Open Mic: The 2022 Legislative Session

We are now past the midway point in this year’s legislative session in Oregon, and we’ve lined up our newsletter to give a progress report on housing, economic, and consumer justice related legislation that is pending in the State Capitol Building.   This month is enormously important for NP, our partners, and the communities we […]

More than machinery, we need humanity; more than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness. – Charlie Chaplin

Last month as part of our monthly consciousness-raising activity we centered our conversation around Partners in Diversity’s Diversity Retention Project. We focused on the section entitled “Experiences at Work” and talked about our own experiences of diversity, or lack of, at work. We also reflected on what we have done to improve support and accountability, […]

Support IDAs in the 2022 Legislative Session!

In January 2022, Governor Brown announced a $400 million request to address Oregon’s continuing housing crisis in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Within this request contains a $35 million request for individual development accounts. The Oregon IDA Initiative is pleased to support this request, and asks for your help in advocating for this important investment […]

Director’s Desk: January 2022

A new year often is a time of optimism and renewal: it can be a chance to start fresh, and to imagine a better future. For many of us, as the COVID-19 pandemic enters another year with another brutal wave, and continued economic inequality and housing instability, it can be difficult to feel optimistic. The […]

Swimming in a pool or a river?

Imagine you are teaching someone to swim. Most likely, you start off in a controlled environment like a shallow pool with clear visibility of the bottom and sides. You teach basic water safety, the mechanics of floating, how to stay calm in the water, how to exhale underwater, the beginning stroke and treading water. That’s […]

Potrait photo of Dr Darrick Hamilton

Thank you Dr. Hamilton

Two weeks ago we had the amazing fortune to hear Dr. Darrick Hamilton speak, and join us here at NP, along with Meyer Memorial Trust to talk about advancing economic justice in Oregon. In case you missed it, you can watch a recording of the event.

Dr. Hamilton has been involved in crafting progressive policy proposals, such as Baby Bonds and a Federal Job Guarantee, which have garnered a great deal of media attention and served as inspirations for legislative proposals at the federal, state and local levels.

portrait photo of Doctor Darrick Hamilton

Director’s Desk: December

Last month, over 300 people convened to hear Dr. Darrick Hamilton share key ideas about Economic Justice, in an event Neighborhood Partnerships was honored to support with Meyer Memorial Trust. If you were not able to join us, you can watch the recording here. Dr. Hamilton articulated important points about the ways our economy has been designed to concentrate wealth and resources, leveraging race and social identity as arbiters of worth, and raising core truths that demand we move boldly to advance an inclusive economic bill of rights.

Director’s Desk: November 2021

November marks a quiet ramp-up of work in Salem as Legislators start finalizing what bills they will be introducing in the 2022 short session before the bill filing deadline later this month. For advocates and organizers, it means “on your marks” and “get set,” before we “go” in February.  As Neighborhood Partnerships is undertaking the exciting journey of hiring an […]

Director’s Desk: October 2021

As we’re settling into the fall season, I’m relieved to see that in many parts of the state, Oregonians are enjoying an uptick in rainfall, which signals the end of our now seasonal wildfire season, and hopefully gives us some peace of mind. On one of these particularly rainy days late last month, the Neighborhood […]

Director’s Desk: September 2021

One year ago, on September 8, 2020, I had the privilege and honor of transitioning into my new role as the Executive Director at Neighborhood Partnerships. This transition has been both one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors I’ve had the opportunity to undertake. It has been a significant change in my life, both in the level […]