DREAM BIG GRANT AWARD

WomenFirst Transition and Referral Center - Portland. -$100,000

“Our “Dream Big Vision” is to expand upon our successes in peer mentorship, recovery, and transitional housing by opening a new after-hours center for Women in recovery, called Let’s Connect. All of our work at WomenFirst is directly informed by the women we serve–Black Women and Women of Color who tell us they are in desperate need of a safe, culturally-specific, substance-free, positive environment where they can socialize with other women who understand what they are going through. WomenFirst leadership dreams of expanding our Let’s Connect monthly meetings into a positive place for women and children. We envision a fun and welcoming environment that is centrally located in Gresham for women to visit when they’re in need of connection and joy.

Let’s Connect drop-in center: open in evenings and on weekends to women in our program have a place to play music and games, sing karaoke, and recreate with other women in recovery staffed and operated by women who graduate out of our I Love Me Empowerment program food provided by community volunteers and donors on a rotating basis childcare and family-friendly activities to include whole family pop-up events, activities and educational opportunities.

PORTLAND WOMEN/GIRLS HEALTH AND SAFETY GRANT

Triple Threat Mentoring - Portland - $20,000

We will use these funds to further community safety by providing our mentees with employment and programming opportunities throughout the summer months. Our programming during the summer months includes career exploration trips, college tours, activities where our mentees get to be kids against, as well as STEAM programming through our partnership with NE STEAM Coalition and the Community Violence Prevention Alliance. Not only does this ensure our mentees are engaged in pro-social, positive activities, it provides them opportunity to further develop their leadership skills, meet professionals that look like them, begin preparing for their future post high school, and gain valuable employment experience. We believe consistent engagement is crucial for the wellbeing of the girls we serve, especially in the summer months when their days are not filled with school and sports.

Wild Diversity - Portland - $20,000

Wild Diversity is increasing the number of BIPOC women and girls who see the outdoors as a place for them. We accomplish this by: BUILDING COMMUNITY through outdoor adventures, day and weekend trips, and workshops; PROVIDING RESOURCES through outdoor skills building workshops, our gear library and community partnerships; and DECOLONIZING OUTDOOR SPACES through diverse leadership development training and centering our communities needs above all else.

We apply a community-centered design model to all our programming. Meaning, we design our approaches, adventures, and curriculum around the needs of some of the most marginalized communities (particularly BIPOC women). In doing so, we are inherently creating safer and more welcoming spaces for women and girls more broadly.

OK You & Guerreras Latinas - Portland - $20,000

Our budget allots stipends for workshop planning and the facilitation of 10 workshops (2 facilitators/each), with up to 8 new workshop leaders emerging from Guerras Latinas members. OK You will provide 2 professional development workshops for participants — planning, training, and hands-on experience with facilitation, public speaking, community advocacy, and understanding/ administration of community-supporting resources. Funds will also support co-creation of OK You creative wellness projects and materials as well as the creation and printing of wellness-supporting materials for community outreach. Funds will underwrite new project/resource development with the Guerras Latinas community and professional advisement — facilitation of community forums and development of up to 3 new projects, to be promoted and shared on OK You’s website for use by 9000+ users.

FaithBridge LLC - Portland - $20,000

FaithBridge Portland has been approached by additional schools in both the Portland and David Douglas School Districts about bringing the Brown Girl Brave Girl program to their school. We are currently doing services at an alternative school in Portland as well as starting a new evening group at our building, but we do not have the staff currently to cover additional sites. Should we be privileged to get these funds we would hire an additional part-time Girls Mentor and begin services at a school in the David Douglas School District that is anxious to have their girls participate in our program. This particular school is struggling with a huge increase in disciplinary issues with their Black and Brown girl population. There's been increased fighting and bullying, and the overall school climate is suffering. We have talked to school staff and FaithBridge would partner with them on their school safety plan - with Brown Girl Brave Girl becoming an integral part of that safety plan.

Water Strong Initiative - Portland - $20,000

Communities often assume responsibility for the safety hazards in and around the aquatic and swimming sites they are host to, and the water itself. As visitors become familiar with the location, their awareness of the safety considerations become more refined, and they can communicate to others the hazards of certain traffic patterns in a parking lot, the availability and use of safety equipment and first responders, and potential contaminants and underwater hazards. WaterStrong empowers individuals to fully comprehend the unique safety considerations at every Eco-Swim clinic site and delivers the skills training for participants to be able to respond to hazards and empower others to embrace safety around water in a strengths-based manner. In the State of Oregon, women and minorities (especially black and Latina women) are under-represented among first responders. It is our goal to reverse that trend. In the spirit of community, we build each other up to develop invaluable lifesaving skills, we don’t mess around, and we look out for each other.

No annual grants were awarded in 2022

PDX Sex Worker Resource Project - Portland

We understand just how different everyone's situation is, which is why we believe financial empowerment tailored to the individual can bridge some of the "gaps" that exist within other services. In conjunction with our financial aid program, we also offer resource referral and advocacy navigating systems. In the coming year, we hope to expand even more with increased outreach to street-based sex workers, expungement clinics, community art projects, and "free stores" for safer sex supplies and essential items.

$10,000 - January 2021

Raphael House - Portland

Thanks to community support, the families we serve are ending the cycle of violence and building lives without abuse. Together we are working toward a future without domestic and sexual violence, and where oppression in any form is not tolerated.

$10,200 - April 2020

Raphael House’s emergency domestic violence shelter provides a life-saving service that is particularly essential during this public health crisis. At a time when families are asked to shelter in place, those living with violence face greater threats inside their home—in close proximity to their abuser—than outside. Given the unique challenges facing survivors, we are prioritizing keeping our shelter operational while ensuring the safety of both residents and staff.

Ori Art Gallery - Portland

Ori Gallery is the brain child of the creative duo Maya Vivas & Leila Haile. Together they seek to reclaim and redefine "the white cube" through amplifying the voices of Trans and Queer Artists of color, community organizing and mobilization through the arts.

$10,500 April 2020

All grants in 2019 were immediate impact grants.

Red Lodge Transition Services - Statewide

Red Lodge Transition Services is a Native American led organization that provides culturally focused programs for women releasing from jail, prison or treatment.

$37,500 - May 2018

Support for costs to house Native American women released from prison, jail or treatment programs, including housing, utilities, food, and household goods. Support for a Transition Center Coordinator position.

Mano a Mano - Salem

Mano a Mano helps strengthen ALL families, in particular those who are low income, Latino, or immigrant to become self-sufficient and active contributors to the well-being of their community.

$27,500 - May 2018

Capacity support to address the urgent need for a dedicated community organizer to develop grassroots-led systems and cultural change efforts in the area.

Momentum Alliance - Portland

Momentum Alliance is a youth-led nonprofit whose mission is to inspire youth to realize their power individually and collectively and to mentor social justice leaders. Our goal is to create a regional network of young social justice leaders who will diversify decision making in the public, private, and nonprofit sector.

$22,500 - May 2018

Support for the Reproductive Justice Youth Advocates program.

Rural Organizing Project - Statewide

Rural Organizing Project strengthens the skills, resources and vision of rural leadership working for a just and inclusive democracy in rural and small town Oregon.

$17,500 - May 2018

Support for leadership development work with women in rural Oregon.

Family Forward - Statewide

Our mission is to create a family-forward Oregon where all families can be economically secure and have the time it takes to care for a family. Today, too many families are forced to sacrifice one or the other. But we’re working hard to change that by engaging and partnering with parents, employers and policy-makers to create innovative, forward-thinking approaches to work and family

$10,000 - May 2017

Staff support for public policy organization focusing on passing and implementing a paid family and medical leave insurance program for all Oregonians.

Oregon Justice Resource Center - Portland

We work to promote civil rights and improve legal representation for communities that have often been underserved in the past: people living in poverty and people of color among them. We work in collaboration with other, like-minded, organizations to maximize our reach to serve underrepresented populations, to train future public interest lawyers, and to educate our community on civil rights and current civil liberties concerns.

$20,000 - May 2017

Program support for the Women in Prison Project, providing legal assistance and direct services to clients of Red Lodge Transition Services housed in Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

Domestic Violence Services Inc. - Pendleton

It is the purpose of Domestic Violence Services, Inc. to provide services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and to work toward ending violence within the community, now and in the future.

$25,000 - May 2017

Support increased outreach in rural service areas of Umatilla and Morrow Counties through regional staffing, outreach materials, and educational programs.

Clackamas Women's Services - Clackamas

The mission of Clackamas Women's Services is to foster the empowerment of survivors so they can establish lives free of domestic and sexual violence. Our commitment is to break the isolation of domestic and sexual violence for all survivors and help them reconnect to a social fabric in which they feel valued, supported, and to which they contribute meaningfully.

$20,000 - May 2017

Operational support to fund a Latina Services Coordinator position and supporting the implementation and expansion of a Promotoras direct service program for Latinx survivors.

Adelante Mujeres - Forest Grove

Adelante Mujeres provides holistic education and empowerment opportunities to low income Latina women and their families to ensure full participation and active leadership in the community.

$30,000 - May 2016

Program support for the Adult Education program, providing literacy, finance, job training, and parenting classes to Latina women with children.

Jackson County SART - Ashland

Jackson County SART works to ensure an effective, collaborative response to sexual assault that prioritizes victims’ needs and reduces the traumatic after-effects of this crime; to help bring more offenders to justice; and to prevent sexual violence through community engagement and change.

$10,000 - May 2016

Program support for the organization’s most urgently-needed programs: sexual assault acute response and Sexual Assault Survivors’ Healing group (SASH).

Building Healthy Families - Enterprise

Building Healthy Families strengthens families through proven family education and support programs and helps create family environments that ensure children's school readiness, success, and life skills.

$20,000 - May 2016

Program & operational support for basic services for mothers and new parents, new phone systems, and resources for 3rd to 5th graders through Girls on the Run.

Innovative Changes - Portland

Our mission is to help people build their long-term financial health, and our vision is a society where all people have access to safe, affordable financial products and services and the ability to use them well.

$25,000 Legacy Award - May 2015

Program support for the The Women’s Financial Leadership Group financial workshops.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. - Portland

Dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education, leadership and mentorship.

$25,000 Legacy Award - May 2015

Funds used to create a new website and targeted advertising for women of color seeking information about apprenticeship in the trades.