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 […]
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.
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 […]
We’re hiring!
We are hiring an IDA Program & Training Specialist! Neighborhood Partnerships (NP) manages the Oregon Individual Development Account (IDA) Initiative. We raise funds, collect data, and coordinate the IDA-related work of ten non-profit direct service and network partners statewide. With an IDA, Oregonians with low incomes have their savings for an education, home, small business […]
Neighborhood Partnerships has gone (temporarily) remote!
As of August 1, 2021, the Neighborhood Partnerships team will be working remotely as we reimagine our office space, ensuring that our physical space reflects our equity goals. We anticipate a return to a physical office in late spring of 2022. NP prioritizes equity in all our work, and one of our core equity agreements […]
Director’s Desk: August 2021
As I left the NP offices for the last time before the lockdown back in March of 2020, some of my last goodbyes were to the two indoor weeping figs trees we had in our office. After experiencing working amongst trees, I thought to myself how I would miss their calming and refreshing energy with me while at work but figured like many that we would be back to working from our office […]