Racial Justice
Oregon Action is a multi-racial, multi-issue organzation with a strong commitment to racial justice. We have adopted strong affirmative action policies for hiring and for identifying and developing leaders. We also have had trainings in developing alliances across race, dismantling racism and holding elected leaders of color accountable to our issues.

We recognize this is a long-term commitment and plan to continue to train our leaders about the pernicious effects of racism,  white privilege and internalized racism and how racism is expressed personally, culturally and institutionally.


Social and Economic Justice
Although we define our issues in terms of economic and social justice, we explicity investigate how racism interplays with that issue. For example, the cost of prescription drugs affects everyone, but people of color experience the affects of high prescription drug costs because they are less likely to receive health insurance at work and on earn much less than white workers on average.

When selecting issues, we use the traditional organzing questions that ask whether the issue is deeply felt, makes a difference in people's lives, alters the balance of power, builds the organization and is winnable. However, we also ask whether that issue provides a racial justice framework for analysis — does it affect people of color disproportionately?

Resources
There are many useful resourses on the Western States Center website. These include materials on assessing your organization's readiness to take on  racial justice organizing and several other topics. They also have a lending library of videos related to racial justice issues.

About Us
Oregon Action is a statewide chapter-based grassroots organization that works on many issues. We often work in coalition with other organizations to enhance our power to win change.

Oregon Action was founded on the belief that organizing people to build power at the grassroots is the only way to win change in the long term, because that is the only way to change the balance of power.



Leaders
Oregon Action leaders are the decision-makers for the organization. Leaders represent the organization in coalitions and in regional and national organizations. Leaders also represent OA when speaking to the press and testifying in the legislature.

Members are trained in public-speaking, research skills, strategic planning and in organizing. Most of our training is achieved with the help and support of the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO), Western States Center and US Action. and within Oregon Action with our more experienced leaders.



Could you be an OA leader?
Any Oregon Action member can become a leader by attending OA meetings and trainings and by volunteering on our campaigns. Oregon Action is committed to leadership development and training, because that is how we become stronger and more effective. Please join us.

Contact us for more info

Updated February 25, 2007