Good in the Hood and Juneteenth among Six Projects Funded

Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods has awarded six neighborhood improvement grants. This year the projects have been funded through a one-time donation from the Neil Kelly Company.  The small grants program used to be funded through the city’s Office of Neighborhood involvement, but were eliminated from the budget. The $1,000 awards will go to:

Curriculum of Cuisine: A program bringing culinary arts education and nutrition classes to Alliance High School

De-Gentrifying Portland: A film workshop for youth of color, and a 3-part series screening historical documentaries about N/NE Portland

Dekum Youth Empowerment Initiative: Cooking classes and a pop-up “Zero Waste Café” that will provide high school-age boys nutrition education and experience planning and running a small business

Good in the Hood: An annual multicultural food and music festival

Juneteenth 2014: The oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in America

Summer in September Jambalaya Festival and BBQ: A fundraiser for Meals on Wheels, which provides hot meals to seniors in Northeast Portland

 “The grants that NECN has just announced are inspiring, creative examples of what our neighbors can accomplish with even a small award of $1,000. The City’s fiscal situation is on steady footing – now is the time to reinstate funding so that these grants can be awarded across the city again next year.”

The mayor’s most recent budget proposal has reinstated some funding for the program.