September 2020 NewsFind September 2020 in our E-News archive on the right to see the full newsletter, including an updated job board, resource list, upcoming conferences, campus news, and more!
Statement from our Executive Director, Carmen Brewton Denison
Dear Campus Compact of Oregon Community, I’m thrilled and honored to address you as Campus Compact of Oregon’s Executive Director. There have been many changes at Campus Compact of Oregon since Kaycie and I took the helm as a co-executive team in late January. Since then, our organization has focused much of our programming and energy toward realigning with the mission and vision of our organization—racial justice, community accountability and collaboration, and educational equity—and supporting our partners, many of whom provide direct services to the BIPoC communities most impacted by COVID-19. The sweeping impacts have demanded that our organization recalibrate to meet the needs of the moment. Needless to say, this has been a challenging time, and the wellbeing of Campus Compact of Oregon’s communities of interest is the central concern of our organization. The world is altered, and thus organizations and institutions will need to rise to the challenge of responding effectively and creatively to pressing community needs. Accordingly, Campus Compact of Oregon exists to build bridges between communities and educational institutions as a convening organization. We work to create spaces where ideas and knowledge are exchanged to envision new potentialities and raise community voice. With this, we develop new programs and projects that strive for outcomes that reflect the communities’ wisdom and celebrate the diversity and complexity of being that defines our world. While our organization is still very much in process, we look forward to connecting with you as we align with our mission’s goals. Now, more than ever, we must focus on promoting change through dynamic partnerships and focused intentions. During the spring and summer months, our office has supported community-based and COVID-19 responsive programming in K-12 schools, non-profits, community colleges, and institutions of higher education through programming that has, and continues to accomplish the following:
Please stay tuned as Campus Compact rolls out its upcoming training and project priorities for the coming year. Thank you for your partnership. Wishing you health, safety, and reflection during this time. Sincerely, Carmen Brewton Denison Campus Compact of Oregon Executive Director 
Kaycie Lopez Jones Bids Farewell
Longtime staff member and interim Co-Executive Director Kaycie Lopez Jones is moving on. Kaycie writes: " I’ll be moving to Atlanta, GA to live close to my family and turn the page on a new chapter of my life and development. I will be shifting focus a bit with respect to employment, and looking into new avenues to do this work. Staring with a racial equity consulting group that I co-founded last year (so let me know if you’re looking for equity facilitation!). That said, any path that I wander down, I will bring the knowledge, skills and wisdom that I have gained at Campus Compact OR and in community with you all with me to whatever future position I may hold. " Read Kaycie's full goodbye message and find her contact information on our blog! Welcoming New Staff!
Rachel De La Haya was recently hired as the Equitable Pathways Program Director. Rachel previously served as a VISTA from 2014-2016 through Campus Compact of Oregon. When not working you can catch them sitting on their porch, camping, or going on adventures with their partner and dog. Rachel will manage the Connect2Complete program and the Summer Bridge program. Contact Rachel: racheldlh@oregoncampuscompact.org Lauren "Lo" Miranda has transitioned into the role of VISTA Program Director. Four years ago, Lo served as an Americorps VISTA with Campus Compact of Oregon and it truly feels like coming home! In her free time, she plays soccer and tries to perfect the perfect nopales consistency (if you got any tips, hit her up!). Lo formerly served as the College Access Corps Program Manager, if you have any questions regarding the CAC program please contact Carmen Brewton Denison. For inquiries about VISTA, please contact Lo: lauren@oregoncampuscompact.org Delfine DeFrank (she/her/hers & they/them/theirs) will be transitioning from VISTA Leader to the role of Educational Programs Coordinator. They will be helping to collaboratively coordinate In-Service Trainings and support community-based programming through service learning partners. Contact Delfine: delfine@oregoncampuscompact.org Rosa Garcia-Moreno and Estegenet Ayele will fill the roles of Connect2Complete Leader and VISTA Leader, respectively. Rosa and Este are both 2020 alumni of our College Access Corps program. Rosa and Etse will lead their AmeriCorps teams alongside Audrey Kadoya and Akshay Hariprasad, who will continue serving our community as Team Leaders for a second year. 
Campus Compact National 2020-21 Webinar Series
Campus Compact’s 2020-2021 national webinar series takes the great and varied work happening on the ground around the country and brings it straight to your desk. Topics touch on issues of relevance to faculty, staff, students, and their partners in education and community building. Be sure to tune in each month for information, tools, and resources to support and inspire you. Topics include "Stop Selling a False Narrative...Decolonializing Spaces of Civic Engagement Discourse," "Pathways of Public Service and Civic Engagement" and more. JUNE 2019 E-NEWS HIGHLIGHTSCollins Foundation Awards Campus Compact of Oregon $50,000 Two-Year Grant
We are thrilled to receive a two-year grant from the Collins Foundation to support Campus Compact of Oregon's Equity Roadmap, a strategic planning process to more throughly infuse equity into all of our polices, procedures, and practices as an organization, and outward to our members and partners. Most importantly it will support a staff member exclusively dedicated to this work! This type of deep internal work is crucial for institutions looking to truly live out a value of equity - and also challenging to fund. THANK YOU to our partners at the Collins Foundation for investing in us! 
ELSEE Wraps Up 4th Cohort; Will Take a Year Off
The 4th cohort of the Executive Learning Series on Equity and Empowerment gathered this month to close their time together, and share their projects and learnings from the year. In 2018-19, teams from Concordia University, Green River College, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, Mt. Hood Community College, National University of Natural Medicine, and Umpqua Community College completed the learning series! During the 2019-20 academic year, ELSEE will take a hiatus. Campus Compact of Oregon will be conducting an evaluation of the program so far and taking a deep look at ELSEE, along with the rest of our programming, as part of an Equity Roadmap process. Except to see a reimagined ELSEE program in fall 2020! 
New National Resource: Census 2020 Hub
This month, National Campus Compact lunched a 2020 Census Hub page on their website to provide information and resources about the 2020 Census for institutions of higher education. "There has long been confusion, distrust, and other issues leading to historically undercounted communities. This includes experiencing homelessness, Native American communities, and immigrant communities. In fact, simply being a renter is the number one predictor of going uncounted in the census. In addition to a responsibility to help achieve a correct count of students, colleges and universities can view the Census as both a learning opportunity and a tool for living out the civic mission. The Census is a critical tool for our democracy and it’s important students understand it and their role." Check it out here! MAY 2019 E-NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Now Representing ALL Community Colleges in the State: Oregon's President's Council Votes to Collectively Join Campus Compact
On May 17th, the Oregon Presidents Council of the Oregon Community College Association voted to collectively join Campus Compact of Oregon. So on July 1, we will welcome five new campus members and will be proud to support ALL 17 community colleges in Oregon. Convening Oregon's educational institutions to collaborate and invest, together, in work that will provide them shared strategies to promote equity for their students is at the crux of our work. We are very excited for our continued partnership with OPC and to work with new members Central Oregon Community College, Columbia Gorge Community College, Klamath Community College, Rogue Community College, and Treasure Valley Community College! (View our new members, in yellow, below!) Nationally, Campus Compact is seeking to provide more robust support to community colleges through the Community College for Democracy initiative. This includes an excellent monthly newsletter specifically highlighting resources for community college partners. We encourage our new and existing community college members to check it out! 
New: The Community Engagement Professional Credentialing Program
This month, National Campus Compact lunched the Community Engagement Professional Credentialing Program! The Community Engagement Professional Credentialing Program will provide civic and community engagement professionals an opportunity to gain formal recognition for the knowledge and skills they develop through their careers. Two micro-credentials are available now. Learn about how you can earn formal recognition for your work in civic and community engagement! April 2019 Enews HIghlights
$23,642 Raised at 3rd Annual REACH Luncheon!
Thank you to our generous sponsors and donors! Your support is absolutely vital to the work Campus Compact of Oregon does to support students of color and first generation students in our state. If you would like to help us reach our original fundraising goal of $24,000, please donate here! 
Campus Compact Board of Directors News
Welcome Jim Eustrom, new Board Chair Board member Jim Eustrom, Chemeketa Community College Vice President of Instruction and Yamhill Valley Campus President, is stepping up to the role of Campus Compact of Oregon Board Chair. Jim is a longtime supporter of our work since he participated in the very first ELSEE cohort in 2015. Welcome, Jim, and thank you for your dedication to educational equity in Oregon. Thank you to Andrea Cook Andrea Cook, President of Warner Pacific University, has retired from the Campus Compact of Oregon Board of Directors after 5 years of dedicated service. Andrea built a powerful partnership between Warner and Campus Compact and has supported our work through speaking engagements, hosting events on her campus, promoting ELSEE and our other programs and resources, and deeply engaging in the work of transforming systems like admissions and hiring at Warner Pacific to support and engage more students and staff of color. Please join us in thanking Andrea! Outgoing Board Chair Jessica Howard Selected as ACUI's President of the Year "Portland Community College’s Southeast Campus President Jessica Howard’s commitment to students and campus community is no secret. Her accomplishments and leadership that are well-known at PCC have now earned Howard international acclaim by being named the Association of College Unions International’s (ACUI) 2019 “President of the Year.” ACUI’s prestigious award recognizes a senior campus leader for excellence in advancing campus community through engagement, support, and cultivating relationships beyond their administrative position. The nomination of Howard was led by a group of PCC students, faculty, staff and community members in recognition of her dedication to students and building community." Read more MARCH 2019 E-NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Jessica Howard, Campus Compact of Oregon Board Chair, Named Next President of Chemeketa Community College
Congratulations to our Board Chair Dr. Jessica Howard, current Campus President at PCC Southeast, on being named the next President of Chemeketa Community College! Jessica has served on our Board for 5 years, during Campus Compact of Oregon's transition from a service learning to racial justice focus. She also serves on the Steering Committee for national Campus Compact. Jessica is dedicated to access and inclusion for all students in all she does, and we are so excited to see the impact she can have in this role. Read more on Chemeketa's selection here. 
Oregonians Represented in Campus Compact Awards!
Xeo Griffa, Wayfinding Academy student, was named a Newman Civic Fellow. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a one-year fellowship for community-committed college students from Campus Compact member institutions. The fellowship honors the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact's founders and a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. Read more here! Deborah Smith Arthur, Portland State University professor, was awarded the Engaged Faculty Award at Campus Compact Western Region's Continuums of Service Conference. Read more here! February 2019 E-News HIghlights
Alumni Spotlight: Nelda Reyes: VISTA 2015-16
We caught up with VISTA alumna Nelda Reyes, about two of her recent projects. Nelda is an evaluator, researcher, artist, actress, and—now—consultant and author! Nelda is the primary consultant at AB Cultural Drivers, which provides culturally specific research and evaluation support, and the co-author of Huehuetlatolli: The Wise Tales of My People, a duo-lingual adaptation of legends, songs, and art activities from some of the most influential indigenous cultures of the Americas. Verdis Robinson to Keynote 3rd Annual REACH Luncheon on April 12th
We are excited to have Verdis Robinson, Director of Community College Engagement at national Campus Compact, in Oregon as the keynote speaker for the 3rd Annual REACH Luncheon. Read more about Verdis and his previous work with The Democracy Commitment. The REACH Luncheon is coming up on April 12th and will be generously hosted by Portland Community College Southeast. If your institution is interested in sponsoring the event or purchasing a table, you can view sponsorship benefits on our website! New From National: L.O.V.E. Notes Blog
This month National Campus Compact introduced a new monthly blog series, L.O.V.E. (Living out our Value of Equity) Notes. "We’re kicking off this series as a means to share ideas and stories about fostering L.O.V.E in our communities. We hope these L.O.V.E. Notes will serve as inspiration to build equity models on your campuses that break down the barriers that impede full participation for members of your communities." Check out the first post here. January 2019 E-News Highlights
AmeriCorps Alumni Spotlight: Angela Frazier: VISTA 2014-15
We recently spoke with VISTA alumna Angela Frazier, about her journey since her service year. Angela is a speaker, mental health activist, educator and leader in the health field. Below are some highlights from that conversation! What was the best thing about your VISTA service? I served at Black Parent Initiative as Community Operations Coordinator. We partnered with Portland Public Schools and brought cultural and diversity engagement nights to the schools. We served a lot of people; one thing I did was volunteer recruitment, and I got my sorority sisters and other PSU fraternities and sororities involved. I really liked being a VISTA because it was like an internship where you are able to make mistakes, come up with ideas, and try new things. I ended up writing my first grant while I was there, to fund a community garden. It helped me build my confidence and launch my career. Visit Angela's website and to learn more, connect, and book her as a speaker! 
National's Newest Publication: The Community Engagement Professional's Guidebook
This publication, a companion to 2017's "The Community Engagement Professional in Higher Education," offers a deep dive into the work of community engagement professionals in higher education. Through 10 chapters, Dostillo and Welch identify core competencies of community engagement work and offer interactive tools for reflection and insight. Get it here! December 2018 E-News Highlights
VISTA Program Manager Carmen Denison Named Finalist for Skidmore Prize
!Our own Carmen Denison, VISTA Program Manager, is featured as a Skidmore Prize Finalist in the Willamette Week Give!Guide this year - enabling our organization to participate in this campaign for the first time!What Carmen has to say about her work at our organization: "My work at Campus Compact of Oregon has allowed me to take a pre-existing system, VISTA, and work towards changing it from a program that promotes the white savior complex to a resource for communities of color, a working model for community empowerment. Using tools like the Multnomah County Equity Lens, which were developed to generate conversation, structure, and document community need, Campus Compact promotes collective power and problem-solving. The organization strives to evolve with humility based on the feedback from its partners, staff, and AmeriCorps members of color." Willamette Week awards the Skidmore Prize to young Portlanders who work every day to make Portland a better place and to preserve the community-oriented nature of the city. 
New Campus Member: Eastern Oregon University
We are excited to welcome Eastern Oregon University and President Tom Insko to membership in Campus Compact! |
Get updates in your inbox!E-News archiveSeptember 2020
August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 June 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 VISTA VoicesStories written by our AmeriCorps VISTA members about their service experience!
August 2015 March 2016 November 2015 |
|