CNN Connections

2010 Neighborhood Grant Awards
This year the CNN Grant Selection Committee awarded five grants with an allocation $16, 836. CNN received $57, 091 in requests from neighborhood associations and community groups.

	2009 CNN Grant Project Photos Fook Lok Hollywood Loaves & Fishes Corrazon Latino Vecinos en Alerta Portland International Day Festival

 

 

2010 CNN Neighborhood Grant Projects 

• Cully Collective Market $4, 280
  Community groups creating a market that integrates local entrepreneurship, healthy affordable food, and a cultural gathering space in Cully-Cully Association of Neighbors and Community Partners
• Expresiones Film and Photography Project $2, 300
   After school project for low income culturally diverse youth-Hacienda CDC/My Story
•  Hollywood Community Garden $4, 400
  A community garden on the site by the Hollywood Theater to build community through food growing, distribution and a community green space-Film Action Oregon and Community Partners
• International Day Festival $2, 022 
  To strengthen Sandy Blvd. district's community diversity through art, music, and children activities-Portland International District
• Senior Citizen Asian Cultural Events $3, 834
  Cultural awareness and appreciation events honoring Asian elders and community involvement-Fook Lok Loaves and Fishes/Asian Pacific American Senior Coalition

We look forward to another year of building community through collaborative action!

Goal of the CNN Neighborhood Grants Program
Our goal is to provide neighborhood and community organizations an opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved.

CNN's preferred use of funds:

• Projects that show partnerships between Neighborhood Associations and community-based organizations within the designated District Coalition area.
• Projects that show partnerships between Neighborhood Associations and under-represented organizations and communities within the designated District Coalition area.
  
  2010 CNN Neighborhood Grants Guidelines & Application Form
  
  2010 Portland Neighborhood Grants Program Press Release
  
  2010 Portland Neighborhood Grants Program Brochure
  Grant Writing Guide
  
  CNN Neighborhood Grants Program Contact:
  Sandra Lefrancois
  CNN Community Program Director
  503-823-2780 sandral@cnncoalition.org
  
  CNN received 22 proposals for community building projects in the area totaling $83, 500 in requests with a $20, 000 allocation from the Office of Neighborhood Involvement for 2009. This marks the ever growing response in the third year of the CNN grant program.

CNN Neighborhood Grant Projects Completed from 2007 to 2009 (most recent on top)

• Base to Butte Community Block Party events-Asian American Center:
  Madison South Neighborhood Association (two rounds)
• Latino Cultural Initiative in Cully:
  Vecinos en Alerta
• Needs Assessment in Action: Growth & Sustainability:
  Portland International District
• Asian Cultural Events for Elders:
  Fook Lok Loaves and Fishes/Hollywood
• Welcome Packets for new Cully residents in four languages:
  Cully Association of Neighbors
• Community Impact Assessment Project:
  Cully Association of Neighbors
• International Day Festival:
  Portland International District (two rounds)
• Rigler Restaurant Partnership Project
  ImpactNW Rigler SUN
• Somali Sewing & Neighborhood Connections:
  Somali Women's Assoc. 
• Native Plant Education Project:
  NAYA and Friend of Trees
• International Day Festival/Community Theater:
  Portland International District
  Increasing the Latino Voice:
  Cully Association of Neighbors
• Cully Schools Connection and Leadership Project:
  Rigler SUN
• Roseway Heights Back-to-School Community Events:
  RCP School PTA
   

  International Day Festival
  In June, 2007 a series of live performances unfolded in restaurants along Sandy Blvd. This project was initiated by the new International District with funds from the CNN Neighborhood Grants Program. Actfor Action social change theater writer Jeannie LaFrance interviewed diverse community members who work and live in the NE Sandy district to produce "A Place Called Home". The stories of immigrant neighbors, such as Latino and Vietnamese, were told by diverse neighbors while spectators enjoyed dinner at Mi-Wa's. The first play at Steamers on NE 82nd drew a large crowd which participated in an interactive role-play based on the anniversary of The Loving Decision about inter-racial relationships. The performances were also an outreach tool for the Annual International Day Festival to promote and celebrate the diversity of the Portland International District in Roseway.
  
  
  CNN Livable Communities Project
  CNN supports Neighborhood Associations yearly for community building projects that improve livability. In 2008-09 small start-up contributions were allocated to support:

  • Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association's Beaumont Middle School Learning Courtyard
  • Hollywood Neighborhood Association's Community Chess Tables & Newsletter Stands
  • Rose City Park Neighborhood Association's Free Summer Concerts in Rose City Park
  • Sumner Neighborhood Association's Halloween Party at Helensview School
  • Cully Neighborhood Association's Welcome Packets for new neighbors in different languages
  • Madison South Neighborhood Association's Neighborhood Gateway Sign at NE 92nd & Halsey
    

  Beaumont-Wilshire City Repair Project at 37th and Shaver	In addition, CNN provides on-going support to Neighborhood Associations for producing and distributing door-to-door newsletters. In 2007, CNN initiated web sites for all our neighborhoods! And in 2008, all CNN neighborhoods will be hosting a CNN area Master Calendar of events. This is a beneficial way to get the word out and invite more neighbors to get involved!