On August 6th and 7th, more than 90 volunteers representing every region of Oregon gathered at Bend’s Seventh Mountain Resort to discuss regional issues and strategies to address them. The Oregon Community Foundation sponsored this Statewide Leaders Gathering as part of its commitment to support the role of volunteer leadership in improving life in our state.

Participants were members of OCF’s eight Leadership Councils, regional bodies used by the Foundation to strengthen local representation and input. The focus was a new OCF effort called the Regional Action Initiative (RAI). Through the RAI, each of seven regions across Oregon (Eastern Oregon, Central Oregon, Northern Willamette Valley, Portland Metro, Southern Willamette Valley, the Coast: North and South, and Southern Oregon) has been given $1 million to identify and help address a regional need over three years. The process is guided by the Leadership Councils.

The Regional Action Initiative will be guided by the Leadership Councils whose charge is to bring their community together and come to consensus on a key issue that $1 million can help to solve.

The Gathering began at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, with a welcome from Steve Corey, OCF’s board chairman, followed by comments on rural and urban Oregon issues.

On the first afternoon, representatives from each region shared ideas and experiences, including ways to develop effective community leadership and common elements that lead to successful community projects.

On Thursday, each Leadership Council convened to begin work on a strategy for their Regional Action Initiative. Over the next year, the Councils will choose a focus, draft a work plan and evaluation framework, hear from members in the community, and select strategies to implement. Many of the Councils chose to begin their work by reviewing demographic data from each county in their region.

OCF Leadership Council members bring critical perspectives and experience to this process that they can use to ensure success in their regions, and to the state as a whole.

Please share your opinions on the Regional Action Initiative by completing a brief online survey. (LINK)

For more information about the RAI, please contact Melissa Durham, Regional Action Initiative Coordinator, melissad@ocf1.org.

Back to main Regional Action Initiative page