Applications are due Monday, Aug. 7 at 11:59 p.m.

Community Council members from left to right, front row: Lolita Broadous, Karina Bjork, Kamla Hurst, Amarachi Duru, Lisa Wittorff; back row: Jami K. LeBaron, Amy Ramos, Alejandra Favela, Alix Sanchez, Stephen Pham; not pictured: LaNae Williams

PCL is recruiting volunteers with lived, professional, and volunteer experience with marginalized children, youth, families and their support services for its Community Council. 

The PCL Community Council was formed as a response to feedback from community members during the Levy’s 2018 community engagement process. The new council launched in 2023 and has met 3 times, with 2 more meetings scheduled this year. During its May meeting, the council developed recommendations to shape the Levy’s upcoming community engagement process, and PCL’s Allocation Committee adopted them. Currently, 11 members serve on the council.  

The Levy is looking to fill the 2 remaining seats with community members who have experience with youth with disabilities and/or parents of children with disabilities; experience with human services and child abuse prevention and intervention; families navigating poverty and food insecurity; grant-making; and/or residents of east Portland and north Portland. Community members with lived and/or professional experience in these areas are encouraged to apply.   

PCL is committed to supporting our participants’ engagement in Council work. We offer stipends of up to $500 per year, accommodations for disabilities, interpretation, translation, and meals for meetings. 

Applicant information sessions 

PCL staff will host a virtual information session on Wednesday, July 19 at 5:30 p.m. for those interested in learning more about the Council and are considering applying.  

To attend the information session, contact the Levy’s Community Engagement Coordinator directly by email at racheal.nakhabala@portlandoregon.gov or call her at 503-823-8763. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 to receive the meeting link and agenda. 

How to apply 

For more information on member qualifications, read the recruitment information through the Office of Civic Life’s Advisory Bodies program. You can submit an application for the community council by applying on the City of Portland’s website. Once you feel ready, use the button below to apply. Applications are due Monday, Aug. 7 at 11:59 p.m. 

Apply for the Community Council  

For more information on the member screening and selection process, please read the overview of the selection process. 

Please note that applicants can’t have a conflict of interest with a current grantee. This means: 

  • You aren’t currently employed by a grantee agency and haven’t been for the past 2 years. 
  • You don’t currently serve on the board of a grantee agency. 
  • You don’t have immediate family members (spouse, child, parent, sibling) currently employed by a grantee agency. 

If you work for a public agency receiving PCL funds, you may apply unless you or an immediate family member work in the PCL-funded program. See this list of PCL grantees to determine if you meet these requirements. 

For questions about PCL’s Community Council, contact Racheal Nakhabala at 503-823-8763.