The 2014 MLK Day of service was a resounding success for ORCC, our member campuses, and our partner service sites in the southeast Portland area.

The day started with an inspirational rally at David Douglas High School.  The volunteers were treated to talks, a musical performance, and visit from Senator Jeff Merkley.

Over 800 college volunteers fanned out to 14 service locations and spent the day giving back to their communities.  They also focused on college access by creating thousands of college preparatory pamphlets that will be used to inspire high school juniors.  To read more about this experience, click on our MLK Day page.

We are getting ready for the 2014 MLK Day of Service at Oregon Campus Compact.  Currently, we have nearly 1000 students ready to do service at 15 different locations around the Portland area.  The day will begin with an inspirational rally at David Douglas High School with service projects beginning soon after.  There will be neighborhood cleanups, gardening, painting projects, care kit creation, a food drive, and much more. 

Oregon Campus Compact is pleased to announce the selection of three host sites for our Connect2Complete program; Clackamas Community College, Lane Community College, and Umpqua Community College.  These community colleges will have AmeriCorps members placed at their campuses who will work with the developmental education faculty to build community-engaged learning into DE curriculum and serve as peer advocates for DE students.

Connect2Complete will work with the service learning programs already in place at Clackamas Community College and Lane Community College, and begin developing a service learning program at Umpqua Community College.

The goals of this initiative: to increase the rate students successfully completing and enrolling in transferrable, credit-bearing coursework, increase GPAs, address affordability through a $1,000 education award per AmeriCorps member, and to develop service projects to increase understanding and impact pressing needs in communities.

For more information about becoming a host site, click here, or contact Josh Todd, Executive Director, with questions at josh@oregoncampuscompact.org or 503-406-3575.

ORCC's Connect2Complete program model is based on a national Campus Compact program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is operating in Washington, Ohio, and Florida. This program is made possible through the following partnerships:

As the year comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the great moments that made 2013 memorable for all of us at Oregon Campus Compact.

We celebrated the fourth annual MLK Day of Service by organizing a massive effort to collect, clean and redistribute books for children.  700 students from nine colleges and universities lent their time and effort to this task.

Over 40,000 books were distributed into low-income homes, libraries, and schools in Multnomah County.  The economic impact of the volunteer hours was worth over $46,182.

Alternative Breaks are short term immersion trips which are opportunities for service and connection.  In 2013, fourteen of our member campuses organized and implemented an Alternative Spring Break excursion.   Students travelled to Jonestown, Mississippi to serve while gardening, house painting, and tutoring.  Students worked to alleviate hunger and homelessness in San Francisco.  Trips served both local communities and communities as far away as Hawaii and Nicaragua.  Click here to see the map of all of our Alternative Breaks.

Under the helm of new Executive Director, Josh Todd, Oregon Campus Compact held the first Presidential Dinner in ten years with 14 presidents in attendance.  The theme was: "Presidential Leadership & Collective Impact: How Presidents are Redefining Community Partnerships to Improve Student Outcomes."

Membership continued to grow in 2013 as ORCC welcomed Tillamook Bay Community College as a new member.  ORCC also welcomed back previous member campuses, National College of Naturopathic Medicine and Mt. Hood Community College.

ORCC welcomed Dr. Jessica Howard, President of Portland Community College Southeast Campus as a new member of Oregon Campus Compact's Board.  Dr. Howard supports ORCC's mission with a particular focus on the power of service on community college campuses.

In April, we gathered at Picnic House in downtown Portland to host "A Night in Serve-landia."  The event was a rousing success, with our extended community turning out to support us.

In total, we brought in 75 new donors and raised $12,000. All proceeds will benefit Oregon Campus Compact to help ensure every Oregon student graduates as an engaged, global citizen.

In 2013, we said goodbye to our former AmeriCorps VISTA team and welcomed 23 new VISTAs.  These ORCC VISTA members were busy this year performing many tasks related to poverty alleviation around their communities including; the creation of a scholarship fund for students interested in taking Alternative Breaks, the organization of a Homeless and Awareness Week,
and the creation of multiple programs that helped under served students file for FAFSA, apply for scholarships and learn how to become model college students.

ORCC Hosted its first statewide LeaderShape Institute.  LeaderShape is a dynamic, challenging, and exciting week long event intended to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants.  Thirty-two students from eight Oregon colleges and universities took on this challenge and emerged with the motivation to make a lasting impact on their campuses and in their communities.

ORCC started a new program, Connect2Complete, which is focused on improving graduation rates for Oregon community college students through community-engaged learning and service.  Connect2Complete is based on a national Campus Compact program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is currently operating in Washington, Ohio, and Florida.  With support from Oregon Volunteers and the Corporation for National and Community Service, ORCC will bring Connect2Complete to 8 community college campuses.

2013 was a year of staff transitions.  Sadly, we had to say goodbye to longtime ORCC staff members Signe Bishop, McKenzie Miller, and Emily Gilliland who moved on to Oregon Health and Sciences University, Girls on the Run, and HandsOn Network respectively.  We welcomed Josh Todd as our Executive Director and Kendra Henry as our AmeriCorps VISTA Program manager.

Reflecting on the struggles and victories of 2013, we welcome 2014 with open arms.  We intend to take our successes and build upon them.  We look forward to hosting the second annual LeaderShape conference.  We are getting geared up and excited for the 2014 MLK Day of Service.  We are going to repeat the successes of "A Night in Serve-Landia" and Alternative Spring Break.  We look forward to breaking new ground with the Connect2Complete program, sowing new seeds and seeing what connections grow. 

Thank you friends, family, alums, and supporters, for a wonderful 2013.  We look forward to your continuing support to make 2014 even better.

Oregon Campus Compact hosted its second In-service Training at the Aldersgate Retreat Center in Turner Oregon.  The ORCC staff and VISTA members spent two days at Aldersgate strengthening our community, supporting each others' needs, and digging deep into questions of equity and oppression.

The weekend began with many introductions.  Firstly, the ORCC VISTAs were introduced to Kendra Henry, our new Program Manager.  The VISTAs also introduced themselves in depth, having to answer the question "Who are you?" by defining the most important aspects of themselves to their peers.

The in-service training continued with presentations on the topic of equity and empowerment. The ORCC VISTAs had lively and engaging discussions on race and social justice as it related to society, their service sites, and their lives. They also engaged in an in depth presentation and exercise exploring the topic of oppression.

Highlights of the weekend included:

• Allisha Tull led a very engaging activity on the Needs & Haves of VISTA members. This allowed individuals to identify the skills and tools of others and work together to provide quality service to their respective service sites and the communities they work in.
• Josh Todd provided a thought provoking, in-depth discussion about Equity & Racial Justice using key work from the Equity and Empowerment Lens. After the training, VISTA members will have to opportunity to participate in a monthly web training about Equity and Racial Justice from a leading scholar on the topic.
• Hannah Forman led an inspiring, thought provoking, and engaging activity called Theater of the Oppressed. The Theater of the Oppressed was created by Augusto Boal to use theatre as means of promoting social and political change.  During this experience, VISTAs were able to recognize oppression through scenes they acted out, confront oppressive speech and behaviors, and learn how to use the tools they learned in their daily lives.

Through these discussions of power and privilege, we found that we all brought different ideas to the table and took away new lessons.  We found that we all had things that we needed and things that we could give to each other.  We finished the weekend in the spirit of mutual support that strengthened our community and in turn, our work. 

Oregon Campus compact has partnered with Cover Oregon to sponsor ORCC MLK Day of Service 2014.  Our MLK Day of Service focuses on increasing college access for underserved populations.  Lacking healthcare is a barrier to college access which continues the cycle of poverty.

Many more individuals, families and small businesses in Oregon can now find health insurance and savings to help pay for it. Cover Oregon, the state’s new health insurance marketplace, opened on Oct. 1, and makes it easier to find health and dental insurance that works for you and your family.

The first step is to find a certified insurance agent or community partner who can help you get started. Go to CoverOregon.com or call 1-855-CoverOR (1-855-268-3767) to find help for free, in many languages.

Right now at CoverOregon.com you can look at plans from different insurance companies and compare them to see what might be best for you. You can also estimate the savings you might receive to help pay for your plan.

Later in October you can find out your actual savings on private plans, or if you are eligible for Oregon Health Plan and Healthy Kids. You’ll also be able to enroll in a plan—either with an agent or community partner, or on you own online. No matter when you enroll between now and December 15th, coverage starts January 1. Oregon Healthy Plan and Healthy Kids enrollment can happen at any time.

For more information, visit CoverOregon.com or call 1-855-CoverOR (toll free 1-855-268-3767). The Cover Oregon service center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and can help people in many languages.

Letters of Intent Due Friday, January 31, 2014

Oregon Campus Compact is pleased to announce the release of the 2014-2015 Request for Proposals (RFP) for our AmeriCorps VISTA Program. This program provides campuses a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA Member to focus on capacity building of programs that alleviate poverty, most specifically by addressing educational disparities and inequity.

ORCC AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS WILL:

•     Build organizational capacity for projects focused on alleviating poverty
•     Foster reciprocal partnerships between community-based organizations and campuses
•     Enhance the quality of campus community service and service-learning programs
•     Improve student leadership in service and the number of students in direct service with the community

Linked below you will find the RFP for the VISTA program.  Program Supervisor, Kendra Henry is available for application assistance.

ORCC Full-time AmeriCorps VISTA RFP (this is a fillable form, so please make sure to download the original)

Letter/Email of Intent to apply due to ORCC.  Please state the number of VISTAs you hope to apply for in a brief (1-2 paragraph) summary of your project concept. Send to kendra@oregoncampuscompact.org.

•     January 31, 2014

Technical assistance conference calls (choose ONE)

•     February 4, 2014 at 10am OR
•     February 14, 2014 at 11am OR
•     February 19, 2014 at 2pm

Call Details (for all call options):
Dial 605-475-4700
Enter Access Code 421222, then #
Please RSVP to kendra@oregoncampuscompact.org
VISTA Project Proposals due to ORCC

•     March 7, 2014 at 5pm

Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone who might be interested in hosting an ORCC AmeriCorps Member in the 2014-2015 service year. We look forward to hearing from you!

Oregon Campus Compact welcomes our new AmeriCorps VISTA Program Manager, Kendra Henry.  She will manage all elements of the AmeriCorps VISTA program including the planning, implementation and evaluation of the program while collaborating with our member campuses.  Kendra brings to ORCC a wealth of experience through years of mentoring, service, and volunteering.

Kendra served as an AmeriCorps member with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee (Wisconsin) participating in the SPARK Early Literacy Program.  She provided one-on-one instruction and mentoring to struggling readers in grades K-3. The program aimed to eliminate the growing educational gap for students from traditionally underserved populations. She also managed an AmeriCorps program at Northwest Youth Corps in Eugene Oregon, which focused on eradicating educational disparities through service learning, tutoring, leadership development, and outdoor education.

One of Kendra's passions is mentoring.  She had been a mentor for over 4 years through the YMCA of Albany, Oregon.  When asked what drew her toward mentoring, she responded, "If you have the resources to give, if you have the opportunity to mentor, you should do so."  She then added, "I think everyone should mentor."

In her personal life, Kendra enjoys being active.  She enjoys playing a variety of sports including football, softball, basketball and volleyball.  She also works as a sports official for basketball and volleyball games.  In addition to team sports, she likes outdoor activities as well.  She enjoys hiking and camping.  At least once a year she travels to Mayfield Lake in Washington with her family.  

Kendra aspires to bring her experiences and drive to her new position at ORCC.  She wants to develop and grow the program while connecting people and building a network of support.  She says she is looking forward to this position, and we at ORCC are looking forward to working with her

Sadly we at ORCC must wish McKenzie Miller Bon Voyage as she heads off to her exciting new job.  We asked her to reflect on her time at ORCC and what life lessons she took home from her experiences.

Before working at Oregon Campus Compact, I had no idea that any one's college experience was much different than mine. I had no idea how deeply engaged Oregon campuses were in their communities and how connected students were to impacting the issues they care about most. However, working as the AmeriCorps VISTA Leader for the 2010-2011 team and then becoming the Communications Coordinator and eventually the Communications and Development Manager, I got to see how campuses and communities are improving the places students live, work, and study.

One memorable project I got to see while at ORCC was the Food Rescue Program that Kaely Summers developed while serving as an AmeriCorps member at Pacific University. Kaely saw waste being created from campus events and dining services and recognized that leftover food could be "saved" and taken to local food pantries to feed hungry families and individuals. She partnered with the administration to research the legality of re-purposing food and established a program supported by volunteers to collect and transport excess food to local organizations.

What makes this REALLY cool is that while Kaley was developing her program, Southern Oregon University was also looking to create a Food Rescue Program. Through ORCC, the AmeriCorps members at SOU were able to connect with Kaely at Pacific and learn how to start a program. In 2012, SOU was able to create their Food Rescue Program, which in addition to supporting local food pantry also supports the Student Food Pantry.

I think that's the power of ORCC. The organization brings people together--AmeriCorps members, students, staff, administrators, and presidents--to enrich their work and share resources. As the only statewide organization working with two-year, four-year, private, and public schools, ORCC has a unique ability to bring folks to the table who may not otherwise work together to benefit campuses and communities.

I've transitioned from ORCC to Girls on the Run of Portland Metro to work as the Program Manager. I've been on the board for three years and am excited to work full-time as a staff member. Girls on the Run is a self empowerment program for girls in 3rd-5th grade. Through conversation-based lessons and running games, the participants grow as smart, free-thinking, and happy girls. The program culminates with a celebratory 5K run which unleashes the girls' confidence through accomplishment and establishes their appreciation of health and fitness.

The organization is important to me not only because of the impact that it has girls, but also because of the impact it has on the hundreds of volunteers who support the organization as coaches and running buddies. It's really electric to see all the girls, coaches, and running buddies come together at the end of the season for the 5K run, the Starlight Run, to celebrate health and wellness.