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Data from the New American Economy shows a snapshot of demographic and economic contributions of immigrants in the Portland Metro Area in 2017.
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Relief for All Oregonians
In 2018, ten percent of Oregonians identified as immigrants according to the American Immigration Council. Oregon's immigrant population holds a diversity of experiences, country of origins, and immigration statuses, but they have a common thread—they all contribute to the prosperity of Oregon. And while they pay into our local, state, and federal taxes, many are denied Unemployment insurance and federal stimulus relief due to their immigration status.
On April 23, 2020, the Oregon Legislature committed to better supporting our immigrant communities during our current COVID-19 crisis by allocating $10 million to start the Oregon Worker Relief Fund (OWRF). Since its inception, community members, the State legislature, and municipalities such as the City of Portland, have continued to contribute resources to this essential fund.
On Friday, December 18, Civic Life will host Oregon local and state elected officials, community-based organizations, and community members in a virtual discussion exploring why the OWRF is so vital and how Oregon has become a national leader in creating a coordinated effort to provide relief to 13,800+ Oregonians who are denied traditional COVID financial assistance due to their immigration status.
“The City of Portland proudly stands with immigrants," said Andrea Williams, the Partnership Manager at Civic Life. "That is why Civic Life supported Portland City Council as they voted to unanimously commit $1.75 million from the City’s General Fund to help immigrant and refugee families. If we can do this, I know others can, too.”
Join us on December 18, 10 a.m.(PST) to watch our live event:
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Now Recruiting
The New Portlanders Policy Commission is currently looking for new members
The New Portlanders Policy Commission (NPPC) is currently recruiting new members! Formed in 2016, the NPPC works to integrate immigrant and refugee communities’ voices into the City of Portland's policies and decision-making.
Members of the 25-person commission work to shape, reform, and inform city-wide policies. Recently, they helped lead the effort to recommend the City of Portland contribute to the Oregon Workers Relief Fund, a fund that provides direct cash assistance to immigrant Oregonians.
“This year, we’re looking for emerging leaders and members with diverse lived experiences and racial justice analysis that can offer perspectives on workforce development, education advancement, equity, racial, and disability justice, and cultural representation,” said Civic Life’s Adaptive Integration Supervisor, Touk Keo.
Applications are due on Sunday, January 17. You can find details about the NPPC and the application process here or contact Community Engagement Program Coordinator at Marco.Mejia@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-8548.
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Dasheeda Dawson on NPR
Cannabis Program’s Supervisor speaks out on NPR’s The Takeaway
Dasheeda Dawson, Civic Life’s Cannabis Program supervisor, joined Tanzina Vega, host of NPR’s morning radio news program "The Takeaway", to discuss the difficulties facing people of color in the cannabis industry and why the MORE Act, a recent bill that seeks to decriminalize marijuana that passed in the House of Representatives, is incomplete.
“Unfortunately, there was a huge racial disparity in the arrests during cannabis prohibition," said Dawson. “And one of the biggest things that was part of [cannabis] policy when the industry was first developed…was to prohibit individuals with prior cannabis arrests and convictions from being in the industry.”
Historically, cannabis prohibition and the War on Drugs had a disproportionately negative affect on communities of color, specifically Black communities. A national leader on cannabis strategy, Portland’s Cannabis Program is continually working to create policies that support our communities by creating safe and environmentally-friendly regulations and by reinvesting cannabis tax funds to those communities most harmed by cannabis prohibition and over-policing.
Check out the full interview for more insights into the changing landscape of the cannabis industry!
For more information about the Cannabis Program, please visit our web page or call us at 503-823-9333.
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Seeking Bids
The City of Portland is seeking bids for Graffiti Removal Services
The City of Portland is seeking bids for Graffiti Removal Services. The deadline to apply for Bid No. 00001554 is January 11, 2021.
Civic Life is working with Procurement Services to engage with local small and/or woman- or minority-owned businesses who are interested in providing graffiti removal services.
Importantly, firms do not need to have prior experience specific to graffiti removal services. Civic Life is willing to provide training for the required work to help develop the firm’s skills and provide experience in the trade. Interested firms may download the solicitation documents from the city’s vendor portal here—click on Open Bids and select ITB No. 00001554.
Visit our Graffiti Program website to learn more about the Civic Life program. For specific information about the bid, please contact Theresa Green at (503) 823-8241 or Theresa.Green@portlandoregon.gov.
Important message regarding this solicitation: Due to COVID-19 this project was postponed in March 2020.
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Civic Life is Hiring!
Our office currently has three openings
Cannabis Business Technology Lead (Business Systems Analyst III) Do you have a strong technology background? Are you proud of your communication skills and ability to transform business and operational needs into designs and specifications for workable information technology solutions? You may be the Business Technology Lead we are looking for, find out more here!
Livability Program Supervisor Civic Life's Livability Program provides a range of services and resources to address community livability issues, with a focus on the empowerment of individuals and communities to work together to make decisions that address both individual and collective needs. Find out more about the opportunity here.
Multnomah Youth Commission Administrative Specialist (Administrative Specialist I) This position will support key program activities and operations of the Multnomah Youth Commission Program. This newly created position will increase the program's impact by supporting administrative and operations functions. The part-time position will drive to regional meetings within Multnomah County and occasionally transport program materials. Find out more about the opportunity here.
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Correcting our Last Update
Thank you to our readers who pointed out that the subject line of our previous Civic Life Update email, “Stand in solidarity with Portlanders with Disabilities,” used an ableist metaphor and may have been offensive to some people. Using the word “stand” to describe efforts to act in solidarity with social justice movements is one of the many ways ability and body/mind-based metaphors enter our everyday language.
While we make every effort to be thoughtful and respectful in our language, we made a mistake this time. This feedback was a learning opportunity and important reminder for us. We also recognize that disability communities are not monoliths, and there are many different ideas about what constitutes respectful language.
If you’d like to learn more about respectful disability language, consider checking out our Disability Program’s Access Tip on Demystifying Disability Language (content note: contains ableist language). For a deeper dive with an extensive list of ableist terms and alternative phrases, check out Lydia X. Z. Brown’s post on ableist language (content note: contains ableist language and profanity).
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