2020 Year In Review

Join us in recapping a whirlwind of a year.

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We accomplished a lot this year together.

When 2020 began, we expected the biggest change for us would be a new name and logo…but that was far from the truth. This year has solidified our mission: to mobilize community and empower leaders for the common good of Oregon. Between launching a new initiative to help parents who are incarcerated have successful re-entry into the community (and their families), to becoming an emergency response operation to meet the critical needs of families impacted by COVID-19, together we’ve stepped up and stepped in to areas of need in Oregon. Whether you’ve been with us a decade or a week, thank you for taking a moment to stop, reflect, and acknowledge this monumental year.

Stories

My Neighbor

“Thank you so much for the amazing bikes! This is our first time doing foster care and had these two amazing boys placed with us. Part of the difficulty in being first time foster parents is forgetting the little things that make kids happy such as certain toys, games and riding bikes.

Within the first few days of having them, we quickly realized that all of the parks, playgrounds and most outdoor places were closed due to the current health crisis. We were so focused on getting food, bedding, bathing supplies and necessities we completely forgot to acquire things for outdoor fun that didn’t require visiting closed areas. I mentioned possibly wanting to get bicycles to our case worker and was speechless when just a few days later two brand new, incredible bikes were delivered to our house.

To say the boys were ecstatic is an understatement. They have been riding around the neighborhood and getting exercise all thanks to you. We are all so grateful for your kindness, generosity and for being so thoughtful.”

– Foster Parent, Multnomah County

Know Me Now

This is Jackie’s Story

Every Child

Read Anthony Dixon’s story

Milestones

2009

January 1, 2009

Founding

Ben Sand and Anthony Jordan created Portland Leadership foundation, with a commitment to generational change through scholarship and mentorship.

April 1, 2009

Act Six

Prior to the inauguration of Portland Leadership Foundation, Ben and Anthony launched the Act Six initiative in Oregon while working for Young Life. Act Six moved to Portland Leadership Foundation as the cornerstone initiative upon the organization’s launch.

2012

January 1, 2012

Starting Every Child Oregon

Every Child Oregon (originally named Embrace Oregon) humbly began in Portland with Welcome boxes and appreciation of the regional child welfare workers. The momentum grew in Portland, and Every Child expanded statewide in 2017.

2020

January 1, 2020

Rebrand as The Contingent

Portland Leadership Foundation rebranded to become The Contingent. The Contingent is a group of people trained for action. We have a 36-county commitment to Oregon and a vision for a new conversation in our country.

February 1, 2020

The National Need for Every Child Oregon

Former Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, Lynn Johnson, brought her team from Washington DC to learn more about the scaling power of Every Child Oregon. Read More.

March 1, 2020

My NeighbOR

When COVID-19 hit, our community’s most vulnerable children and families were hit hardest. Faced with the crisis of a generation, Every Child launched My NeighbOR, a 36-county decentralized community mobilization effort designed to connect neighbors with families and youth in foster care who have essential needs. My NeighbOR brought us all together!

August 1, 2020

The Oregon Cares Fund

After George Floyd was murdered on the streets of Minneapolis, the entire country entered into the most important wave of discussion about racism in a generation. In Oregon, a group of Black leaders organized an unprecedented set of meetings with Oregon’s elected leadership, and one byproduct was the emergence of a vision to launch The Oregon Cares Fund—a $62 million fund to issue cash grants to Black Oregonians, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led nonprofits. The Contingent was honored to partner with Black United Fund to administer the fund. [External Link to Oregon Live]

September 1, 2020

Microsoft Investment

The Contingent was selected for a significant investment from Microsoft. The following month, Microsoft published a case study to share how My Neighbor and The Oregon Cares Fund used Dynamics 365, Azure, and Power BI to rapidly innovate during the pandemic.

October 1, 2020

Light A Fire Award

The Contingent won the prestigious Light A Fire Award for best Covid-19 Response in the nonprofit sector. Read More.

2021

March 1, 2021

Launch of SINE

The Contingent launched its new initiative, SINE (Survival is not Enough). This initiative empowers rising leaders of color and low-income rural leaders in Oregon.

July 1, 2021

Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector

In partnership with our tech partner, Wipfli, The Contingent is recognized with the award for most innovative use of Microsoft technologies in the nonprofit sector. Read more.

2022

December 1, 2022

Emerging Leaders Begins Rural Oregon Expansion

In partnership with local affiliates, Emerging Leaders Internship initiative expands to serve rural Oregonians. Emerging Leaders becomes The Contingent’s second statewide initiative.

December 15, 2022

The Community Collider Formalized

The Contingent’s work in empowering leaders and mobilizing community is animated a newly branded entity called The Community Collider. The Community Collider brings together marketing and digital strategy, technology, community experience (CX), and research. Learn more.

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Know Me Now

Valentine’s Day is a day where love is widely celebrated and flowers, candy and sweet notes are exchanged. Our team started our Valentine’s Day off at Columbia River Correctional Institution just after 4 a.m. to show love to their staff. Brooke Gray, Executive Director of Mobilizing Community at @orcontingent shares a story from her morning:⁠

This woman leads a crew of 40 adults-in-custody in the kitchen who prepare and serve food to the 600 adults at Columbia River Correctional Institution. ⁠
I asked her: “What do you wish the community knew about your work and the men you work with?” Her response: “When a man ends up here, it didn’t start with a crime. It starts when they’re in elementary school. It starts with their family, with the systems, with what they’re surrounded by. I wish people knew we need to care better for children, so that those kids never grow up and end up here.”⁠

My NeighbOR

Because of your generosity in supporting our neighbors, we can see families stay together and reunite.⁠
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A mother with previous DHS involvement received two complete twin beds sets this week.⁠ “Thank you so very much!! I’ve been looking for help and can’t believe I finally found it!”⁠ She explained that the beds will finally help her home feel like a home.⁠
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Thank you to everyone who has supported our community’s youth and children impacted by foster care.⁠
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To continue to get involved, visit everychildoregon.org/myneighbor

The Oregon Cares Fund

“I was on the verge of losing my house because of a loan I took to keep my business open. This grant from The Oregon Cares Fund has served both my business and my family.”

“I received an eviction notice this week, and receiving this grant will keep me and my four kids in our apartment.”

Emerging Leaders

413 students of color who applied to the Emerging Leaders Internship (ELI) program were invited to compete for a paid summer internship through ELI in 2019.

Andrea Vanessa is one of the 120 who were matched with multiple ELI company partners for a final interview and accepted an offer to become an Emerging Leaders intern.

Hear from our Emerging Leaders what makes our program unique and why Oregon’s brightest students of color and top companies take part in ELI every year.

Watch Andrea’s story and learn more about the Emerging Leaders at www.emergingleaderspdx.org.

Donate

Your donation is a powerful way to support the movement. Each contribution has real world impact in the many initiatives we sponsor, whether it’s through mentoring, education, scholarships, internships, career development, mobilizing volunteers, raising up foster families, or supporting families who open their homes to Oregon’s most vulnerable children.

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