Black Student Success_UO Alumni II_Courtesy of Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation Reinvests Nearly Half a Million to Help Further Positive Impact of Black Student Success Initiative

Dozens of culturally led organizations foster and lift up Black youth, to promote educational equality and Black Student Success across Oregon

Portland, OR – Wednesday, May 11, 2022 – Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) announced today that it will reinvest in 24 community-based, culturally-led organizations with $480,000 to support their success and further their positive impact throughout the state. The organizations have been part of a pilot advisory think tank developed in 2020 called the Oregon Black Student Success Network (OBSSN).

“Black people are resilient, we are smart, talented, brave, and beautiful; and our Black children, our Black students, need to know that,” said Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA, Program Officer, Black Student Success, Oregon Community Foundation. “I am hopeful because of the investments that Oregon Community Foundation has made and will continue to make in Black Student Success.”

Since the start of the OBSSN, membership has expanded to five regions across the state. Members support the work of Black Student Success from various perspectives including teacher education in K-12 systems to educational access in postsecondary spaces. Likewise, the OBSSN has been able collaborate on specialized programs and policy advocacy to work with the Oregon Department of Education on statewide reform.

“Black Student Success is about Black students thriving in a system that has historically failed them and their families,” said Vvdaul Holloway, Associate Program Officer, Black Student Success, Oregon Community Foundation. “Our work at Oregon Community Foundation combines community-centered leadership with philanthropic investments in service of system change and true equity for all Oregonians,” Mr. Holloway continued.

Following is a snapshot of some of the community-based organizations that OCF is supporting through Black Student Success:

Elevate Oregon $20,000

To build relationships with urban youth to promote education, self-reliance, and leadership.

“Oregon Community Foundation’s Black Student Success initiative funding is fueling Elevate Oregon's work to close the achievement gap and create educational equity for Black students,” said Donell Morgan, Executive Director. “The positive impact of culturally responsive in-school and out-of-school mentoring support is empowering Black students to graduate high school with a plan in place for the future and has a ripple effect throughout the community.”

Black Southern Oregon Alliance $20,000

To foster talents and interests of Black students to reach their unlimited potential.

“Black Southern Oregon Alliance is an organization that strives to promote and encourage the Black community in southern Oregon through advocacy, student and parent support, and Equity training,” said D.L. Richardson, President, Black Southern Oregon Alliance and Equity Specialist, Southern Oregon Education Service District. “Without the support of the Oregon Community Foundation and the Black Student Success Network, our organization would never have been able to help the many families we have. The BSSN, is everything to our success.”

Eugene Springfield NAACP (Unit 1119) $20,000

To pursue educational equality and eliminate race-based discrimination.

“As an organization charged with serving marginalized communities throughout Lane County and —at times— the counties to our East and South, the funds, support structures, and overall community that the Oregon Black Student Success Network endows us are instrumental towards our branch rising to the full potential of our current and future opportunity,” said Miles Pendleton, Branch President and Executive Committee Chair, Eugene Springfield NAACP (Unit 1119). “More than a financial support or economic stimulus, Oregon Community Foundation’ Black Student Success initiative is an investment in minoritized students and some organizations striving in their service. This renewal grant will bring new life and energy to our work with the Black youth we serve as we hope to support them towards lifting their full voice, and raising to their full height, despite being systemically taught to do otherwise.”

Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center + Rosemary Anderson High School (POIC + RAHS) $20,000

To reconnect alienated at-risk youth with an education.

“This renewal of funding for Black Student Success confirms Oregon Community Foundation’s commitment and the importance of providing support to students that have historically been an afterthought,” says Joe McFerrin II, President and CEO of POIC + RAHS. “Rosemary Anderson Schools continue to purposefully and actively engage with Black students to rewrite life stories, so students achieve their educational goals.”

To Learn More and Support Black Student Success at OCF

To learn more about the Black Student Success initiative at Oregon Community Foundation, please visit: Black Student Success » Oregon Community Foundation.

To support Black Student Success with a donation, contribute to the Black Student Success Fund online or contact a local OCF Philanthropic Advisor.

About Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA–Program Officer, Black Student Success, OCF

Earlier this year, Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA joined Oregon Community Foundation as the Program Officer for Black Student Success. Marcy Bradley, Vice President for Equity and Culture at OCF, sat down with Ms. Harden-Moore to have a conversation about what drives her passion to help Black students succeed in Oregon: A Conversation with Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA, the New Program Officer for Black Student Success with OCF » Oregon Community Foundation (oregoncf.org). 

To learn more about Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA, please visit: Tai Harden-Moore, JD, MBA » Oregon Community Foundation (oregoncf.org).

About Oregon Community Foundation

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $560 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org.

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