Neighborhood Connections

 2012 Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) Neighborhood Grants Program

Central Northeast Neighbors is pleased to announce the 2012 grant awards! The Grant Selection Committee comprised of neighborhood, community and small business district leaders recommended six grant awards with an allocation $16, 895. CNN received $81, 284 in requests. We were grateful to receive so many new valuable proposals this year! Here are the 2012 finalist projects in the CNN area:   Andando en Bicicleta A partnership between Hacienda CDC and the Community Cycling Center bringing bicycle know-how to Cully's community of color $3, 000  !Bienvenidos! A partnership with St. Vincent de Paul to welcome the Latino community at the NE Emergency Food Program with culturally specific outreach    $3, 000 Cully Youth Action Team A partnership with Schools Uniting Neighborhoods and Raphael House to enhance the skills of underrepresented youth as they build community $3, 000 Off the Couch Reaches Out A partnership with the Hollywood NA to attract new differently-abled young adults to engage in community life $1, 895 Padres Promotores de Education A partnership between Rigler & Scott Schools and the Latino Network to provide a forum for parent advocacy in schools           $3, 000  Silver Screen Series A partnership with the Hollywood Senior Center to enrich the lives of low income elders of color through Hollywood Theater dialogues and educational films $3, 000

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement and Central Northeast Neighbors are excited to offer the sixth year of the City of Portland's Neighborhood Small Grants Program. We invite neighborhood and community organizations in Portland to apply.

This year, a total of $16, 895 is available to neighborhood and community-based organizations in the Central Northeast Neighbors coalition area. Grant proposals may range from $500 to $5,000.

Submission Deadline:  Tuesday, November 1, 2011 by 2:00PM

Our goal is to provide neighborhood and community organizations the opportunity to build community, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved. We encourage applicants to accomplish this through building partnerships between neighborhood, business, and community-based organizations. Engagement of historically under-engaged communities is a high priority for this grant program.  We look forward to working with organizations that share our goal of building livable, equitable, and sustainable neighborhoods and communities for all.

Download the 2012 Grant Application to read more about the grant selection criteria and requirements, for examples of applicable grant projects to get a sense of the types of projects that are being encouraged this year.

 

 

CNN Grants Workshop 
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 6:00-7:30 PM. Interested parties are strongly encouraged to contact Sandra Lefrancois at 503-823-2780 or sandral@cnncoalition.org to get feedback on project ideas.

For more information about the citywide program, visit the City of Portland's Neighborhood Small Grants Program website.

2011 Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) Neighborhood Grants Program
The CNN grant allocation for 2011 was $6, 580, due to a decrease in the City's Budget. In November, the CNN Grant Committee and Board supported the recommendation to fund the two first-time project grantees from 2010 for a second year. The Cully Community Market and My Story projects were awarded the funds available for the 2011 grant cycle.

2010 Neighborhood Grant Awards
In 2010, 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
• Madison South Summer Block Parties $4, 400
  Provide a fun way to bring diverse neighbors together and foster a sense of community. A series of five block parties bringing close to 1000 neighbors to celebrate this summer.
• 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

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
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.

• Base to Butte Block Parties-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.
  
  
  

• What does community economic development mean to you in your neighborhood?
  
  CNN hosts a series of roundtable events for neighbors, business owners, and community, neighborhood, and business district leaders. This is a forum to share ideas on community economic development where thriving neighborhood businesses contribute to healthy communities. See the March 2011 Roundtable Event in Neighborhood Notes!

  
  
  
  CNN Livable Communities Project
  
  CNN supports Neighborhood Associations yearly for community building projects that improve livability. Below are small projects that received 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. CNN initiated web sites and a shared online calendar of events for our neighborhoods! This is a beneficial way to get the word out and invite more neighbors to get involved!