April 15, 2013
At OV, civic engagement is our jam!  Last month our staff was near and far promoting the civic engagement work we do together here in Oregon.   Helena's travels took her to Israel & Palestine as part of a study tour for non-Jewish, progressive leaders.  There Helena found that civic engagement - our tools and tactics - are truly universal and can help to connect us with activists at home and abroad.   
 
Iris & Emily went to Las Vegas for the Nonprofit Vote conference to learn more about engaging service providers. Scroll down for more about their trip. 
 
At home, we've been hard at work with Causa as the Safe Roads Field Campaign has begun to ramp up. But no matter where you are, civic engagement is how we can create communities that reflect the values we hold - equity, opportunity, and safety - here in Oregon and around the world. 
Meeting with Civic Engagement Leaders in Israel & Palestine

Travel notes from Helena Huang, March 2014

 

For eight incredible days, I was traveling with a dozen non-Jewish, progressive leaders from around the US as part of a study tour sponsored by the Israel Action Network.  At first, many of us were skeptical. "Would we be privy to only one-side of the conflict?" we wondered. 

 

Instead, we ended up meeting with an amazing array of diverse and thoughtful community/cultural political leaders, who helped us shape our own opinions about one of the most complicated and compelling places in the world.  We were introduced to the Principal of the Bialik-Rogozin School that provides refugee children and their families with a safe haven and with a top flight

Helena with Matt Singer 
from The Bus Federation

education; Reem Younis, co-founder of Alpha Omega, the first Arab high tech company; MIK Meirav Michaeli of the Labor party of the Knesset's Caucus for female members; the head of the first LGBTQ Center (totally funded by the Israeli government) in TelAviv; and the Director of Peace Now, a leading two-state advocacy organization, for instance, and so many more.   Many of them were just like us -- practical, committed leaders working to improve lives on the ground, affect hearts and minds, and change public policy -- in spite of national leadership more intent on standing still (or running backwards) than moving forward.

 

I was reminded, as good travel can help to do, that social justice activists/civic engagement leaders here in Oregon share so many commonalities with our colleagues in Israel and Palestine.  And, that our current state-based work - whether it's our immigration reform/Safe Roads Campaign, a possible LGBQT Marriage or anti discrimination ballot measure, or a future Right to Work challenge - not only has implications for our country but also for our broader, global community as well.  

May Day Rally! 

On May Day you can join Causa and other groups from the Safe Roads Field Campaign to take a stand for the rights of all Oregonians. This event will kick-off for the Safe Roads Field Campaign to grant driver cards to all Oregon residents, regardless of citizenship status. Plan to be there! 
 
 
Oregon Voice Joins Nonprofit Vote Network

Lasts month, OV's Health & Civic Engagement Coordinator, Iris Hodge, and Communications Coordinator, Emily Jameson, traveled to sunny Las Vegas for Nonprofit Vote's national conference. They connected with other organizations that are also working to bring direct service providers into the world of civic engagement. The conference was a great opportunity to share about Iris' work engaging service providers in Oregon, and to hear what other states are doing to engage Health Clinics and other direct service agencies in doing voter registration.

 

Nonprofit VOTE is the leading source of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their activities and services.  We are excited to be one of their newest partners. Our relationship with Nonprofit Vote means that we are able to pass great resources and training on to all of our partners, too. 


Want to start doing Voter Registration at your organization, but not sure where to start? Check out this webinar on April 17, 11 PST.  Register today!  
In the spirit of civic engagement,

The OV Team

Save-the-Date

Pacific Northwest Regional Hearing at the University of Washington. April 28, 4 - 8 pm. This event is free and Open to the Public. Click Here to submit testimony or to attend.

 

  
OV Brown Bag Conference Series
 
April 29 - Faith Based Organizing with Aubrey Thonvold - Oregon United for Marriage
 
May 14 - Communicating our Messages: Visual & Graphic Design Tips with Kathleen Krushas from To The Point Publications
 
RSVP to Lisa

 

Noon - 1:30 both days

OV Full Table Meeting - May 29 
9:30/10 - 12:30 
 
Orientation for new Table Partners at 9:30, At 10 we'll bring our Full Table together to update you on some of the latest activity & tools.  We'll end with lunch from noon - 12:30. 

Location:
 AFL-CIO
3645 SE 32nd Ave
Portland, OR 97202