civic Engagement Small Grants Program has been made possible through funding by the City of Portland Office of Community & Civic Life.