The Latino Partnership Program (LPP) was established in 2001 by OCF's Northern Willamette Valley Leadership Council to serve Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties. In response to the success of early LPP projects and growing community needs, OCF's board made a four-year commitment in 2008 to expand the LPP.
LPP continues in the Northern Willamette Valley and now is up and running in Southern and Central Oregon, and getting started in Umatilla County. In each region the LPP is guided by a volunteer advisory committee and a part-time local coordinator. This team helps build relationships and supports local leaders and organizations in strengthening existing projects and developing new ones. Although at this time LPP is active only in selected regions, OCF hopes to expand its LPP activities throughout Oregon.
Some of the goals and priorities for each region include:
North Willamette Valley
Latino Leadership Development
LPP supports CAPACES, a group of eight sister organizations that is a capacity-building, training, and leadership development collaboration which includes: CAUSA (immigrants’ rights), Farmworker Housing Development Corporation (farmworker housing), Latinos Unidos Siempre (youth leadership), Mano a Mano Family Center (social service), Mujeres Luchadoras Progresistas (women’s economic development), Oregon Farmworker Ministry (faith-based solidarity) Salem-Keizer Coalition for Equality (education reform), and Voz Hispana Causa Chavista (voter organizing and civic engagement). Collectively, these organizations have assisted thousands of farmworkers and family members. CAPACES recently broke ground on their new Leadership Institute to develop the leadership capacity of their members and others in the community.
ESOL Tutors
In light of all the recent attention on immigration reform there has been a surge of interest in programs across the Willamette Valley that effectively teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL). The LPP in partnership with the Mid-Valley Literacy Center (MVLC) and our ESOL partners such as Juntos Podemos are seeking strategic ways to expand training and resources for tutors of English. Willamette University has been the site of two training sessions in 2010 serving 45 new ESOL tutors.
Southern Oregon
Una Voz
Una Voz was organized by local Latino leaders in the fall of 2008 in conjunction with the LPP. It is a coordinating and advocacy organization representing the Latino community of Jackson County that includes both Latino leaders and representatives of local organizations that serve Latinos. Una Voz works to represent a united voice of the Latino community in Jackson County, and its highest priority is to improve education outcomes of Latino youth. The LPP is also meeting with Latino organizations and leaders in Klamath and Josephine counties to explore collaborative projects and initiatives.
Central Oregon
Latino Leadership
The LPP in Central Oregon serves Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties and is working to strengthen future Latino leadership through support of community-based projects and close collaboration with schools and other local educational programs. One goal is to increase the opportunities for Latino high school youth for service learning and mentoring through collaboration with the Oregon Leadership Institute and Redmond School District.