• 6th year of uniting community members in support of immigrant and refugee rights.
   
• Trained 22 emerging immigrant and refugee leaders through our yearlong program, Pan-Immigrant Leadership and Organizing Training (PILOT).
   
• Recruited 139 new members from 28 different countries to join CIO, bringing our membership total to 445.

• Assisted 150 individuals and families with their immigration legal matters through our STRIDE Program, launched in July.
   
• Opened an on-site media production studio at CIO in October and held workshops, skill shares and open houses attended by 35 members.

• Organized dozens of immigrants and refugees to give testimony at Portland City Council and in the Oregon State Legislature.

• Mobilized thousands to demand change at rallies, protests, and public hearings.
   
• Partnered with over 45 immigrant, refugee and social justice organizations to strengthen the movement for human rights in Oregon.

IN COALITION WITH OUR PARTNERS:

CIO advocated the inclusion of specific racial justice language in Oregon’s successful health care reform bills. This is an important victory that will reshape the way Oregon provides healthcare to people of color, immigrants and refugees.

CIO helped win passage of the Safe Schools for All Youth Act during the 2009 Oregon legislative session, which gives teachers and staff the tools to set clear expectations and hold students accountable for bullying and harassment.

CIO organized Portland's first ever budget event, “Your Money, Your Voice,” co-sponsored by the Office of Management and Finance and community-based organizations. Priorities that emerged during the event were eventually reflected in the City's budget, including full funding for the Office of Human Relations and the City's Diversity and Civic Leadership programs.

Established an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs—Won a citywide resolution in 2006 to protect the rights and liberties of the immigrant and refugee community, to better include them in civic/public life and to provide specific strategies for improving government processes and services. This led to the creation of a task force and the eventual establishment of a Human Rights Commission and an Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs for the City of Portland (passed by City Council in January 16, 2008).

Conducting Community-Based Research—Trained immigrant and refugee organizers to conduct community wide surveys designed to surface immigrant and refugee issues and solutions. Organizers collected 1000 surveys from African, Latino, Arab, Slavic, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities. Results were published in a report, "Uniting Cultures in Portland: Bridging the Gaps in City Policy" and provided to elected officials, community leaders and media.

Developing New Immigrant and Refugee Leaders— The Center identified and brought together a unique group of fifteen first generation immigrant and refugee community members to participate in an intensive, year-long leadership development series, the Pan- Immigrant Leadership Organizing Training (PILOT) Program. The participants, who represented twelve countries and spoke a total of 31 languages, developed the skills necessary to testify in government hearings, hold press conferences, implement short-term issue campaigns and develop the analysis necessary for cross-cultural movement building. These leaders now have the skills and ability to train hundreds of their fellow community members (Graduation was April 2008).

Educating the Community—Produced dozens of forums featuring the voices of local immigrants, refugees, and people of color; launched a popular education program, Refugee and Immigrant Solidarity Education (RISE) Workshops, in which participants work together across cultural lines to develop a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of immigration, political influences on immigration policy and effective community organizing strategies.

Creating a Multicultural Community Gathering Center—CIO has worked with dozens of community-based organizations to push the City of Portland to build a shared space for organizing, leadership development and cross-cultural community building in Portland. The concept and feasibility study are currently underway with the assistance of Planning Bureau staff.