July 9, 2007
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org
Archdiocese of Portland announces 2007 Catholic Campaign for Human Development Grants
The Archdiocese of Portland’s Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has announced the awarding of two national grants plus three local grants for 2007. The total amount awarded was $109,500 of which national grants totaled $94,500 and local grants totaled $15,000. The grants are awarded to local community-based projects that seek to end the root causes of poverty.
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development was founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1970. CCHD is the largest private funder of anti-poverty programs which are initiated and led by poor people in the United States. The Catholic Campaign is supported by an annual collection taken in Catholic parishes. Last year parishioners of the Archdiocese of Portland contributed more than $119,200 in support of the CCHD.
The key goals for the CCHD are:
CCHD builds relationships of solidarity
between the privileged and the empowered poor.
The Campaign has a two-fold mandate: to
support self-sufficiency and self-determination among people who are disadvantaged;
and to educate the privileged about poverty conditions.
CCHD invites marginalized people to
enter the circles of exchange in our communities.
We are called to ensure a place for all
of humanity at the table of the family of God.
CCHD enables disadvantaged groups to
gain economic strength and political power.
Poverty impedes the ability to influence
the decisions that impact one’s life. The Campaign funds programs that
foster human dignity and enable the disadvantaged to take control of their
own lives.
The two projects receiving national grants in 2007 were both awarded CCHD grants in previous years. National grants were awarded to:
Organization: Lane Independent Living
Alliance
Project: Full Inclusion
Contact: Carole Patterson
Location: Eugene OR
National Grants: 2007 - $44,500; 2006
- $30,000; 2005 - $30,000; 2004 - $40,000;
2003 - $25,000
Local Grant: 2002 - $4,600
LILA's mission is to increase access, voter participation, and to protect the civil rights for people with disabilities in Lane County. Project Full Inclusion increases the involvement of people with disabilities on local boards and commissions so that they are "at the table" in local decision-making processes. People with disabilities have an important role to play in identifying issues of concern and actively participating in community life to resolve those concerns, including assisting with drafting of new legislation.
Organization: Clackamas Community Land
Trust
Project: Affordable Homeownership
Contact: Nancy Yuill
Location: Milwaukie OR
National Grants: 2007 - $50,000; 2006
- $45,000; 2005 - $35,000
Clackamas Community Land Trust (CCLT)
is a member-based organization that provides permanently affordable homeownership
opportunities to low and moderate income people for generations to come.
A CLT removes land from the speculative market and holds it in trust for
the benefit of the community. The CLT holds title to the land and the homeowner
leases the land from the CLT through a long-term renewable lease. CLTs
balance the needs of individuals to build wealth through homeownership
with the needs of communities to steward their investment in the land.
Projects receiving local grants were:
Organization: Catholic Community Services
Project name: Victory Alliance Leadership
Institute
Contact: Francisco Lopez
Location: Salem, OR
Local Grant: 2007 - $5,000
The goal of Victory Alliance is to expand
consumer choice and control in services for children aging out of foster
care, adults with developmental disabilities, and consumers of mental health
services. Issues addressed in this project include moving from general
problems to concrete, winnable issues. With only very basic tools such
as paper and pencils, consumers are taught how to advocate on their own
behalf on topics regarding Education, Employment, Special Needs Housing,
Special Education, Medicaid and Affordable Prescription Drug Coverage,
Foster Care Services for Children and Youth, Brokerage System for All,
Brokerage Sustainability, Provider Wages and Benefits.
Organization: The Jefferson Center
Project name: Leadership Kitchen
Contact: Sarah Loose
Location: Portland, OR
Local Grant: 2007 - $5,000
The Leadership Kitchen started in April
2007 as a 3-month course that meets biweekly and uses cooking to bring
together Hispanic immigrant women on the northern Oregon Coast. The Jefferson
Center designed the course with a core committee of local women who argued
Hispanic women need their own space to build organizing and leadership
skills, and that long-term relationships in a medium-sized group setting
that includes a social component facilitates true political consciousness-raising.
Every other Saturday, 1-2 women from a group of 15-20 teach a dish, sharing
recipes as well as intimate parts of their cultures, homelands and journeys.
After socializing and eating together, the class moves to “the main course,”
a facilitated session encouraging analysis, consciousness-raising, and
group cohesion. All women are encouraged to take on both teacher and student
roles, and use time out of the classroom to build additional skills.
Organization: Street Roots
Project: Know Your Rights
Contact: Israel Bayer
Location: Portland OR
Local Grants: 2007: $5,000; 2006 $5,000;
2004 $5,000
Street Roots will use CCHD funds for the
printing costs of a wallet size “Know Your Rights” guide for people experiencing
homelessness. The project will be developed in conjunction with the Oregon
Law Center and the Northwest Constitutional Rights Center. The “Know Your
Rights” guide will outline individual’s rights when approached by law enforcement,
laws effecting people on the streets and how to contact legal council.
The guide will also include contact information to the Independent Police
Review Board and the Citizens Review Committee.
Catholic Campaign for Human Development grants are awarded on the basis of need and not on religious affiliation.