East Portland Resilience Coalition (EPRC)

ROSE Community Development is the fiscal sponsor of EPRC project. For inquiries regarding EPRC, please contact  epresiliencecoalition@gmail.com

You can find EPRC work at https://eastportlandresiliencecoalition.com/

Mission and Purpose:

EPRC is a new community coalition whose mission is to facilitate Community Resilience planning by identifying and prioritizing innovative projects that will benefit the thirteen, diverse neighborhoods of East Portland that are aligned with the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP). EPRC is a new direct action initiative of EPAP that values Community Resilience planning that aligns with the PCEF definition, “Resilience refers to the ability to withstand and recover from disruptions. A resilient community has social and environmental systems that are less vulnerable to disruption and more able to recover and adapt when disruption does occur.”

EPRC formed in late 2020, with the two-year purpose of centering the voices of families and residents of the 13 neighborhoods to increase the capacity of neighborhoods and organizations in East Portland to build Community Resilience in response to disruptive events like the pandemic or environmental disasters. We will develop community projects and prioritize innovative ideas that benefit residents of East Portland. EPRC is a new direct action initiative that values Community Resilience planning that aligns with the advocacy, actions and activities that are in the East Portland Action Plan. All residents, community organizations and agencies are welcome to participate in the public discussion session planned for this project.

EPRC Priority Project for 2021:

With a Planning Grant from a Portland Clean Energy Fund, EPRC will conduct a Community Resilience initiative from May 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022. As part of the initiative, we will hold monthly public meetings that center community discussions around the PCEF work-group categories of:

  • Regenerative agriculture and green infrastructure projects.
  • Workforce Green jobs training.
  • Innovative programs that reduce greenhouse gases and promote economic, social and
    environmental benefits.
  • Clean energy projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.

EPRC is devoted to social and environmental justice goals.

We will develop a plan for Community Resilience to recover and adapt to future pandemics and disasters that broadly disrupt basic services.

Primary activities will include:

  • Collect and record lived experiences from disruptive event in 2020 from individuals and families
  • Identify activities/projects to address impacts on neighborhoods and families
  • Foster collaborative action to create a healthier more resilient neighborhood environment

Benefits of the EPRC initiative will include:

  • Prioritized project ideas for PCEF implementation and funding
  • A Community Resilience Plan for 13 neighborhoods
  • A better understanding of actions taken at the neighborhood level to mitigate
    disproportionately adverse impacts of 2020
  • An increased capacity for volunteer run organizations to apply for funding to further Community Resilience, and
  • An improved ability of neighborhoods in East Portland to work collaboratively for common goals

Partner Organizations and Affiliated Supporters

Voting Partners with signed 2-year Memorandum of Agreement:

Black Community of Portland: B.C.P. is a Community Based Organization with a passion for networking, sharing resources and collective work. www.facebook.com/BCPpublic/

Brown Hope: We lead community-grounded initiatives to make justice a lived experience for Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in Oregon. www.brownhope.org

Centennial Community Association: The purpose of CCA is to enhance the livability of the community; to establish and maintain an open, objective line of communication and relationships among the community and all interested stakeholders. https://www.eastportland.org/centennial

Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team: Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) is open to folks who live, work, and/or spend time in Centennial! www.facebook.com/CentennialNET

Community Energy Project: Community Energy Project provides free home services focused on safety, health, and energy efficiency. We provide free community education and supplies, as well as direct home energy upgrades and repairs. https://www.communityenergyproject.org

Division Midway Alliance: is dedicated to improving life along southeast Division Street. http://divisionmidway.org

Growing Gardens: Growing Gardens uses the experience of growing food in schools, backyards and correctional facilities to cultivate healthy and equitable communities. https://www.growing-gardens.org

Grow Portland: Grow Portland exists to connect the community to the natural world and healthy food by creating and supporting vibrant and productive school-based garden sites that engage the entire learning community. https://www.growportland.org/

Guerreras Latinas: Guerreras Latinas is dedicated to serving Latina women in the Portland Metro Area by providing them the support and resources they need. It is a newly established organization without a website at the moment.

Historic Parkrose: Historic Parkrose is committed to increasing social equity, economic opportunity, and safety in Portland’s Parkrose district. http://historicparkrose.com

Impact NW: Dancing Tree Family Center mission is to prevent homelessness by partnering with people as they navigate their journey to stability and opportunity. https://impactnw.org/

Learning to Live: is a new nonprofit with the goal of providing education and systems navigation tools for youth in order to identify and develop skills relating to key facets of everyday American life.

New Avenues Rockwood: Outreach to and wraparound supports for youth in East Multnomah County experiencing housing instability and homelessness; programming for LGBTQ youth, youth in foster care, and youth involved in sex trafficking. https://newavenues.org/east

Outgrowing Hunger: Outgrowing Hunger cares for people by nurturing connection to nature, food, and community. https://outgrowinghunger.org/

ROSE Community Development: ROSE’s mission is to connect our community to build good homes, healthy families, and neighborhood opportunities in outer southeast Portland. https://rosecdc.org/

Serendipity Center: Serendipity is a non-profit therapeutic school serving at-risk students whose complex needs prevent success in other settings. http://www.serendipitycenter.org/

Affiliate Participant Organizations:

Bike Works by p:ear: p:ear builds positive relationships with homeless youth through education, art and recreation to affirm personal worth and create more meaningful and healthier lives. https://www.pearmentor.org

East Portland Action Plan: The purpose of the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP) Economic Development Subcommittee is to develop a strong business environment that strengthens existing businesses, promotes new businesses, and expands family wage jobs in East Portland. http://eastportlandactionplan.org

Lents Neighborhood Association: Lents Neighborhood Association Inc. (LNA), is a non‐profit corporation, that follows the Standards for Neighborhood Associations, and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.

Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association: To serve as a body in order to gather, enlighten, inform, celebrate, champion, empower, and support our Powellhurst-Gilbert neighbors, businesses, homes, schools, environment, and those invested in the neighborhood. https://www.pgpride.org

Rosewood Initiative: Building a safe, healthy and vibrant community where neighbors can thrive together. https://www.rosewoodinitiative.org
Trash for Peace: Provide hands-on, creative experiences that encourage resilient communities. https://www.trashforpeace.org

Unite Oregon: Unite Oregon is a community-based organization led by and for people of color, immigrants, refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty. www.uniteoregon.org

Woodland Park Neighborhood Association: Neighborhood Association for the Woodland Park Neighborhood.