From the City of Portland:

A pool of money is available for community based projects initiated, designed and run by youth 21 and under. The Youth Action Grants Program will provide grants of up to $1,000 to any youth in Portland who want to take action that makes Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth a reality!

CLICK HERE to view the grants guidelines & sample application.

Youth Projects Must:
•Help make Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth a reality.
The Bill of Rights is the official vision for youth rights, adopted by both City Council and County Board. Your project needs to link to one or more of the articles in the bill. Please take a look at the Sample Application (question #5) for an example.

•Be planned and carried out by youth.
Youth 21 and under should be the primary organizers of your project. Your project must also benefit more than just the youth who are organizing the project.

•Be short term.
Grant funding must be spent within three months. Youth Grant projects must be ready to begin this spring and be completed by June 30th, 2011.

•Involve as many people as possible.
Over 7,000 youth from all over Portland and Multnomah County were involved in creating the Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth. We want to ensure that youth are equally engaged in taking action. You should engage as many youth and volunteers as possible.

•Create strong youth-adult partnerships.
You must have a sponsoring adult partner from a non-profit organization, government agency or school in order for your project to be eligible. Check out the list of community based organizations on the next page. If you have another organization in mind, give us a call and we can work with you to get them up to speed. One of our most important objectives is to create strong and equal partnerships between youth and adults, where youth leadership can thrive.

•Be creative.
We are seeking new, exciting and creative ideas. Be bold and use your imagination!

CLICK HERE to view the grants guidelines & sample application.

Past project funded by the Youth Action Grant include:

Parkrose Superintendant’s Advisory Council/Student Council-“9th Grade Counts” $650

youth involved: 250

This project gave freshmen a warm welcome to Parkrose High School. Freshman were hosted by upperclassmen at a fun week-long orientation and BBQ that built shared school spirit, with interactive workshops about Parkrose and how to get around the school.

Youth United Build-“Battle of the Bands” $1,000

youth involved: 300

This project expressed the need for affordable housing through music and informing the community about the Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to build homes for families. The event also introduced youth to Youth United Build, a youth-led group who volunteer on build projects.

Bhutanese Student Club-“Multicultural Art Show” $950

youth involved: 150+

This art show brought communities of different backgrounds in the David Douglas community, to share their cultural experiences through visual, musical, and cultural art. Art supplies were distributed to youth artists to create masterpieces that express their past, and celebrate what the future has in store for everyone.

Youth Action-“We are the Future” $1,000

youth involved: 100

Youth Action accomplished its goal to social awareness of the challenges youth face through a documentary film. Youth Action premiered “WE ARE THE FUTURE” the film trailer, at Hotel Deluxe, gaining support from the community to raise the interest of youth being part of creating a bettersociety.

Oregon Partnership’s Youth Advisory Council-“Youth Paint for Our Health Mural” $1,000

youth involved: 100

This project involved many Portlanders from various communities to design and paint a mural expressing the city’s diversity. The mural radiates the diversity of youth voice with the accompaniment of a video diary made throughout the process of the project.

El Grupo Juvenil: Papers the Movie Youth Crew-“Papers” Education Project $1,920

youth involved: 1,500+

Created a curriculum about the undocumented youth experience that accompanies the movie, which assists teachers in both middle and high schools.

Youth Advocates for Health Awareness-“School-Based Health Center Awareness Week” $1,050

youth involved: 1800+

Youth at Grant High School organized a weeklong awareness week to encourage the use and awareness of their School based health center.

Projects Awarded

Upcoming YOUTH ACTION GRANT Workshops

The City/County Youth Programs are also pleased to offer four free grant workshops designed FOR YOUTH to answer their grant-related questions. You must attend at least one workshop to apply for a grant. Go online to find one in a neighborhood near you!

Email Pam Phan to find out more, or sign up for a workshop!

YOUTH ACTION GRANTS APPLICATION FORM
APPLY NOW! to view and download application!

Applications and all supporting materials must be submitted to Pam Phan, Youth Planning Program c/o Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 7100, Portland, OR 97201 by 8PM on Tuesday, February 8th.

Please contact Pam Phan at (503) 823-9912 or pam.phan@portlandoregon.gov with any questions about the YOUTH ACTION GRANTS Program or to RSVP for a YOUTH grant workshop.