Looking Back:
SPARC
Week | March 19-23, 2018

Portland is one of ten cities to participate in the Center for Social Innovation SPARC (Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities) project on racism and homelessness. The SPARC project includes public discussions and forums, provider training, qualitative and quantitative research, and collaborations with leadership in housing, health care, education, and criminal justice systems.

 
 

Community Kickoff Event

Come to Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm March 19 to kick off of a community-led initiative designed to explore and address racism as a driver of homelessness, and disparities among homelessness, in Multnomah County.

The initiative is named SPARC (Supporting Partnerships for Anti-Racist Communities), and it’s coming to Multnomah County this year to build on research into roots and best practices already under way in 10 other communities. SPARC is an initiative of the Center for Social Innovation.

The March 19 gathering is part of a week of events for community members, service providers and other key partners. The kickoff event will include light refreshments and a panel discussion featuring local leaders and service providers. SPARC will then spend the year working closely with community members and partners in A Home for Everyone, our community’s nearly four-year-old effort to address homelessness. 


Executive/Senior Management SKILLS Training

This half-day training will establish a baseline understanding of the intersection of racism and homelessness; to increase skills to engage in productive conversations about race and racism; and to develop tools for implementing anti-racist strategies in our system.

For more information, email Rhea Graves at the Joint Office of Homeless Services at [email protected]

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Service Provider Training

The training examines the realities of racism and homelessness across the United States. Participants are offered information and the opportunity to discuss the intersectionality of racism and homelessness. The goal is that everyone leaves energized and equipped with strategies for making positive change in our programs and community!


Executive Management Structural Change Work Session

This work session will allow Executive Management and key partners in A Home for Everyone (AHFE) to use the skills developed in the half-day training on March 20th. The Center for Social Innovation will facilitate the group in creating structural change objectives that will have lasting impacts in our community.

For more information, email Rhea Graves at the Joint Office of Homeless Services at [email protected].

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