| 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. |