Fwd: UPDATED BUDGET FORUM DATE - Speak up for the Right Budget for ONI for neighborhood and community engagement programs
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Begin forwarded message:
From: "Damon Isiah Turner" <da...@necoalition.org>
Date: April 22, 2015 at 6:34:06 PM PDT
To: "Neighborhood Association Board Members" <neighbor...@necoalition.org>
Cc: "Hoop, Brian" <brian...@portlandoregon.gov>
Subject: Fw: UPDATED BUDGET FORUM DATE - Speak up for the Right Budget for ONI for neighborhood and community engagement programs
Northeast Neighborhood and Community Associations,As you know, the monies that are provided for funding for the Coalitions that can contribute to some of the work that the neighborhood and community associations are doing, is primarily derived from a portion of the contract budget allocation that NECN (and all Neighborhood Coalitions) received from the City Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) every year. As a neighborhood resident and active member of your association, you are in a prime position to best share directly how the your work within your association has positively impacted your neighborhood and community. If you have time, we would strongly encourage you to please contact the offices of the Mayor, and City Commissioners to advocate for more money for the Coalitions in the annual budgets of the Coalition offices for budget year (2015-2016), which will begin on July 1.Below are scheduled public meetings with City Council present to hear your comments about your budget priorities. A great opportunity to advocate for The Right Budget for ONI. The Community Budget Forums on April 27 and May 7 are the best opportunities to provide public comment. In the e-mail below, are listed formats and information regarding testifying and telling your story.
· Monday, April 27, 6:30 PM – Community Budget Forum. Floyd Light Middle School Cafeteria, 10800 SE Washington St.
· Thursday, May 7, 6:30 PM – Community Budget Forum. Roosevelt High School, 6941 N. Central St.
· Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 PM – City Council, Budget Committee Public Hearing. City Hall, Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
· City Budget Office’s schedule for community budget events: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/483507
In addition (but not in place of the forums please), you can also contact the Commissioners’ offices by e-mail, phone, or snail mail utilizing the information below:Commissioner Nick Fish1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 240Portland, OR 97204E-mail: Ni...@portlandoregon.govphone: 503-823-3589Commissioner Amanda Fritz1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 220Portland, OR 97204E-mail: Ama...@portlandoregon.govphone: 503-823-3008Mayor Charlie Hales1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340Portland, OR 97204E-mail: mayorcha...@portlandoregon.govphone: 503-823-4120Commissioner Steve Novick1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 210Portland, OR 97204E-mail: Nov...@portlandoregon.govphone: 503-823-4682Commissioner Dan Saltzman1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 230Portland, OR 97204E-mail: D...@portlandoregon.govphone: 503-823-4151Thank you for all that you do to build community!Damon Isiah Turner | Executive DirectorNortheast Coalition of NeighborhoodsFrom: Hoop, BrianSent: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 12:41 PMTo: Hoop, BrianSubject: UPDATED BUDGET FORUM DATE - Speak up for the Right Budget for ONI for neighborhood and community engagement programsTo District Coalition, DCL organization, Elders in Action staff –
Here is updated info on budget advocacy opportunities as requested at the ONI BAC meeting.
NOW is the time to communicate with elected officials regarding advocacy for the BAC’s recommended budget for ONI – “The Right Budget for ONI.”
NOTE: The Community Budget Forum scheduled for this Thursday, April 16 has been rescheduled to Monday, April 27, same location, same time.
Below and attached is information to help get the word out about how to advocate to City Council for the Right Budget for ONI. Please begin distributing through your own outreach efforts to rally your leadership and constituents to speak up. Feel free to cut and paste, add info as best serves your needs as Doretta Schrock did in mid-March when she first sent out a message to the BAC list. At last night’s BAC meeting Donita from NAYA agreed to send out info to our BAC list. But that shouldn’t stop you from sending to your lists as well.
Opportunities include:
· City Budget Forums – Public testimony welcomed – Monday, April 27 and Thursday, May 7, both 6:30 PM
· Testimony via email, USPS mail, and phone – below is contact info for commissioners
· I included the May 20th City Council hearing as well, however decisions are being made NOW. May 20th is getting late for testimony to have an impact.
Thanks
Brian – 503-823-3075
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Your support for community engagement programs and services funded by the Office of Neighborhood Involvement can be expressed through testifying at a community budget forum, phone calls, emails and letters to the five Portland City Council members. They are currently determining priorities for next year’s Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget which begins July 1, 2015.
The ONI Budget Advisory Committee (BAC), on which Neighborhood Association and community-based civic involvement groups are represented, is proposing a request of $200,000 in additional funding – The Right Budget for ONI. Your personal testimony about how these programs and services have impacted yourself, family, neighborhood and/or community will indicate to the new Council that there is community support for the proposals.
What is the Right Budget for ONI?
While the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s official submitted recommended budget is neutral – no cuts, no additions – the BAC agreed to a “Right Budget for ONI” to advocate for, which consists of:
· Diversity and Civic Leadership Program increases for grantee organizations - $150,000 ($30,000 per organization)
· Neighborhood Small Grants – $30,000, brings total funding for grants up to $100,000.
· Youth program – ($10,000), for Multnomah Youth Commission, restores budget for Materials and Services.
· Disability program – ($10,000), for leadership training for people with disabilities.
· See more detail below.
ONI’s mission, goals, programs and services are critical to support the City’s goal of achieving equity in delivery of services. The Right Budget for ONI prioritizes and lifts up our community partners and programs with the fewest resources. While all of ONI’s community engagement programs are underfunded this budget proposal moves us in the right direction prioritizing expansion of services to communities of color, immigrants and refugees, people with disabilities and youth.
Opportunities to show your support and/or provide testimony
Below are scheduled public meetings with City Council present to hear your comments about your budget priorities. A great opportunity to advocate for The Right Budget for ONI. The Community Budget Forums on April 27 and May 7 are the best opportunities to provide public comment.
· Monday, April 27, 6:30 PM – Community Budget Forum. Floyd Light Middle School Cafeteria, 10800 SE Washington St.
· Thursday, May 7, 6:30 PM – Community Budget Forum. Roosevelt High School, 6941 N. Central St.
· Wednesday, May 20, 6:30 PM – City Council, Budget Committee Public Hearing. City Hall, Council Chambers, 1221 SW 4th Ave.
· City Budget Office’s schedule for community budget events: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/483507
Telling Your Story:
Your personal testimony about how City funded community engagement programs and services have impacted yourself, family, neighborhood and/or community will have the biggest impact.
- State upfront you are advocating for “The Right Budget for ONI” which prioritizes resources to building organizations, leadership development and grant projects to ONI’s community partners with the fewest resources.
- Identify which ONI funded organization or program you are active with.
- Tell your personal story about an ONI funded organization or program:
- Describe how you are involved. What is your volunteer role?
- Be specific about how ONI funds have helped with newsletters, leadership training, staff support on a specific project, funding or resources for a community building event or project, issue advocacy, facilitation or conflict resolution services, crime prevention services, etc.
- What is the impact on you, your family, neighborhood or community?
- Address communication separately to all five commissioners (see below)
- If email or USPS mail include date, your address, city, state, zip and ideally phone or email on letter.
- Thank the commissioners for listening and considering your request.
- CC your organization director and Brian Hoop at ONI, brian...@portlandoregon.gov.
Which programs are affected and how:
Diversity and Civic Leadership Program
· The DCL program is creating new pathways for participation for communities of color, immigrants and refugees, new efforts to strengthen people’s ability to participate, and new levels of cultural awareness and responsiveness by City staff and elected officials. The proposal builds the capacity of ONI’s five partner organizations to provide more follow-up with graduates of their leadership programs to stay involved. Organizations include: Center for Intercultural Organizing, Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Latino Network, Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA), and Urban League of Portland.
Neighborhood Small Grants Program
- The Neighborhood Small Grants Program leverages a substantial amount of volunteer hours as well as financial and in-kind contributions for dozens of community building projects each year. The proposal is a step towards closing the gap in restoring resources cut in previous budget cuts. The grants program is a critical tool for neighborhood associations to build working relationships with diverse community groups. Over 35% of grants are awarded to non-geographic community-based organizations. Grants are awarded and administered by the seven neighborhood District Coalitions including: Central NE Neighbors, East Portland Neighborhood Office, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Neighbors West Northwest, North Portland Neighborhood Services, and Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc.
Multnomah Youth Commission – materials and services
· The proposed $10,000 request restores a base level of program support which matches Multnomah County’s contribution, which partners with the City, to ensure the youth leaders of the MYC are able to succeed at raising the voice of youth to affect policy and budget decisions affecting their generation. Materials and services covers cost of their two annual strategic planning retreats, printing, food and transportation costs for their meetings and committee projects.
Disability Program – leadership training
· The proposal for supporting leadership development for people with disabilities supports the Connecting Communities Coalition leadership academy, a project to strengthen the voices and sharpen the leadership skills of the disability community. The academy has been active for two years but is in danger of being discontinued. The proposed $10,000 will help the academy keep continuity to graduate a 2015 class. The academy consists of eight weeks of leadership classes and a project. Previous projects included a survey of ADA accessibility at Last Thursday.
Contact information for City Council members:
Charlie Hales, Mayor
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 340Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-4120Email: mayor...@portlandoregon.gov
Amanda Fritz, Commissioner
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 220Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-3008
Email: ama...@portlandoregon.gov
Nick Fish, Commissioner
1221 SW 4th Ave, Room 240Portland, OR 97204
(503) 823-3589
Email: Ni...@portlandoregon.gov
Steve Novick, Commissioner
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 210Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-4682
Email: nov...@portlandoregon.gov
Dan Saltzman, Commissioner
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 230Portland, OR 97204
Phone: (503) 823-4151
E-mail: d...@portlandoregon.gov
Links to budget info:
· City budget documents http://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/60863
· ONI Bureau Advisory Committee’s Recommended Budget for ONI: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/article/517641
· How to get involved: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/cbo/57268