Rural Organizing Project

OUR MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN THE SKILLS, RESOURCES AND VISION OF PRIMARY... (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) LEADERSHIP IN LOCAL AUTONOMOUS HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS WITH A GOAL OF KEEPING SUCH GROUPS A VIBRANT SOURCE FOR A JUST DEMOCRACY.

CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS: ROP SUPPORTED MORE THAN 76 AUTONOMOUS, VOLUNTEER-LED HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS TO INCREASE THEIR IMPACT AND ABILITY TO ORGANIZE FOR THE LONG-HAUL. WE FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE EACH GROUP HAS A LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT SHARES THE WORK, SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A GROWING BASE, AND SHORT- AND MEDIUM-TERM ACTION PLANS THAT CENTER CAMPAIGNS THAT BUILD THE GROUP'S LOCAL BASE AND POWER IN THE COMMUNITY. ROP ALSO SUPPORTED GROUPS BY FACILITATING PLANNING PROCESSES AND MEETINGS, COACHING AND TRAINING, CONNECTING LEADERS TO RESOURCES SIMILAR GROUPS HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED, AND CONVENING OUR 32ND ANNUAL RURAL CAUCUS & STRATEGY SESSION THAT WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 120 RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERS.

OUR EXHIBIT CONTINUES TO TRAVEL THE STATE: "BRIDGING DIVIDES, DEFENDING DIGNITY" SHARES STORIES FROM ROP'S 30 YEAR HISTORY OF HOW RURAL OREGONIANS HAVE WON MAJOR VICTORIES BY COMING TOGETHER ACROSS POLITICAL DIFFERENCES. OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING CENTER IN COTTAGE GROVE SERVES AS A GATHERING SPACE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CIVICS GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COORDINATE LOCAL HUMAN DIGNITY WORK AND RESPOND TO CRISIS.

ADVANCING DEMOCRACY AND DEFENDING HUMAN DIGNITY THROUGH COLLECTIVE STATEWIDE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTION THAT ADVANCES SOCIAL, RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND CLIMATE JUSTICE, COUNTERS WHITE NATIONALISM, AND PROMOTES INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY. DOZENS OF HUMAN DIGNITY GROUPS AND LEADERS ACROSS RURAL OREGON TOOK ACTION TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY AND TO INTERVENE IN ATTACKS ON 2SLGBTQIA+ STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS, SCHOOL BOARDS, CITY COUNCILS, COUNTY COMMISSIONS, AND IN COMMUNITY. ROP SUPPORTED GROUPS LEADING CAMPAIGNS TO OPPOSE CURRICULUM AND BOOK BANS AND SUPPORTED YOUTH ORGANIZERS LEADING THE OPPOSITION TO TRANSPHOBIC AND HOMOBPHOBIC POLICY-MAKING.

CONFRONTING AND TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS THAT PREVENT RURAL OREGONIANS FROM LIVING THEIR LIVES FULLY WITH SAFETY AND DIGNITY: ROP WAS ONE OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE SURE OREGON'S 2021 SANCTUARY PROMISE ACT WAS GETTING FULLY IMPLEMENTED AT THE LOCAL AND STATEWIDE LEVELS. ROP SUPPORTED GROUPS TO TALK TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ENSURE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE SANCTUARY PROMISE ACT AND TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOTLINE AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO ARE IMPACTED BY RACIAL PROFILING, DETENTION AND DEPORTATION.