Monday, October 10, 2016

Pass it On

**How do race and ethnicity intersect with domestic violence and intimate partner violence, specifically for communities of color? What are unique and similar barriers and strengths for communities of color in addressing relationship violence? What does a race-centered response to domestic violence look like?  In observation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, join the YWCA, NAACP, Bradley Angle House, Adelante Mujeres, IRCO, Proyecto Unica, PCC Southeast, PCC SE Women’s Resource Center, PCC SE Multicultural Center and PCC SE Black Student Union as these questions are explored. This event, “Race and Domestic Violence: A Community Dialogue” is free to attend. Register now here, seating is limited!

6- 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 6th, PCC Southeast, 2305 SE 82nd Ave., Portland.

**UNICA will be hosting the 3rd Annual Voces de la Comunidad conference Oct. 18th and 19th. Reduced group rates are available for organizations sending multiple staff. It is a bilingual conference (but participants don’t have to be, as interpretation options will be available for monolingual English or monolingual Spanish speakers). This year, in addition to workshops and cultural events, speakers include State Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, Multnomah County Commissioner Judy Shiprack and State Representative Joe Gallegos. More information is available here.

**The 2016 PCL Progress Report is out. Click here to view online. 

**The Portland Children’s Levy has a whole new look to its website! Click here to visit and let us know what you think by emailing marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov

**Follow PCL on Twitter here

**Playworks can help providers working with children integrate safe, healthy and inclusive student play into existing school activities through a series of thorough and interactive workshops that highlight constructive tools and methods. The trainings are designed for before-, after- and out-of-school program staff.  Go here for more info. 

**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

PCL wants to hear from you re volunteers for your programs 

Now that the revamped PCL website is up and running, we would like to add a homepage volunteer link so interested readers wanting to put their time, talent and experience to good use can volunteer if they choose.

If you would like to be listed as an org on the PCL website that accepts volunteers, please email marygay.broderick@portlandoregon.gov with: 

1.    A link: either to your website where volunteer information can be found, or the email and/or phone number of the name of the person responsible for volunteers.

2.    A short blurb about what you are looking for from volunteers.

3.    If you would like to include any specific wording about outreach to older and/or retired potential volunteers.

We will be back in touch as this project evolves later this fall. Thanks in advance, and thanks to those grantees who have already responded re this.

Making a Difference: The Homeless Youth Law Clinic

The Homeless Youth Law Clinic provides hundreds of youth with access to justice through a community lawyering model and free legal services, and was recently funded with an event sponsorship from the Portland Children’s Levy. For more info, go to the org Facebook page here

Alianda found the HYLC through a case manager at New Avenues for Youth. She requested help to expunge her record of a trespass. The story turned out to be more complicated.

Alianda had fled Spokane because she feared for her safety. In the meantime, a bench warrant was issued for her arrest because she was charged with trespassing at a bus stop in Spokane. Previously, she broke up a domestic dispute between two people and was told to stay away from the bus terminal. With no other means of transportation she tried to take the bus, but was arrested for trespassing.

She fled to Portland to start a new life. She began working with New Avenues for help to find a job and housing. Once she obtained a job, she applied for housing and found a perfect apartment but the manager told her the outstanding bench warrant prevented her from giving Alianda the keys.

HYLC quickly moved to quash the bench warrant since it was over two years old and contacted authorities in Spokane; eventually, the city public defender and the attorney filed a motion to do just that, with supportive documentation from HYLC and New Avenues.

Meanwhile, to prevent the apartment from slipping away, HYLC spoke with the manager and pleaded with her to wait until the legal situation was resolved. Once that occurred, Alianda was able to move in and begin a fresh start. 

In the News 

The 4th Annual Keep Portland Playful rolls into Providence Park Nov. 4th at 6 p.m. This fundraiser is a perfect representation of Playworks: incomparably fun and seriously impactful. It’s a celebratory event attended by key sports, business and education leaders that features hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and, of course, fun and games for everyone. The mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

Curious what it looks like? Here’s a 2015 photo recap. For more information or to enter a team, contact portlandinfo@playworks.org

Early Childhood Update

**Peninsula Children’s Learning Center has merged with Neighborhood House. After an intensive, 11-month due diligence period, the Neighborhood House and PCLC boards concur that this move will strengthen both organizations. 

**211 info added staff and programs over the summer and can now provide more specialized resource information to families. Across the agency, staff speak 11 languages: Arabic, Cambodian, English, French, German, Hmong, Samoan, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

211info is now providing child care referrals along with secondary consumer referrals for comprehensive services. Among the services that 211info provides free guidance and information for are:
* Child care
* Behavioral strategies
* School readiness tips
* Early childhood development
* Family stress and anxiety
* Parenting classes and support
* Local play groups
* Foster care support
Child care resource and referral specialists are available by calling 211 from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with multilingual services available. This program is provided in partnership with the Oregon Early Division.