Portland Grants Fund Disability and Justice Programs
Author: City of Portland, Oregon
Published: 30 Apr 2021 - Updated: 7 Sep 2026
Publication Type: Announcement
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content
Synopsis
This announcement details Portland's City Council approval of $248,319 in grants distributed to five nonprofit organizations through the Constructing Civic Dialogues program. The information is authoritative because it comes directly from the City of Portland's Office of Community & Civic Life, providing verifiable details about grant recipients, funding amounts, and specific program initiatives. The content offers practical value to people with disabilities, marginalized communities, and advocates by outlining accessible, no-cost training opportunities focused on disability justice, trauma-informed communication, anti-racism work, and conflict resolution. Each funded organization brings direct expertise working with communities impacted by systemic barriers, including LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled populations, making these programs particularly relevant for those seeking inclusive community engagement resources and alternative approaches to public safety.*
At a Glance
- 1 - A four-member City committee reviewed 29 applications over three meetings. It prioritized groups serving communities affected by bias and systemic barriers.
- 2 - Since January 2019, the program has awarded 745,432 dollars to community organizations and businesses. It trained more than 1,500 Portlanders during the 2019-20 cycle.
- 3 - The Curiosity Paradox received 60,000 dollars for a five-month exploration of disability art and justice. It centers anti-ableist, anti-racist, queer, and trans-positive space.
- 4 - Street Roots earned 47,319 dollars for its Ambassadors Program, led by people who have experienced houselessness. It guides housed neighbors in trauma-informed communication and de-escalation.
Topic Definition
- Constructing Civic Dialogues
Constructing Civic Dialogues is a grant program run by Portland's Office of Community and Civic Life that funds local nonprofits to deliver free public trainings in communication, conflict resolution, mediation, and community safety. Rather than relying on enforcement or calls to police, the program supports what organizers call upstream approaches, meaning practical tools that help people de-escalate tension and address bias before it hardens into serious conflict. It intentionally centers people with lived experience of exclusion, including disabled residents, formerly houseless people, and Black transgender and queer communities, treating their knowledge as expertise worth paying for and building around. In practice, the program braids together disability justice, racial justice, and transformative justice so that neighbors across different backgrounds and housing statuses can learn from one another and build stronger, more respectful community relationships.
Overview
Portland City Council unanimously approved the 2021-22 Constructing Civic Dialogues Grant, awarding a total of $248,319 to five nonprofit organizations. The grant funds empower local organizations to provide training and education opportunities to the public at no cost.
The Office of Community & Civic Life (Civic Life) grant-funded trainings facilitate community conversations around bias and hate, teach productive communication skills, conflict resolution tactics, and mediation skills. Since January 2019, the grant has awarded a total of $745,432 to community organizations and businesses and trained more than 1,500 Portlanders during the 2019-20 grant cycle.
"It is important that our community has the right tools to communicate and resolve conflict before it becomes unmanageable," said Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty.
"Civic Life's grant program Constructing Civic Dialogues supports community engagement and strategies for community safety that move beyond calling the police when a conflict arises. Instead, it offers tools to deescalate potential conflict situations so that they do not become serious issues. I am excited to support the continuation of this grant program as my office is committed to finding new ways to engage Portlanders around increasing understanding and respect for our differences and shared interests."
As our communities and country face a rise in hate crimes and renewed calls for racial justice, the need for this program is more relevant than ever. All grantees are committed to creating trainings that center "upstream approaches", meaning that they teach measures and steps that help us all engage in more constructive dialogue.
The five organizations selected to receive the grant are committed to working directly with community to address important topics such as racial justice, disability rights, and support for houseless communities. Each of the participating organizations offer their own unique curriculum including guiding community members in trauma-informed communication and de-escalation and helping housed neighbors understand the daily struggles experienced by unhoused people; facilitating conversations around community safety issues faced by Black transgender and queer communities; and how to support and advance disability justice.
"The Constructing Civic Dialogues grant allows us to do exactly what we aspire to do - bring people together across housing status to know and learn from each other," said Kaia Sand, Executive Director at Street Roots and 2021 Constructing Civic Dialogue grant recipient. "But more importantly, we want to center this in the expertise of people on the streets and recognize their labor and expertise as paid work. All of this is only possible through this Constructing Civic Dialogues grant."
"I am really excited about the new cohort of grantees," said Carlee Smith, Civic Life's Constructing Civic Dialogues Coordinator. "Each of the organizations selected have direct experience and expertise in community engagement. They work every day with communities impacted by bias and exclusion and are eager to provide training to all Portlanders that will build empathy, communication skills, and conflict resolution skills."
The grant selection committee consisted of four City employees which met three times. The committee reviewed 29 applications, looking for applicants that embodied equity-based values and directly serve communities disproportionately impacted by bias and systemic barriers including LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, and people with disabilities. The 2021-22 Constructing Civic Dialogues programming will become available as early as this fall.
The 2021-22 Grantees
The Curiosity Paradox, LLC - $60,000
The Curiosity Paradox will co-host a 5-month exploration of disability art and justice through their website and a series of virtual workshops. This is an anti-ableist, anti-racist, queer, and trans-positive space centering the needs and voices of the disability community.
Black & Beyond the Binary Collective - $60,000
Black & Beyond the Binary Collective will convene five community partners to host ten events over the next year. Each event will focus on public safety, immigration, public health, indigenous sovereignty, and the gaps in learning regarding community safety and the Black transgender and queer experiences.
Vo Vo - $35,000
Vo Vo will hold a series of trainings and capacity building sessions for the public. These capacity building sessions will be trauma-informed, resilience building facilitation training, inclusive of disability justice, harm reduction and LGBTQIA+ lenses. The sessions will also provide practice for building transformative justice applications and skills. Topics will include bystander intervention and de-escalation, anti-racist trauma-informed care, communication styles and how to recognize/respond to different styles, constructive allyship, and building cultural resilience for BIPOC communities.
Street Roots - $47,319
Street Roots will implement the Ambassadors Program as part of the Civic Circles initiative, led and facilitated by people who have experienced houselessness. This program will guide housed neighbors in trauma-informed communication and de-escalation, helping them understand daily struggles experienced by unhoused people. Ambassadors will conduct outreach with unhoused neighbors to better understand them and their needs. They will lead conversations to help neighbors across housing statuses build relationships.
Bridge-Pamoja - $46,000
Bridge-Pamoja will convene a series of virtual community summits and ongoing personal storytelling and community listening groups to foster better community relations among African immigrant and African American communities in Portland. Youth affiliated with this organization will lead the African & African American Youth Summit, bringing together young Africans and African Americans for age-specific discussions. There will also be facilitated monthly or biweekly personal storytelling and community listening sessions with small groups (20 or fewer) of African and African American residents to share stories and develop bonds across cultures.
The Office of Community & Civic Life (Civic Life) connects the people of Portland with their City government to promote the common good. Our programs create a culture of collaboration, expanding possibilities for all Portlanders to contribute their knowledge, experience, and creativity to solve local problems and make life better in the city we all share.
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)
What is transformative justice
Transformative justice is a community-based approach to harm and conflict that seeks to address root causes and repair relationships without relying on police or punishment. It emphasizes accountability, healing, and changing the conditions that allowed harm to occur.
Who can attend Constructing Civic Dialogues trainings
The trainings are open to the general public and are offered at no cost to participants. They are designed for Portland residents, community members, advocates, and organizations seeking communication and conflict resolution skills.
What does disability justice mean
Disability justice is a framework that recognizes disabled people as leaders and centers their needs, voices, and lived experience. It connects disability with race, gender, class, and other identities rather than treating access as a single issue.
What does BIPOC stand for
BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The term is used to acknowledge the specific experiences of these communities and the systemic barriers they face.
What is an upstream approach to community safety
An upstream approach focuses on preventing conflict before it escalates rather than reacting after harm occurs. It uses education, dialogue, and de-escalation to address tension early.
How does Portland fund these grants
The grants are administered through the Office of Community and Civic Life using City funds approved by Portland City Council. Applications are reviewed by a committee of City employees who evaluate equity-based values and community impact.
What is trauma-informed communication
Trauma-informed communication is an approach that recognizes how trauma affects a person and adjusts interactions to promote safety and trust. It aims to avoid re-traumatizing people while supporting understanding and connection.
How can organizations apply for future grant cycles
Organizations can apply when the Office of Community and Civic Life opens a new application period, typically announced on the City of Portland website. Applicants are expected to demonstrate direct experience serving communities affected by bias and systemic barriers.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: What sets Portland's approach apart is the city's investment in prevention rather than intervention - recognizing that meaningful community safety grows from understanding, not enforcement. By centering the voices of those most affected by bias and exclusion, including disabled individuals, formerly houseless people, and Black transgender communities, these grant-funded programs challenge the traditional top-down model of civic engagement. The inclusion of disability justice alongside racial justice and transformative justice frameworks reflects a growing recognition that liberation movements are interconnected. As cities across the country grapple with questions of public safety and community cohesion, Portland's model demonstrates that sustainable change happens when those with lived experience become the teachers, not simply the subjects of well-intentioned programs.*
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by City of Portland, Oregon and published on 30 Apr 2021, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.
* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.