Rural Organizing Project

OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND VISION OF PRIMARY... (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL AUTONOMOUS HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS WITH A GOAL OF KEEPING SUCH GROUPS A VIBRANT SOURCE FOR A JUST DEMOCRACY.

FOSTERING STRONG HEALTHY LOCAL GROUPS - WE BUILT THE CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 80 HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS AND THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADVANCE HUMAN DIGNITY AND DEMOCRACY IN SMALL-TOWN AND RURAL OREGON. WE BROUGHT MORE THAN 120 RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST IN-PERSON RURAL CAUCUS & STRATEGY SESSION SINCE 2019 TO SHARE STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR SOCIAL, RACIAL, ECONOMIC, AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, TO BUILD ORGANIZING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SKILLS, AND TO SUPPORT HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS TAKING STATEWIDE ACTION TOGETHER FOR AN INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY.

SAFE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITIES - ROP SUPPORTED HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS AND LEADERS WHO LED DOZENS OF MUTUAL AID PROJECTS ACROSS OREGON TO FEED NEIGHBORS, PROTECT THOSE AT RISK OF EVICTION AND LIVING OUTSIDE, AND SHARE HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION. TOGETHER WE ADVANCED THE ROADMAP TO A THRIVING RURAL OREGON THAT OUTLINES THE PRIORITIES RURAL COMMUNITIES NEED TO MOVE FROM BARELY SURVIVING TO THRIVING, INCLUDING ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, CHILDCARE, INTERNET, HEALTHY FOOD, AND CLEAN WATER. WE ADVOCATED FOR AND WON MAJOR LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES INCLUDING THE UNIVERSAL IMMIGRATION LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND FARMWORKER OVERTIME. ROP SUPPORTED HUNDREDS OF LEADERS TO ORGANIZE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS INCLUDING PRIDE AND JUNETEENTH, RALLIES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, DOING ONGOING RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND STARTING NEW GROUPS WHERE THERE WEREN'T GROUPS ALREADY.

ADVANCING DEMOCRACY FOR ALL - THANKS IN LARGE PART TO RURAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, OREGON PASSED GROUND-BREAKING STATEWIDE LEGISLATION THAT ADVANCES DEMOCRACY, RACIAL, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WE HAVE MADE SURE THAT THE SANCTUARY PROMISE ACT, PASSED IN THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, AND THAT COMMUNITIES KNOW THAT THESE NEW PROTECTIONS EXIST ACROSS THE STATE. BECAUSE COMMUNITY-OWNED AND OPERATED MEDIA IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING A WELL-INFORMED PUBLIC, WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITY RADIO PARTNERS TO BUILD UP TEAMS OF LOCAL LEADERS TO APPLY FOR COMMUNITY RADIO STATION LICENSES IN THREE COUNTIES, AND SAVED A COMMUNITY'S STATION LICENSE THAT WAS NEARLY CANCELED IN A FOURTH COUNTY.

WE'VE CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND PRODUCED AN EXHIBIT TO TRAVEL THE STATE: "BRIDGING DIVIDES, DEFENDING DIGNITY" SHARES STORIES FROM ROP'S 30 YEAR HISTORY OF HOW RURAL OREGONIANS HAVE WON MAJOR VICTORIES BY COMING TOGETHER ACROSS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. AFTER COVID-19 HIT RURAL OREGON, ROP BEGAN OPERATING A TWICE-WEEKLY MERCADO-STYLE FOOD PANTRY AND RESOURCE HUB THAT PRIORITIZES REDUCING BARRIERS AND INCREASING ACCESS TO FOOD, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, LOCAL SERVICE AGENCY RESOURCES, AND COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINE INFORMATION TO MORE THAN 8,000 MIGRANT FARMWORKERS, REFUGEES, AND LOW-INCOME FOLKS WHO LIVE IN SOUTH LANE AND NORTH DOUGLAS COUNTIES. OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING CENTER SERVES AS A GATHERING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CIVICS GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COORDINATE LOCAL HUMAN DIGNITY WORK AND RESPOND TO CRISIS.