Marcha Migrante III" Comes to Portland
Sunday, February 10th
Liberty Hall
311 N. Ivy Street, Portland

Marcha Migrante, a major catalyst for original massive national demonstrations in the spring of 2006, is now on its third year. From February 2-17, Marche Migrante III will travel from San Diego to the Canadian border and back under the theme forgotten migrants, encouraging electoral participation in 2008.

Be part of history as Marche Migrante III asks the nation to VOTE "su voto, es su voz" (your vote, is your voice) and visits the forgotten migrants of California, Oregon, Washington, US/Canadian Border, Idaho, Utah, Nevada and California.

Thanks to All Supporters!
Portland City Council Votes YES

This is a proud week to be a Portlander.

On Wednesday, January 16, Portland City Council voted to accept all four Immigrant and Refugee Task Force recommendations, including:

1. Create an office of immigrant and refugee affairs, with a multi-ethnic staff, that would serve as a bridge and facilitator between the immigrant and refugee community and City government.
2. Establish a multicultural community center that can house a variety of immigrant and refugee organizations, has space for large meetings and community gatherings, and offers opportunities for people of different ethnicities to mingle.
3. Provide additional resources for immigrant and refugee organizations to train or support their constituents in civic engagement.
4. Conduct a professional evaluation to assess the City's current Human Resources (HR) policies and practices and recommend changes that would result in the recruitment, hiring, and retention of multilingual and multicultural staff to serve Portland's fast-growing immigrant and refugee communities.

In addition, City Commissioners voted to create an Office of Human Relations in Portland, a Human Rights Commission and continue the work of the Police-Community Racial Profiling Committee.

While we will need to continue to work together in the upcoming budget cycle to ensure that City Council follows through on their commitments, Mayor Tom Potter made a compelling request of his fellow Commissioners during the State of the City Address on Friday.

"I am asking the Council to adequately - and most important, permanently - fund these programs with ongoing monies that will make these inclusionary programs a true part of Portland, and not a goodwill gesture too soon forgotten or changed when times are tough."
--Mayor Tom Potter

Congratulations, Everyone! It took two years of advocacy, but TOGETHER we did it!

WATCH THE COUNCIL HEARING ONLINE
(must have Real Media Player)
Council session video includes the Human Relations Commission, Immigrant & Refugee Task Force Recommendations and a report from the Racial Profiling Committee.

Click here for the bios of task force members

THANK YOU to the following community organizations who have supported this effort, in various ways, over the past two years: Africa House, African Refugee & Immigrant Network of Oregon, African Women's Coalition, AFSCME Council 75, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslim Council, Arab Persian Student Organization (PSU), Asian Family Center, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Association of African Students (PSU), Bilal Mosque Association, Black Cultural Affairs Board (PSU), Bridgetown Voices, Cambodian American Community of Oregon, Caribbean Cultural Association, Catholic Charities, Center for Intercultural Organizing, Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Committee, Hindu Temple of Oregon, Hop Sing Association, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Institute for Asian Studies (PSU), Indian Cultural Association, Islamic Social Services of Oregon State, Islamic Society of Greater Portland, Korean American Citizens League, Kurdish Community Center of Oregon, Las Mujeres (PSU), Latino Network, Lutheran Community Services, M.E.Ch.A (PSU), Muslim Community Center, Muslim Educational Trust, New Born Tribe African Community Center, Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs, Pan-African Community Organization, Philippine American Community, Portland Central American Solidarity Committee, Portland Community Media, Portland Kaohsiung Sister City Association, PSU Multicultural Center, Russian Oregon Social Services, SE Uplift, SEIU Local 49, Slavic Coalition, Somali Community Services Coalition of Oregon, Somali Women's Association, Soo Yuen Association, visionPDX, Voz Workers' Rights Education Project ... and many other organizations whose names we may have missed.

READ THE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE TASK FORCE REPORT

READ THE HUMAN RELATIONS REPORT

Immigrant & Refugee Task Force Community Forum
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
7:00 PM to 9:00
PSU Multicultural Center
Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 228
1825 SW Broadway, Portland

On January 9th, the Center for Intercultural Organizing is inviting members of Mayor Tom Potter's Immigrant & Refugee Task force to present their recommendations to the community. The task force built upon the work of hundreds of individuals and dozens of community organizations who, in various ways, participated in a two year-long effort to make the City of Portland aware of immigrant and refugee community issues, needs, strengths and contributions.

Yet again, City Council needs to hear your voices. Please come to the Immigrant and Refugee Task Force Community Forum and find out how you can ensure that the recommendations are implemented. Together, we can create an environment in which immigrants and refugees are recognized and supported as valued residents of our city.