“I think all of us … discovered areas of need in our community that we didn’t know were there.”
In 2008, OCF created the Regional Action Initiative (RAI) to involve citizens in identifying and solving local problems.
As a first step, RAI Committees were formed to represent each of the state’s eight regions: Central Oregon, North Coast, South Coast, Eastern Oregon, Northern Willamette Valley, Portland Metro, Southern Oregon and Southern Willamette Valley.
In each region, the RAI is led by members of the local OCF Leadership Council, which comprises volunteer groups that provide the OCF board of directors with guidance.
Given the task of allocating $1 million per region to solve a local issue, OCF volunteers have reached consensus and taken civic engagement to a new level.
Considering the level of need across the state, making decisions was not easy. Each group reviewed data about its region, listened to presentations from diverse voices, conducted community interviews and forums, and studied successful strategies for change. Each region decided on an issue, and is currently working on solutions.
Central Oregon: community schools
Eastern Oregon: afterschool programs & mentoring
North Coast: literacy
Northern Willamette Valley: early literacy
Portland Metropolitan: parent education
South Coast: children’s dental health
Southern Oregon: mentoring local youth
Southern Willamette Valley: children’s dental health
For more information, contact Melissa Durham, RAI coordinator: 503.227.6846 or mdurham@oregoncf.org.