February 5, 2016
Voqal Fund is proud to announce five grants to organizations working toward social justice and equality in the Portland area. These grants — funding projects by Momentum Alliance, Oregon Voice, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Causa and the Oregon Bus Project — build upon Voqal’s commitment to support progressive movements for social change.
Civic Engagement and Equity Leadership Cohorts
The Momentum Alliance, a youth-led nonprofit empowering young people to become future social-justice leaders, will host two youth-led cohorts that focus on building long-term civic engagement and equity advocates. The Civic Engagement and Equity Leadership Cohorts will delve into the history of disenfranchisement, explore complex social issues through storytelling and relationship building and participate in multiple advocacy efforts.
Oregon Voice’s Communications Academy
The Communications Academy, offered by Oregon Voice, will grow community organizations’ capacity and skills in communications work. The academy consists of a training series for organizations working within historically underrepresented communities. Participants will receive training from communications professionals and gain experience working on key 2016 ballot measure education efforts.
Asian Pacific Islander Movement Building in Oregon
The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) is working to strengthen the social justice movement for Asian Pacific Islanders, one of the state’s fastest growing demographics facing rising rates of poverty. With a grant from Voqal Fund, APANO will provide training, technical assistance and other support to provide the Asian Pacific Islander community with the tools to participate in grassroots lobbying in 2016 and beyond.
New Latino Voter Engagement Project
Causa works to improve the lives of Oregon’s Latino immigrants and their families through advocacy, coalition building, leadership development and civic engagement. Causa’s New Latino Voter Engagement Project will develop the organization’s first Latino Equity Voter list through identification of and outreach to newly registered Latino voters through the New Motor Voter law that supports social and economic justice issues.
Engaged Electorate with New Motor Voter and Expansion of Voting Access
The Oregon Bus Project is working to increase voter access for millennials and build capacity within the New Motor Voter movement to build a strong millennial voice in Oregon while advancing voter access among young people, low-income communities and people of color. The Engaged Electorate with New Motor Voter and Expansion of Voter Access project will help the Oregon Bus Project continue to turn out voters who care about social-justice issues and favor a more inclusive Oregon.
Read more about Voqal Fund.