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Portland Children's Levy Newsletter
March 2017
Dan Saltzman, Portland City Commissioner | Lisa Pellegrino, Director
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Standing together
The Portland community has responded to recent threatening federal actions with messages of
inclusivity, tolerance and unity.
For instance, visitors walking into
Madison High School are greeted with these welcoming signs:
Here is a message
Portland Public Schools
sent out containing a Q/A related to protecting its students should federal agents approach a school. See the info
here.
Also, PPS sent out a message to parents and families reaffirming its commitment to uphold local and state policies that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression despite federal moves to reduce those protections. See related info here.
Latino Network recently published a Community Resources page to help families prepare for potential deportation or other immigration emergencies. Click here to view and share with others. |
And in related news, the
City of Portland announced a $50K grant to help immigrants and refugees secure legal assistance. Read the
KATU story
here.
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Upcoming PCL funding round for new AS programs
PCL recently allocated $500,000 to make new grants for after-school programs through a competitive grant process for the 2017-18 and '19 school years. The Allocation Committee will decide on a process and timeline at a March 21st meeting (see meeting details below). The AC is considering a 2-step process involving applicants first submitting a Letter of Interest. Info on this was sent out earlier this week to the PCL database and can be viewed
here.
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OR Teen Pregnancy Task Force Summit April 18th
This conference is for educators, health personnel, administrators, counselors, social and youth service workers, parents, clergy, teen parent program staff, community members and others who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in addressing adolescent sexuality issues. Emphasis is on covering a wide spectrum of adolescent sexuality topics. To register go
here.
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Volunteers of America open eastside Relief Nursery
VOA had a grand opening of its East Family Relief Nursery in its new expanded classroom at 2609 SE 136th Ave. in Portland. The nursery serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, offering a holistic, positive approach to working with children and parents. Services are provided at no charge to families. Parent education and monthly home visitation are also included. For more info, call 503-236-8492.
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Visit the "Pinwheels for Prevention" page to learn more and download the Campaign Manual here.
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Playworks Training for Providers
Playworks can help providers working with children integrate safe, healthy and inclusive student play into existing school activities through a series of thorough and interactive workshops that highlight constructive tools and methods. The trainings are designed for before-, after- and out-of-school program staff.
Go here for more info.
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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.
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Meals 4 Kids Needs Volunteers
Meals 4 Kids, a PCL-funded program through Meals on Wheels People that delivers meals to children and their caregivers throughout Portland, is looking for volunteer drivers. Interested?
Contact Meals 4 Kids
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PCL Helps Nonprofits Recruit Volunteers
- 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.
- A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.
- If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.
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Students helping to feed families in New Columbia
Read how the youth involved in the Harvest Share program there are making positive changes in the community in this
Oregonian story
here.
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Roadmap to graduation success: how one district did it
Read how Oregon City got 94 percent of its senior class to graduate. The
Oregonian story is
here.
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Friends of the Children named No. One by PBJ
For the second year, Friends was named the top admired nonprofit by the
Portland Biz Journal. Congrats and read the story
here.
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Achievement gaps in kindergarten
Stubborn gaps remain between white students and children of color. Read the
OPB story
here.
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A racial wealth chasm
Two-parent families of color have half the wealth of white single parents. Read the story from
NPR
here.
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Programs Making a Difference:
Kúkátónón Children's African Dance Troupe
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Photo Credit: Naim Hasan Photography |
For more than 30 years, the Kúkátónón dance troupe has been teaching African cultural traditions to hundreds of student performers, and then showcasing those children at artistic drum and dance programs.
The troupe seeks to preserve the cultures of the people of Africa by transporting audiences and the children who participate.
PCL was an event sponsor for the troupe's recent gala fundraiser which raised money to ensure that the students will continue to be offered tuition-free, after- school classes in African dance, African drumming and ballet fundamentals.
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New Website, Twitter and Facebook
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Early Childhood Update
Friendly House has openings at its half-day educational preschool program. The program includes play-based curriculum, outside and inside play space, meals, parent-teacher conferences and more. Full scholarships funded by PCL are available and there are also multiple openings for families able to pay tuition on an affordable sliding scale -- monthly payments as low as $260. Any child who has turned 3 is eligible. Visit the preschool webpage
here for more information or call 503-228-4391 -- tours are available as well!
Also,
here is an interesting story about "building" your child's brain.
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Allocation Committee News
Mark your calendar: the next PCL Allocation Committee meeting is Tuesday, March 21st at 3:30 p.m. in the Portland Building Auditorium (second floor).
Please note location change! An agenda will be posted on the PCL website a week before the meeting and sent to the PCL mailing list.
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Check out the 2016 PCL Progress Report!
Take a look at the
PCL 2016 Progress Report and follow the journey of some of our children and families in Levy programs. Hard copies will be available at all Allocation Committee meetings or by
contacting us.
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Director, After School & Hunger grants
Assistant Director and Early Childhood & Mentoring grants:
Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention & Foster Care Grants Manager:
Communications Director:
Fiscal Specialist:
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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 $15 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
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