Center for Intercultural Organizing
  2007 by the Numbers

• 4th year of uniting community members in support of immigrant and refugee rights.

• Trained 50 new allies through our six-week long Refugee and Immigrant Solidarity Education (RISE) Workshops.

• Educated over 1000 community members at CIO forums and events.

• Supported 15 emerging immigrant and refugee leaders through our yearlong program, Portland Immigrant Leadership and Organizing Training (PILOT).

• Hosted 20 Liberty and Justice for All house parties as part of a national effort to restore civil rights and due process.

• Partnered with over 45 immigrant, refugee and social justice organizations to strengthen the movement for human rights in Oregon.

• Assisted 120 individuals and families through direct advocacy in the courts, hospitals, and at social service centers.

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

• Mobilized thousands to demand change at rallies, protests, and public hearings.

• Co-convened a grassroots table of over 35 organizations to fight 2 anti-immigrant ballot measures coming in 2008.

• Recruited 129 new members from 54 different countries to join the Center for Intercultural Organizing.

Creation of Portland's Immigrant & Refugee Task Force—The Center hosted two public discussions in the Council Chambers of Portland’s City Hall, which together were attended by 300 immigrant/refugee community members. This work led to the development of a citywide resolution, introduced by the mayor and passed unanimously by City Council, to protect the rights and liberties of the immigrant and refugee community and to better include them in civic and public life (October 18, 2006). A task force has been established to recommend concrete steps the City of Portland can take.

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.

Working to Eliminate Racial Profiling— In May and June of 2006, the Center joined with Oregon Action, the NW Constitutional Rights Center and others to host a series of five Community Listening Sessions on racial profiling by police [read the report]. About 45 Portland police officers and over 267 community members participated. On October 19, 2006 the Portland City Council accepted the six recommendations derived from the listening sessions. A Racial Profiling Commission was subsequently established and funded.

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.

Upholding Civil Liberties—Advocated for a resolution to protect civil rights and to reduce discrimination and harassment in the era of the USA PATRIOT Act, which passed the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners 4-1 (Dec. 9, 2004) [read the report]; successfully advocated for Portland’s eventual pullout from the Joint Terrorism Task Force (Apr. 28, 2005).

Raising Visibility and Awareness of Immigrants and Refugees—Produced the Global Portland Festival, which involved hundreds of diverse volunteers and nearly 120 community organizations, attended by 6,000 people (Sept. 11, 2004/2005).