With the publication of the Engaging for Equity report, ONI will facilitate a community discussion in 2015 to receive input on the continued development and potential expansion of the Diversity and Civic Leadership program. This conversation will occur simultaneously with a broader discussion about funding equity for ONI’s community engagement programs taking place with our Bureau/Budget Advisory Committee (BAC).

ONI’s goals for the community conversation include:

1. Recognizing and celebrating the amazing accomplishments of our community partner organizations;
2. Gathering community input to help inform deliberations within the ONI BAC and City Council on the future of the DCL program, including equitable funding, potential expansion, and making it a permanent component of the City’s civic engagement strategy.

Some of the key questions for the City and community to consider moving forward:

1. Are the stated goals of the program and functions of the DCL grants the most appropriate way to serve communities of color, immigrants and refugees and meet ONI’s civic engagement goals?
2. What possible structural changes could take place to support expansion of the program? With an expanded program, how should ONI determine which organizations receive funding?
3. What does equitable funding within ONI’s budget look like for serving communities of color, immigrants and refugees in Portland?
4. What is the range of non-geographic communities that ONI should consider serving (beyond existing funded program support for communities of color, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities, elders and youth)?
5. What support services are most appropriate for ONI staff to provide for DCL program coordination, leadership development, organizational capacity and relationship building efforts?
6. If we intend to make the DCL program a permanent component of ONI’s and the City’s civic engagement strategy similar to the Neighborhood Association program, how might that commitment best be reflected in City governance?

Public event opportunities to provide your feedback and ideas

ONI invites your comments on the future of the DCL program. Comments are due by Tuesday, March 31, 2015. You can participate and provide input on the report, the above questions and any other ideas or questions in the following ways:

• LEARN ABOUT WHAT’S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED

Hear directly from DCL grantees and ONI’s program coordinator telling their story of accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned from their work.

Saturday, February 28, 2015
12 Noon – 1 PM – part of an all-day Community Summit
Ambridge Event Center
1333 NE Martin Luther King Junior Blvd., Portland
Please pre-register for this free Community Summit at:
www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/inittogether2015

• COMMUNITY MEETING FOR YOUR COMMENTS, IDEAS, QUESTIONS

Join us at an ONI Bureau Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting to share your thoughts, comments and questions regarding accomplishments to date and the future of the DCL program. The BAC will continue to meet into the spring to consider options for future development of the DCL program.

Monday, March 9, 2015
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
ONI Bureau Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting
Portland Building, Room C, 2nd Fl., 1120 SW 5th Ave., Portland
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/65550

Next meetings for the ONI BAC are 2nd Mondays each month, 5:30 PM, City Hall, Lovejoy Room, 1221 SW 4th Ave. Monday, April 13, May 11, and June 8, 2015.

Other ways to provide your feedback and ideas

• ONLINE

Provide your comments online. You’ll need to set-up a Portlandoregon.gov account in order to access the online form. Go to:
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/DCLinput

• EMAIL

Provide your comment via email at: DCLinput@portlandoregon.gov

• IN WRITING

Provide your comments via USPS mail addressed to:
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
Attn: DCLinput
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 110
Portland, OR 97204

• INVITE US TO YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING TO DISCUSS

If you would like an ONI representative to come to a meeting of your organization during the month of February or March 2015 to discuss we will do our best to make that happen. Please contact Jeri Williams, Diversity and Civic Leadership Program Coordinator at 503-823-5827, or DCLinput@portlandoregon.gov

QUESTIONS and to receive future updates on this projects

For other questions and/or to get on a mailing list to receive updates and next steps on this project please contact Jeri Williams, Diversity and Civic Leadership Program Coordinator at 503-823-5827, or DCLinput@portlandoregon.gov. Leave her your name, organization (if applicable), email, phone, mailing address.

ADA and Language Accommodations

To help ensure equal access to City programs, services and activities, the City of Portland will reasonably modify policies/procedures and provide auxiliary aids/services/alternative formats to persons with disabilities and provide language translation for persons with limited or no English.  Call Jeri Williams at 503-823-5827, TTY 503-823-6868, or Oregon Relay Service at 503-735-2900 with requests or visit:

www.portlandoregon.gov/OMF/CivilRights

www.portlandoregon.gov/OMF/ADA