Diversity and Civic Leadership Program

Background

In November 2006, the City Council took a historic step toward investing in citywide equity and community engagement by creating the Diversity and Civic Leadership (DCL) Program. As a partnership between City government and community organizations, the DCL Program has the ambitious goal of bringing the voices of all Portlanders which includes our BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities, into decisions that affect their lives. DCL was designed to change the relationship between people and government by providing leadership skill development, all-inclusive culturally-relevant community-building, and new ways to connect with City officials to shape public policy.

The DCL Program provides annual grants to community organizations who use those grant funds to design and implement culturally-specific leadership development programs for the communities they serve. Over the years, DCL has seen grant-funded graduates earning the leadership skills and confidence to run for city council, serve as executive directors of community-based organizations, and advocate for social change in Portland.

View full size image of "I walked away from this program incredibly proud of our way of life and who we are as Indigenous people and what we bring to the world," said Amanda Squiemphen-Yazzie, a graduate of NAYA's DCL program Oregon LEAD. "In addition to the values that were recreated and re-emphasized in this space, I was able to understand how power dynamics work throughout the systems that impact us, and how to organize and build movements."

Participating DCL Nonprofit Organizations and Their Programs:

Urban League’s Advocacy and Civic Engagement (ACE) department works to achieve policy and community change that advances equality, social and economic justice, and civil rights for African Americans and others in Oregon. ACE works to advance the League’s mission of economic empowerment and civil rights through building partnerships and coalitions, advocacy, outreach, civic engagement programs, community events and organizing, policy research and analysis, issue campaigns, and publications that elevate the issues of the community.

Latino Network’s Líderes program aims to increase equity in community involvement by engaging Latinos in the governance of the city. It introduces participants to Portland, Multnomah County, and Metro government structures, officials, and decision-making processes.

NAYA’s Oregon LEAD program provides seven months of interdisciplinary leadership, skill building, professional training, and networking opportunities which build leadership capacity across Native communities throughout Oregon.

IRCO’s Engage program addresses disparities and equity issues for new Oregonians. This culturally-specific leadership project empowers communities of color to identify and understand governance structures, develop leadership opportunities, and foster effective representation on boards, committees, and commissions.

Unite Oregon's PILOT program addresses the challenges faced by emerging immigrant and refugee leaders and groups through leadership and skill building convenings.

The DCL by the Numbers

Each DCL partner has a different starting point and some of these nonprofit groups are bigger than others.

However, the point of investing in BIPOC communities is to showcase Portland’s commitment in investing in programs that clearly demonstrate Portland’s values of anti-racism, collaboration, and equity.   

Civic Life’s DCL program continues to grow, and we are working with community partners to advance, train, and cultivate more leadership opportunities for historically underrepresented and underserved communities.

Promote the Common Good: Civic Life is building stronger communities by supporting and empowering Portlanders. We think, act, and partner with our communities to better understand and take care of their diverse needs. We invite you to join us in this continuous, much needed work to make our communities safer and more welcoming for all.