Portland Children’s Levy Newsletter July 2015

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Pass it On

REAP’s Challenge: Academy of Leadership Innovations is an annual FREE four-day leadership program scheduled daily Aug. 25-28 at Portland State University designed for middle and high school students throughout the state. Students benefit from leadership training, activities and workplace tours aimed at developing leadership skills to build a successful future. Students will enjoy a college fair, mock job interviews, bowling, Xbox games, swimming and basketball. More info can be found here.

The Mult. Co. Health Department is creating a Public Health Advisory Board to reduce disparities and improve population health in the county. For more info, see the link here.

The YWCA offers high-quality and engaging social change trainings. All of the info can be found here.

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 lynette.vicens@mealsonwheelspeople.org

In the News: 

The city, county and local business and industry work together to employ 750 low-income young adults in a paid intern program to provide valuable work and life experience. The Portland Children’s Levy grantees also benefit, providing job experiences to about 30 of these youths. Read more in this Oregonian story. 

PCL Programs Making a Difference: Self Enhancement, Inc. Foster Care Program

 (As told by Woodlawn Elementary School Coordinator Shalanda Carr) 

Alexis and her twin sister Shyann are brand new to the SEI family; they have been in foster care for most of their young lives, bouncing from family member to family member until finally being matched with their foster mother Mrs. Booker, where they’ve resided for the last nine years.

I noticed the girls because they were both so quiet and introverted. They would walk down the halls with their heads and eyes to the ground only to look up to walk into class, the lunchroom or at dismissal to exit the building. I knew I had to get them in SEI.

I began engaging the girls in the hall, sharing compliments and a couple of meals. As I began to gain their trust I started telling them about SEI, the multitude of options, classes, events, partnerships, and services… they listened. Ultimately the girls decided to come and check us out and were visibly overwhelmed with the positive reactions and acceptance given to them not only by staff but the other kids in the program as well.

The girls found a place where it didn’t matter if they were in foster care and it didn’t matter what their story was, all that mattered was that they were among others who accepted them. This was in October 2014. The twins now have academic and social goals; they’ve made new friends, participated in (SRB) Sisters Reflecting Beauty (a gender-specific self-empowering class,) a cooking class and a computer programming class. By year’s end the girls walked down the halls with their heads held high with laughter and smiles on their faces.

PCL Allocation Committee meeting news

There are currently no Allocation Committee meetings scheduled. Agendas are sent to the database before the meeting and posted on the PCL website here. Questions? Email marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov

In other news, two reports are now available: an audit of PCL completed by the City of Portland Auditor’s Office here and the PCL 2013-14 annual services and outcomes data report here.

“Like” us on our new FB page

The Portland Children’s Levy has a new, more dynamic FB page. Click on the link above to “like” it and please pass along to your colleagues, clients and board members as well.

Check out the new 2015 PCL Progress Report!

Take a look at the PCL 2015 Progress Report featuring “A Day in the Life” for grantees serving Portland’s children! Click here to view the PDF online. Also, hard copies will be available at all Allocation Committee meetings or by contacting

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 $12 million toward investments in proven programs serving 10,000 Portland children and their families in areas of Early Childhood, After School, Mentoring, Child Abuse Prevention/Intervention, Foster Care and Hunger Relief.
 
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-mailmarygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov
See our website at www.portlandchildrenslevy.org