Office of Community Involvement Director Amara shares about Community Budget Advisory Committees at the public budget hearing on May 14th, 2025.

About the Office of Community Involvement (OCI)

The OCI was established in 1984 to support County-wide engagement through a multifaceted approach. OCI collaborates with departments and staff to strengthen program-based engagement. We advise on engagement policies and procedures and develop engagement trainings and resources for county staff and community members. We serve as a community portal to departmental engagement opportunities and directly support civic advisory committees to amplify public feedback in County engagement and budget resource allocation.

Through the county’s advisory bodies, community members are able to share feedback and provide recommendations for the improvement of services and programs. In addition, community members participate in the function, review, and improvement of Multnomah County's programs, policies, and services through a wide variety of volunteer and intern opportunities.

We welcome everyone who lives, works, plays, and worships in Multnomah County to participate in shaping our county policies, budgets, and programs. Here are some opportunities for community members to engage:

Apply for the Food Service Advisory Committee

Are you or anyone you know involved in the food service industry? The Food Service Advisory Committee is actively recruiting! This group of food service and safety representatives makes recommendations to Environmental Health Services’ food safety program! It also provides a line of communication between the food service industry and public health.

This is a great opportunity for front of house, back of house, food carts, caterers, managers and business owners to advise the County on issues relevant to their work.

Learn more and share the opportunity!

Volunteer at the 2025 Juneteenth Event

REACH and Play-Grow-Learn are proud to be hosting this year's Juneteenth event, celebrating Black and African culture, resilience, and joy. Every year, this creative, place-making initiative draws hundreds of participants for food, fun, and community. 

Event Details

When: Thursday, June 19, 2025

Where: Vance Park, 1400 SE 182nd Ave, Portland, OR 97233

Time: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.*

Flier to share: Juneteenth REACH Flier

*Please note that the core Juneteenth event is being held from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., but support will also be needed prior to the event start time and after the event end time. 

Sign up to volunteer here by Monday, June 9!

Train to volunteer at Disaster Resource Centers

During dangerous weather emergencies, including extreme heat, Multnomah County opens life-saving Disaster Resource Centers (DRCs) across our community that offer people shelter, safety, resources and connection. Community volunteers can fill critical roles in these emergencies!

Visit the Emergency Management Volunteer Site for details about upcoming virtual Disaster Resource Center info sessions and General Staff trainings where you can learn how to be prepared.

Upcoming trainings:

• Trauma-informed & De-escalation Tips Training: Thursday, June 12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (RSVP here)
• DRC Info Session: Friday, June 13, 9 - 9:45 a.m. (google meets)
• General Staff Training: Friday, June 13, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (RSVP here)

Share feedback on the draft Climate Justice Plan

The Multnomah County Office of Sustainability invites you to a vital listening session on the draft Climate Justice Plan (CJP). This is your opportunity to learn about the plan and directly contribute your feedback to help shape a more just and resilient future for our county.

• Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
• Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM | (Doors open 5:00 PM, Presentation begins 5:30 PM)
• Location: Seeding Justice Building | 510 SW 3rd Ave #440, Portland, OR 97204

At this important session, you will:

• Learn about the 12 universal goals of the draft Climate Justice Plan.
• Share your thoughts on the proposed strategies to achieve these goals.
• Discover how you can stay involved in the ongoing process.

RSVP at the link here: https://tinyurl.com/CJPEvent

Review the draft Climate Justice Plan and share your thoughts by:

• Filling out the feedback form here: https://rebrand.ly/CJP2025 
• Emailing your feedback to sustainability@multco.us. 

Engage with the County Budget

The County Budget is now in the five weeks of Department Work Sessions and Public Hearings- these take place between the Chair proposing a budget and the final budget being adopted by the Board of County Commissioners! Current engagement opportunities:

Upcoming: The final Public Budget Hearing will take place on Wednesday, May 28th, from 6-8pm, online. You can still submit written testimony (virtual testimony is full)and find the link to view here next week.

Ongoing: Department Work Sessions are ongoing at the Multnomah Building (501 SE Hawthorne Blvd) and online - agendas are on the Board Clerk's webpage. In these sessions, the Community Budget Advisory Boards (CBACs), departmental staff, budget office staff and the Board of County Commissioners discuss proposed budgets. You can attend in-person or watch sessions on YouTube!

As always, you can reach out to your Commissioner about your budget priorities and share your thoughts in public comment at the Thursday Board Meetings.

To learn more about the budget process, find information about events, and learn about other engagement opportunities, visit the Chair's budget website.