(Portland, OR) –
Portland City Council has authorized Portland Parks & Recreation’s Community Partnership Program and Teen Collaborative Initiative Grants for distribution, continuing the Bureau’s support for organizations that provide a broad spectrum of services to Portlanders.
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is awarding $1.32 million over two years to community organizations as part of the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy).
"Portland’s parks and recreation opportunities anchor our neighborhoods and our communities,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Carmen Rubio. “I’m grateful to Portlanders for overwhelmingly passing the Parks Levy so we could increase grant support and continue Portland Parks & Recreation’s long history of collaboration with community organizations.”
The Teen Collaborative Initiative has been a staple of PP&R teen programming since 2015, not only providing services to youth, but also facilitating an ongoing youth service-learning community for grantee organizations which supports program quality improvement and networking.
“The response from community partners to this grant opportunity was incredible,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Adena Long. “Strengthening the network of community partners who serve youth is critical, now, more than ever.”
The grants will expand PP&R’s capacity to reach underserved communities and center equity, particularly working to better serve: Black People, Indigenous People, People of Color, Immigrants and Refugees, families earning low incomes, LGBTQIA+ people, and individuals living with disabilities. Grants will provide targeted financial and in-kind support to partner organizations that bring knowledge, expertise, resources, and a focused approach to serving culturally specific communities.
“I am so proud of Portland Parks and Recreation staff and partner organizations who have built the Teen Collaborative Initiative over the past seven years,” adds Director Long. “I am excited for the future of the Community Partnership Program, and the expanded grant support we are able to provide because of Portlanders’ support of the Parks Levy.”
About the Teen Collaborative Initiative and Community Partnership Program
Building on the success of the Teen Collaborative Initiative and with support from the Parks Local Option Levy (Parks Levy), PP&R established the Community Partnership Program. Through the Community Partnership Program, PP&R is expanding support to organizations that are engaging and centering underserved youth and teens in a broader range of recreational activities, including arts focused and sports focused organizations, as well as greening activities that will introduce youth to stewardship of natural areas, tree care, environmental science, and help them to develop skills that will prepare them for careers in the green sector.
The shared goals of the Community Partnership Program and Teen Collaborative Initiative grants in this award cycle are to:
- Increase the capacity of youth and teen service organizations to engage and center underserved youth and teens in a broad range of recreational and greening activities.
- Strengthen PP&R’s network of partnerships and increase the capacity of organizations that bring knowledge, expertise, resources, and a focused approach to serving culturally specific communities.
- Expand PP&R’s capacity to reach underserved youth and teens and to increase equity.
- Build and strengthen partnerships with youth service organizations that can support the recruitment and sustainment of teens and young adults for employment with the City of Portland.
The list of grantees and a summary of their grant activities can be found on the PP&R Community Partnership Program and Teen Collaborative Initiative webpage at portland.gov/parks/cpp
For information about Portland Parks & Recreation’s TeenForce and teen programming, visit portland.gov/parks/teenforce/teenforce-pass
###