Uniting for Action on the Oregon Economy
 
Uniting for Action on the Oregon Economy was a non-partisan program that brought together Oregonians with wide-ranging views to strengthen collaboration skills address key economic challenges facing our state.

Oregon Uniters worked with community partners in Portland Metro, Benton County, and Tillamook County address financial literacy gaps, support aspiring entrepreneurs, and help vulnerable and homeless individuals find productive employment. 

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The Oregon Uniters worked to:
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1. Build relationships across divides
   
2. Increase understanding of economic challenges in Oregon              
3. Strengthen individual collaboration and communication skills 
4. Tackle economic challenges in Oregon​​

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​Program Overview
​Uniting for Action on the Oregon Economy followed three phases. During each phase, the cohort gathered in person and online for relationship-building, skill-building, dialogue, analysis, and project design.

Projects with Community Partners
Each Oregon Uniter team within the broader cohort partnered with an Oregon community organization to design and implement a project that 1) addresses an economic challenge in their area identified by the group and 2) advances an initiative or goal of the organization.   

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​​Working with Community Outreach Incorporated, the Benton Bunch launched  Better Together Benton County to help vulnerable and homeless individuals to find productive employment.

The team surveyed businesses and service providers to understand existing gaps and the challenges they face hiring, retaining, and supporting vulnerable people in our community, shared our findings, and brainstormed how support could be strengthened. We also cataloged available services in a resource that will enhance collaboration among providers and improve support to the most vulnerable jobseekers.

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​Alongside community partner Financial Beginnings Oregon, the Tillamook “Cowpies” worked together to address financial literacy gaps in Tillamook County.

The team assessed community needs for financial education programming and identified community organizations and schools interested in hosting curricula. Through volunteer recruitment and training, the Tillamook team set the stage for multiple class offerings. We promoted the project via a humanizing approach with inspiring, culturally and linguistically relevant multimedia storytelling to showcase how everyone can benefit from financial education.

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​Working with our community partner Rob Routhieaux of the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Marvels are supporting aspiring entrepreneurs by compiling an online database of resources that can be used to support a business at any stage and in any industry. We are also creating flyers in multiple languages and conducting outreach to community organizations to spread the word and reach a wider audience.

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Our Oregon Team
​Our program is being organized and managed by an Oregon team that lives and works in the communities where we will implement our program.  UR Action was invited by Oregonians who recognize the impact of the serious fissures present in our state, to create a program that addresses those divisions.

• Jenny Seward – Multnomah County
• Michelle Jenck – Tillamook County
• ​Franklin Chen – Washington County
• Ted Volchok - Multnomah/Benton Counties

Interested in Learning More?  
For more information:  Contact Ted Volchok, Oregon Program Director at ted@uraction.org. 

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Uniting for Action on the Oregon Economy - 2024 Implementation
​Planning is underway for our second iteration of Uniting for Action on the Oregon Economy kicking off in February 2024.  ​​​Check out this webpage for more information on how you can participate.​