Leadership Development in Communities of Color

One of the most profound issues facing Oregon today is the marginalization, discrimination and profound inequality and disproportionality across all aspects of life experienced by communities of color in Oregon. The Million Dollar Idea provides an opportunity to address this issue by funding leadership development in communities of color.

Oregon has a long-standing profile as being overwhelmingly White. But this naming of Oregon as “overwhelming White” serves to deeply marginalize and render almost invisible the more than 750,000 people of color who live here. The visibility of communities of color is at the heart of equitable treatment and invisibility works to stifle innovation in Oregon.

Meyer Memorial Trust can help change the tone of the conversations in Oregon and jumpstart action that again makes our state a place where ideas begin and grow by funding the development of human capital in communities of color. In so doing, Meyer will be increasing the diversity of voices in Oregon resulting in richer, more creative thinking.

Funding for communities of color is needed to self-organize, network, develop pathways to greater social inclusion, build culturally-specific social capital and provide leadership within and outside communities of color.

Oregon cannot become a place where new, creative thinking flourishes until it becomes a place that provides for the opportunities necessary to make the invisible, visible and empower communities of color.

Oregon needs to exploit its unique position as a lead state in developing clean energy. We have already invested billions of tax dollars to attract companies to develop our renewable resources. However, we invest almost nothing to develop a world class talent pool that will provide the innovation and technical skill necessary to make our state the ‘go to’ place for renewable energy education, research, and innovation for the foreseeable future.

A team of citizen volunteers have been working on a proposal (OESTRA) that follows the recommendations of the Pew Charitable Trust and uses some of the best from successful programs in other states like Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina. Tobias Read, Chairman of the House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee, is preparing legislation based on this proposal. The proposal would bring eminent scholars to Oregon to teach top decile students, establish applied research labs that will employ and train graduate students, capture Federal grants, and stimulate investment in renewable energy innovation and technologies. At a cost of $4 million/year it will establish Oregon as the center for renewable energy innovation, provide a basis for reducing utility costs, lowering dependence on fossil fuels, and building an economic development model based on clean energy and family wage jobs. A significant part of this proposal is the inclusion of an ROI model that can measure the benefit from these investments.

The American Innovation Council, let by Bill Gates and Jeff Immelt, has embraced this approach. The Obama Administration is in the process of implementing the Council proposals. The recommendations include putting an additional $16 billion into renewable energy research and development projects that will enable us to become energy independent and reduce our carbon footprint. The next six years will be a critical time for Oregon to capture these research investments and build an important public/private partnership. This alliance will elevate our higher education system, provide job growth in applied research around clean energy, and grow the number of technology based companies so necessary for Oregon’s future.

Meyer should leverage its prominence in Oregon's non-profit community with a $1 million "challenge grant" that will serve as a catalyst to attract other dollars; especially one-time start up funds from other foundations, private industry sources, and key federal granting agencies. A Meyer grant will also send a strong message to the Governor and Legislature that future jobs in Oregon will depend on public/private investments in clean energy and technology.

Josh Bratt, CIMA®
Vice President | Wealth Advisor
Senior Consultant, ICS
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney | Global Wealth Management Group
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Sexual assault is a problem that affects ALL Oregonians. The CDC reports that one in six women in Oregon has been a victim of rape in their lifetime. According to the Justice Department, more than 93% of all sexual assaults are perpetrated by men and 10-20% of men will be sexually assaulted in their lives. Despite these facts, there is a striking lack of work being done to engage men in sexual assault prevention. While most perpetrators of sexual assault may be men, most men DO NOT sexually assault. Those of us who are not violent have a responsibility to do something about it! Men who are not violent have the capacity to prevent sexual assault by challenging attitudes and behaviors that support violence. If we, as a state, seek to prevent sexual assault in our communities we MUST engage men in the effort. One million dollars could go a long way in supporting programs throughout the state that engage men in sexual violence prevention.

Zero Waste Oregon has the potential to make Oregon the leading state in achieving sustainability ways that support the economy and generate new companies and new jobs. Oregon businesses have already demonstrated successful zero waste outcomes. For example, Nike recently released a new Corporate Responsibility report, noting that sustainability is the key to growth and innovation. Part of Nike’s vision is “reaching a closed-loop business model where the goal is to achieve zero waste in the supply chain and have products and materials that can continuously reused – no pre or post consumer waste.” Recently Nike manufactured shirts for nine World Cup teams out of recycled plastic bottles, diverting millions of plastic bottles from landfill and using a third less energy, one example of the positive impact zero waste approaches can have on the economy and the environment.

Zero Waste Oregon could be structured with a lead NGO to create the framework, invite participation, manage projects, and provide infrastructure and administrative support. Part of the funds could be used to support a collaborative effort among NGOs and other stakeholders to invite those already engaged in zero waste efforts to participate;to identify new initiatives; to provide public education and awareness about zero waste approaches; and to provide training to stakeholders from all sectors. Part of the funds could be used to create an Oregon Zero Waste Fund, which could be guided by the lead NGO and/or the collaborative group, to provide incentives and direct support through small grants. A version of this approach has been successfully piloted in New Zealand, the first country to set a national zero waste goal, where small grants were made to cities that passed a Zero Waste plan and goal. Zero Waste Oregon has the potential to meaningfully engage Oregonians in effectively addressing the most pressing problems of our time and helping to achieve a more sustainable society.

Outdoor School has been one of the most beloved and memorable educational experiences for many Oregonians for years. Unfortunately it is often also one of the most hatcheted items in school budgets. During the last few years many Outdoor Schools have bit the dust because of budget cuts.
If we could get Outdoor School endowment accounts set up that would not be subject to district or state economic ups and downs but from which each year's Outdoor School could be at least partially supported from the interest from the endowment fund, then we would perhaps be able to sustain the Outdoor School over a long period of time. For example, in my district the ODS for 80-100 6th graders is about $18,000. $4000 of that is paid by parent fees, PTO and a few local groups add about another $1000, and the district had for about 40 years paid the rest. Last year the district was only able to pay $7000 of the remaining amount and we were very fortunate to get a grant for $7000. This year the district does not expect to pay that amount nor do we know if similar grants will be available. This uncertainty in financing makes many districts and parents and teachers give up from weariness of trying to constantly raise new funds.
In our district we have been thinking about starting a fund that people could donate to that would not be used right away but would grow over time to eventually be enough to consistently fund ODS through the interest.
However, this would obviously have to be a very large fund to get enough to sustain the program just off of interest.
That is where the MMT could help districts by providing some seed money for districts to start these kinds of long-sustaining accounts.
This might be especially valuable to do with Outdoor Schools that offer Challenge Courses to their students because Challenge Courses teach youth to solve tough problems together, to think outside the box, and to consider other students' ideas and suggestions. This is the kind of teaching that might help keep future Oregonians thinking creatively about how to solve new problems together.

Beyond investing in more programs to advance sustainability in Oregon, MMT could help position Oregon as the global sustainability leader. What if Oregon hosts a month-long, annual Global Sustainability Symposium? It could be comparable to World Water Week held annually in Stockholm where scientists, environmentalists, researchers, and other come together. MMT could help convene a range of local to international private, public, and non-profit organizations to help sponsor and support the Symposium, which could include in-person and virtual symposiums (to global audiences in multiple languages), conferences, workshops, and other events to entice people to visit Oregon to learn more about “Triple Net” sustainability (environmental, ethical, economical), especially energy efficiency and renewable energy best practices from Oregon and global thought leaders. Additionally, Oregonians from all walks of life would be involved in many aspects of the Symposium (pre-, during, and post-) to ensure that Oregonians ‘talk the talk and walk the walk’. Greg Hansen

Research has shown that the achievement gap is well entrenched by kindergarten and once children fall behind their chances of catching up are slim. A high-quality early education linked to a strong elementary education is the most promising way to close the gap.

Regrettably, early childhood programs and elementary schools are almost always isolated in practice and policy and rarely, if ever, integrated into a coherent strategy for maximum effectiveness. Moreover, many of the public funding streams focused on health, education and early childhood development are not integrated or aligned for the greatest possible impact and do not fully engage parents.

This has to stop and something new must take its place.

The Children’s Institute (www.childinst.org) is working closely with others to build a blueprint for a new model where the barriers to integration, coordination and quality improvement can be addressed and outcomes will be used to inform decisions at the local, state and federal levels. Our goal is to create an integrated and seamless system of services and supports for children and families that engages community members within an elementary school neighborhood.

Brain science, Pulitzer-prize-winning economic research and common sense have come together to form a rock-solid case for investing early in the lives of children, particularly children living in poverty and other adverse environments. Armed with this knowledge, our shared responsibility is to build an early childhood/early elementary system that will put children on a path to success in school and life.

Unemployment, Low funding for public education, Creating energy independence, Economic Development, Environment and Heath concerns, Technology, Public policy. These are all integrated as one whole problem. Fixing one will not help overcome all the other problems. It may sound ambitious but I believe that there can be one solution to help move us in the right direction.

Solar power is considered the answer to our problem by many. In cooperation with local power companies we install solar panels on school roofs, turning our schools into little power plants. The idea would be that power companies would help cover the cost of installation in trade for the extra power that the school does not use. Money that is used to pay the schools power bill could be diverted to Education. This idea would create jobs from beginning to end, from installation to maintenance. Help support local Tec companies and address Environment and Heath concerns. It would spur Economic development by making Portland a solar hub.

This is only the beginning. Why stop at schools? How about all Government buildings, tax dollars used to power them could be used toward Education, Community development or Social Services the list goes on. Businesses and home owners would be next to jump onboard making Portland an Urban power Grid.

UrbanGrid would help schools, power companies and solar installers come together. By brokering the deal on a large scale the usually high upfront cost of solar panel installation could be controlled, reducing the initial investment. This in turn would make the profit margin higher, and the investing party’s more interested.

This is a long term solution that involves everyone in the community. It is not unreachable and it’s in everyone’s best interests. Imagine the top of every **** Myer covered in solar panels.

Provide a mobile spay/neuter vetrinary facility that can travel to different cities and counties in Oregon and support local rescues, shelters and human societies to end pet overpopulation. Pet overpopulation is a problem affecting areas all over oregon and costing taxpayer $ and tremendous amounts of volunteer hours and dollars. It is, however, a problem that can be solved so that resources can be redirected to other areas where we have more need. This is a long term investment that will pay off for Oregon over and over.

The concept:
Shelters/Rescue organizations can apply for van to be in their city/county to perform free spay/neuter for a designated amount of time. The local shelters and rescues can do outreach to make sure the mobile clinic is always busy.

The program partners with pet industry businesses (local or national) to provide free pet products as an incentive to bring animals in for spay/neuter.

This would be no/cost spay neuter (which of course would accept additional donations).

There are many reasons to not spay/neuter, but one of the biggest is just money. If spay/neutering was free, we could solve the problem of pet overpopulation.

The fundamental infrastructure already exists and this resource would support their mission.

Global greenhouse gas emissions are forecast to increase by 25 percent by 2015. In the Northwest, food processing companies spend $8 billion annually transporting their products, including thousands of truck trips and billions of pounds of atmospheric carbon. Yet research shows that more than 20 percent of those truck miles are partial loads or empty backhauls. An innovative concept, the “Green Shipper” transportation program, demonstrates that dramatic CO2 emission and energy reductions are possible through a collaborative approach to logistics.

Phase I Green Shipper program research was subcontracted in 2009 to an Oregon-based small company entrepreneur, through a $140,000 grant from Northwest Food Processors Education & Research Institute. Research showed significant efficiency, energy and cost savings potential. In a five week survey of most recent benchmark data, from five Oregon companies driving 2.6 million truck miles, the average waste of CO2 emissions was 27.6 percent, average wasted diesel fuel transporting temperature controlled freight was 32.8 percent and wasted truck cost was 22.4 percent.

The Education & Research Institute has concluded the need for a performance-based pilot study of an improved web-based, transportation management model. This pilot project will create a new executive training opportunity to help change the culture of transportation professionals in Oregon. This “shovel ready” project will train companies to find partners to optimize partial loads and empty backhauls.

Phase II pilot project goals include measurable findings to:
1. Demonstrate fuel and CO2 emission reductions of 18-20 percent.
2. Demonstrate and verify an average at least 10 percent truck transportation cost savings, enhancing the economic vitality of a key segment of the state’s economy.
3. Identify optimal logistical efficiency unique to each shipper

The significant savings generated by this program can be used to finance growth. Innovative products, equipment, and occupations in energy security can be self-financed. This fully-documented model program is fully adaptable to any shipper and is consistent with the recommendations of Governor Kulongoski’s Transportation Vision Committee.

Meyer Memorial Trust jumpstart funding would be leveraged by significant industry and state funding contributions, embracing continuous improvement in logistics management. Fewer trucks on the road will reduce the cost of maintenance to Oregon’s roads and highways for years to come.

Most crucially, Green Shipper could begin training immediately, which will lead to reducing Oregon industry’s carbon “tiretracks.”

Jim Azumano, ERI

In my experience mild exercise worked better than any therapy or medicine. Healthcare spending could be saved by matching people with depression/insomnia with volunteers that simply go walk, hike, paddle or start with gentle exercise. Insurance pays for everything except support for this powerful tactic. When a person is in this state - it is hard to get exercising by yourself and you don't want to bother your busy friends and family. Exercise changes brain chemistry, confidence and starts momentum in a healthier direction. My doctor says his family practice is largely treating people with depression/insomnia conditions which can linger and complicate any other conditions such as obesity. Exercise programs could save a huge amount of money spent supporting these people and keep everyone's insurance costs down.

The idea is not new but implementing a timebank so that any Oregonian, child-adult-senior, could bank their volunteer community service. This could be validated for donating art or performance for people in the hospital, cutting hair for shut-ins, street sweeping, cleaning up public buildings, and parks, serving on a neighborhood association board, donating $$s or goods to charity, almost any worthwhile endeavor that improves the quality of life for an individual or group. Those participating would get a credit/debit card that would be used for reclaiming those time-banked hours, goods or dollars. Participating businesses could provide food from farmers markets or food coops, tme at a community or fitness center, massages, newspaper subscriptions, discount coupons for dining or items at the Rebuilding Center or participating hardware stores, get movie, athletic or event tickets, redeem banked hours for a weekend B&B, or ...anything a person might want but usually have to pay for with dollars. This would not only validate community service and heart-felt community building but would unite Oregonians in a way that they've never been united. Businesses participating in providing benfits, goods and/or services could also get incentives.

Experts in philanthropy and fundraising are now saying that charitable contributions will never be sufficient to cover basic needs that we are choosing not to pay for with taxes. These basic needs include education and job training, health care, housing, child care, etc. Think of all the public schools scrambling to compete for grants, education foundation fundraisers, parent donations, alumni support, etc. Think of all the community hospitals competing for grants, with their foundations and auxiliaries, fundraising auctions/dinners, etc. Think of all the nonprofit board members, volunteers, and staff who are working hard to beat out another organization for money to feed, clothe, shelter, protect and encourage people who have basic unmet needs. Where and how are Oregon citizens learning about the important role of taxation and how to make decisions on what basic resources/services should be available for everyone (paid for by taxes), partially paid for (subsidized by taxes), and which resources/services should only be available to those who can pay the full cost themselves?

During these economic times it is difficult enough to provide childcare, food and shelter for our children. Add to that - they are growing like weeds and it is costly even when shopping at Goodwill/Salvation Army or clearance sales at various department stores. How about creating a place much like "Gifts in Kind" where Oregonian businesses donate their surplus of household items to local non-profits to dispurse to those in need at little to no cost. Encourage and show them that a collaboration between family, neighbors and friends can provide good quality clothing for their growing children. Find a way to provide children with a new pair of appropriate shoes throughout the school year - check out a collaboration with Nike in helping Oregonians meet this need:)