East Portland houses the largest populations of ethnic-streams, immigrants and refugees in the City. Approximately 40% of East Portlanders identify as a person of color of which more than 25% immigrated here. More than 50%* of East Portland's population is rent burdened; meaning the household spends more than 30% of its income on housing. Twenty-eight percent of the population and 40% of the City's children live in East Portland, which represents 20% of the City's landmass. As such the East Portland Action Plan (EPAP) emerged through efforts by the City and the County to address the issues faced by East Portlanders.
This is a one of a kind program within the City of Portland with a unique governance structure that is grounded in a consensus-based decision-making model. Much of the success EPAP has experienced in their advocacy efforts is based on collective decision making to advance the 268 action items. The EPAP group of advocates is charged with providing leadership and guidance to implement the East Portland Action Plan, a guide for improving livability and prevent involuntary displacement in outer East Portland, as adopted by Portland City Council in February of 2009. The guide consists of community identified strategies to increase the allocation of resources in East Portland. The EPAP Coordinator (II) serves as the centralized hub that connects the multiple spokes of Action Plan advocacy.
What: The Program and the Advocates engaged with it value collaboration, inclusion, and flexibility. The Coordinator (II) receives program direction about implementation of the Action Plan from the community-led committees. This position is co-located with the East Portland Community Office (EPCO). EPCO values and respects EPAP governance structure and works collaboratively to advance the EPAP workplan for the implementation of the Action Plan. The EPAP Coordinator (II) is supervised by the EPCO Coordinator.
The Coordinator (II) is expected to carry out their responsibilities with individual initiative, collaboration, and a high level of commitment to learning and competency regarding cultural differences and cross-cultural needs. The Advocate works primarily with those focused on implementing the Action Plan, and in partnership with other community organizations and public and private agencies. The Coordinator (II) supports EPAP community advocates in their implementation of the Action Plan by providing: strategy development and process adherence guidance; grant management; administrative and budget oversight; mobilization of resources; community organizing and outreach to under engaged communities.
The Coordinator (II) serves as a centralized resource and connector to provide advocacy support related to the implementation of the 268 item Action Plan; 12 EPAP committees/work groups; 25 EPAP Issue Representatives; and municipal government and organizational implementors. This position requires frequent evening hours to be accessible to community members and occasional work on weekends for community events. The Coordinator (II) provides staff support to a team of Community Advocates that develop EPAP marketing tools that stress East Portland's strengths and identify challenges; and organizes community members in public advocacy campaigns that include one-on-one meetings with elected officials and staff, annual reports to governmental bodies, and media relations and messaging. This position also responds to questions and directs information and support seekers to the appropriate EPAP representatives. The Coordinator (II) organizes, coordinates, recruits for, and administers the EPAP Civic Engagement Grant Program, EPAP General Grant Program; and the EPAP Municipal Partnership Projects.
Qualifications:
- Principles, practices and methods of program, administrative and organizational analysis.
- Principles and practices of community organizing.
- Principles, practices, tools and techniques of program/project planning, budgeting and administration.
- Principles and practices of public administration, including purchasing, grants management, contracting, and maintenance of public records.
- Principles and practices of working with and conducting public outreach to people from a variety of different social, cultural and economic backgrounds, and who speak different languages.
- Methods and techniques of written and oral communication accessible to diverse audiences.
- Coordinate program activities with multiple stakeholders and facilitate development of agreement and consensus using culturally competent methods and techniques.
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