2020 Statewide Leaders Gathering-Breakout Sessions

Session One (10:15 a.m.)

Innovative Community-Based Strategies to Address Oregon’s Childcare Crisis. Moderated by Ruby Ramirez, OCF Associate Program Officer, Early Childhood. Panelist: Megan Norris, Central Oregon Child Care Accelerator - This session will provide an overview of childcare challenges and opportunities in Oregon in the era of COVID-19. We’ll take a look at two promising community-based approaches aimed at increasing and stabilizing the supply of high-quality childcare in Oregon.  See the power point presentation here. Watch the recording here.

Landscapes for Generations: The Pacific Northwest Resilient Landscapes Initiative. Moderated by Carlos Garcia, OCF Environmental Resource Officer. Panelists: Owen Wozniak of the Land Trust Alliance and Liz Lawrence of McKenzie River Trust - Please join OCF staff and guest speakers for an update and discussion about how OCF is leading a multi-state effort to conserve the places we love and need while ensuring our lands and communities adapt to climate change. Watch the recording here.

Housing & Homelessness Amidst Disasters. Moderated by Megan Loeb, OCF Associate Program Officer for Economic Vitality and Health. Panelists: Jaylyn Suppah, Community Planner, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; Roberto Franco, Assistant Director of Development Resources & Production, Oregon Housing & Community Services; Erica Alexia Ledesma, Leader of the Latino Story Project at The Hearth. - Oregon's housing and homelessness crisis has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devasting wildfires. Sadly, BIPOC communities have been disproportionately impacted by the dual catastrophes. Join us to learn how communities around Oregon are adapting to the increasing need for shelter and housing and responding with innovative, creative solutions. Watch the recording here.

Partnering and Adapting to Provide Distance Education. Moderated by: Belle Cantor, OCF Program Officer, Education. Panelists: Heidi Larwick, Executive Director, Connected Lane County, Lane County Education Service District; Krista Nieraeth, Principal of Driftwood Elementary and Pacific High School, Port Orford Langlois School District; Nickie Shira, STEM & Innovation Coordinator, Malheur Education Service District. - Hear how school leaders and nonprofits are working and partnering in new ways to support students and families to be successful this school year. Panelists from around Oregon will share what is happening locally to meet the needs of low-income students, students of color, and rural students.  Watch the recording here.

Session Two (11:15 a.m.)

Oregon’s Resilient Latinx Community in times of COVID-19 and Wildfires. Moderated by: Mirna Loreli Cibrian, OCF Program Officer, Latino Partnership Program and Rocio Perez, OCF Coordinator, Latino Partnership Program - In this session, you will hear an update from the Latino Partnership Program (LPP) and how COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires have disproportionately impacted the Latinx community in Oregon. Acknowledging the pain and suffering in the Latinx community, join us for an intimate and sometimes difficult conversation that continues to build onto a movement powered by hope, change and resilience. This will be an intimate conversation and a space for volunteers to learn and reflect.  Watch the recording here.

Statewide Responsive Grantmaking in 2021 (Grant Evaluators Only). Moderated by: Melissa Hansen, OCF Senior Program Officer. Panelist: Candy Solovjovs, OCF Consultant - Please join Community Grants staff and OCF contractor Candy Solovjovs for an update and conversation around how we are adjusting our responsive grantmaking strategies for 2021. This is a space for grant evaluators who support Community Grants and the Walker Fund to come together to reflect, offer input and share how OCF can support their continued engagement through this time of transition. Watch the recording here.

Why Place Matters for Opportunity. Hosted by: Caitlin Ruffenach, OCF Director of Research. - Children who grew up just a few miles apart in families with similar incomes can experience vastly different outcomes. Please join OCF research staff for a sneak peek of the 2020 TOP report that combines groundbreaking analysis from Opportunity Insights, a group of researchers and policy analysts based at Harvard University, with original research conducted by OCF to describe where in Oregon children have the best chance of escaping poverty and why.  Watch the recording here.

Community Response to COVID-19: How organizations are adapting to address community needs exacerbated by the pandemic. Moderated by Niyati Desai, OCF Director of Community Engagement and John Moriarity, OCF Senior Program Officer. Panelists: Gabriela Peden, High Desert Education Service District, Juntos Aprendemos Coordinator; Musse Olol, Somali American Council of Oregon, Chairman and Dr. Tillie MakePeace, pastor of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Director of the Milton-Freewater Ministerial Association
- Hear from Oregon Community Recovery Fund grantees on how COVID-19 has impacted their community and how their organizations have adapted to address critical needs.  Watch the recording here.

Disaster Philanthropy: OCF Wildfire Response & Recovery. Moderated by: Michael Achterman, OCF Philanthropic Advisor. Panelists: Carma Mornarich and Jonathan Chavez Baez, Assistant Director for Latino/a/x Programs & Outreach Support | Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Team, Southern Oregon University Commissioner, Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs (OCHA) - Join us for an overview of disaster philanthropy and OCF's current and future plans to support communities affected by wildfires. Participants are encouraged to share brief updates about the impact of the fires on their communities, in particular, highlighting gaps in services and supports for residents.  Watch the recording here.