City Council Supports Plan for Urban Natives
Warren Jimenez
Today, City Council unanimously passed a resolution to support the Urban Indian Regional Strategic Plan “Restoring a Cultural System of Plenty” to reducing poverty in the Urban Native American population.
With funding provided by the Northwest Area Foundation, community members in Portland, Seattle, Rapid City, and Billings have been able to meet for 2 years to devise community generated strategies to reduce poverty in Urban American Indian/Alaskan Native communities. The resulting strategic plan has been submitted to the Northwest Area Foundation which will decide by December whether or not to fund this effort.
The Portland Urban Native community, organized as the Youth and Elders Council on Poverty Reduction, held over 30 meetings to generate discussion, problem-solving, and cultural unity. During this time, they conducted two rounds of community-based research, employing 9 young adults and reaching out to approximately 650 community members.
Over the course of this year, the Urban Native community has combined efforts with three other Urban Native community pilot sites and leaders to complete a 10-Year Strategic Plan to Reduce Poverty in an eight state region.
According to census data, 50% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives in Multnomah County live 200% below the poverty level. This strategic plan is a community based approach to empowering Natives and reducing poverty in the Urban Indian Communities.
Posted by Warren Jimenez on November 23, 2005
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Comments by site visitors
Warren,
To second Commisioner Adams, I would like to thank you for your continued good work on this project. Your leadership, insight, and dedication have been incalculable.
My thanks also to the Commisioner for his tremendous support.
Colin McCormack
Coalition Coordinator
Portland Youth and Elders Council on Poverty Reduction
Posted by: Colin McCormack | Nov 28, 2005 9:01:08 AM
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Warren,
Thanks for all your good work on this project!
Sam
Posted by: Sam Adams | Nov 26, 2005 11:03:48 PM