August Monthly Update

Oregon State Legislature sent this bulletin at 08/08/2023 03:00 PM PDT
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Hello and Welcome to House District 48!

Xin chào và Chào mừng đến với House District 48!

In This Newsletter:

  1. Personal Message from Rep Hoa Nguyen
  2. Good News from the Capitol!
  3. Stay Connected

Hello Community,

  I made it through my first long session as a freshman legislator and I am so proud of the work our office was able to accomplish. I could not have done this work without my amazing HD48 team. Many thanks to my Chief of Staff Inna Levin and Legislative Assistant Sarah Terry-Arbuckle who worked so hard during the long session to help pass our bills and communicate with our constituents. Both Inna and Sarah have transitioned to different roles, and I thank them for all of their great work to HD48.

When I am not at the capitol, I am working at Clackamas Education Service District as a Student and Community Engagement Specialist. In the interim I will be working full time at Clackamas ESD. I will also make time connecting with constituents and attending many community events. I hope to meet some HD48 constituents. 

On a personal note, I had to take some time off for my family. In March, I lost my grandmother and in July I lost my aunt. Both women were a source of inspiration for me, and I am grateful for the time spent with family to honor their lives. I appreciate everyone's condolences and support as I took the time to grieve. 

There is a lot of work ahead in the legislature in the upcoming months and I mean to tackle the work with you in mind.

We would like to welcome our constituents, YOU, to use this form to submit ideas for future bills. Note: the deadline to have bills drafted for this session has already passed, so your suggestions would be taken into consideration for next year’s short session and beyond. However, we look forward to hearing your ideas on how we can build a better Oregon.

2023 Legislative Session 

I have been working diligently as a Vice Chair on the Early Childhood and Human Services Committee, as a member of the House Education Committee, and as a member of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. 

Upcoming Joint Town Hall with Senator Kayse Jama and Representative Andrea Valderrama

 

Mark your calendars! Please join Representatives Hoa Nguyen, Andrea Valderrama, and Senator Kayse Jama in person on Tuesday, August 29th at 6pm - 7pm for an End of Session Legislative Town Hall to ask questions and hear from the electeds themselves on the work they have done and what it means to you as an Oregonian.

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RSVP Here!

NextUp & OLCV Youth Democracy Round Table

nextolcv

 

On July 25th, Representative Nguyen was invited by NextUp Oregon and Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV) to learn about Oregon’s leadership in voting access, and to have a discussion with the theme of how we can dream bigger to make sure every voice is heard.

Rep. Nguyen was joined by West Linn Mayor Rory Bialostosky and Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen.

The panel answered important questions such as:

  • A trending phrase in how we talk about elections is “threats to democracy” - do you think there’s been an increase in attacks on democracy, how can this be used to spread misinformation, and what do we do about it? How do we continue to build trust around the security of Vote By Mail?
  • Why is voting in primaries important in Oregon? And how can Non-Affiliated Voters’ have their voices heard (with Motor Voter, NAV #s have jumped!)
  • What are some barriers to being a first-time voter? When should young people think about registering and what is the process from turning 18 to turning in your first ballot? What do you remember about your first time voting, and what would you want to tell young people who are getting ready to vote for the first time?
  • What does civic engagement look like outside of just voting? 
  • In Oregon 93.7% of eligible voters are registered, what can we do to turn out more voters in all elections, but especially in local and off-year elections (Yusuf)
  • What are other ways we can expand voter access and registration? (Stephanie)
  • How do we make voter education and civic engagement accessible, especially for people who may not (or feel like they don’t) have all the information to vote?

Watch the full panel HERE!

Midway Mural Celebration

 

mid

On July 27th, Rep. Nguyen had the privilege of attending the Midway Business Association Mural Celebration on 122nd & Powell Blvd at the Octapharma Plasma Center. The mural has women of color business leaders in SE Portland painted by muralist Alex Chiu.

 

Meet the Women Leaders Featured in the Mural!

mural

Lisha Shrestha, a native of Nepal is the current Executive Director of the Division Midway Alliance. Lisha previously worked at IRCO, the City of Portland's New Portlander Program, and Elders in Action and was the recipient of the Portland State University's President's Diversity Award in 2015 and Community Leader of the Year Spirit of Portland Award in 2017. Lisha is also pursuing her doctoral degree at PSU. Her position at Division Midway Alliance allows Lisha to advocate for and bring resources to the immigrant and refugee populations in the area.

Halimo Alinur is one of 9 children raised by a single mother, who immigrated to Portland from Somalia. Halimo was born and raised in Ethiopia, but ultimately moved to the U.S. from Somalia. She moved to Portland at age 11. As a student, Halimo participated in programs organized by the African Youth Community Organization (AYCO). Halimo was later hired as AYCO's Community Engagement Lead, and is working with newly immigrated families and youth in East Portland.

Olena Borova immigrated to Oregon in 2018 from Ukraine. She began to work at Mercy Corps, as the Education & Outreach Program Officer for the Community Investment Trust (CIT) and is now a CIT Implementation Manager. Olena is dedicated to serving underrepresented communities and advocating for equality and financial inclusion. Before joining CIT, Olena worked as the Executive Director for ArtLinks, a non-profit in Eugene, OR that supports cultural diversity through art, culture, and education.

Diana Nuno-Perez is a mother of five who has lived in East Portland for over 20 years. She is a local store owner and designer at SaVistication Customs & Apparel at 2803 SE 122nd Ave. Diana is deeply involved in the Chicano and Native art community in Portland. Diana designs custom apparel, promotes and organizes hip-hop events, and is involved in the lowrider car scene.

The Artist

achiu

Alex Chiu, along with being a talented muralist, Alex specializes in collaborating with communities to create public art that tells a larger story. Since Alex lives in the district, he had an even deeper understanding of the people and place - giving him a unique perspective. Alex worked closely with the Midway Business Association to identify which district leaders to honor. Alex implemented a public survey to gather nominations for prominent female community leaders in the neighborhood. In the end, four women were selected to be depicted in the mural.

Jade District Climate Resilience Tour

olvc

Representative Nguyen and other legislators were invited to an event co-hosted by OLCV, Metro Councillor Duncan Hwang, and Rep. Khanh Pham! We were invited to go on a guided tour of the Jade District, which is on its way to becoming Portland's most transit rich, affordable, and climate friendly district in Portland. On the tour, we saw new high capacity transit lines, an array of new affordable housing, tree planting projects, EV installation, green job training, and community solar concepts, all within a few blocks of each other. As more resources for climate resilience become available, this tour offered an opportunity to see some of these concepts in development!

About Jade District

The Jade District, an APANO program, focuses on improving a ten-block area around SE 82nd Avenue and SE Division Street in southeast Portland. In 2012, it became a Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative under Prosper Portland’s Neighborhood Prosperity Network due to its diverse community, culturally specific businesses, and historic underinvestment. Initially managed by the 82nd Avenue of Roses Business Association, it became an APANO program in 2013.

 

About APANO Projects

Under APANO’s management, the Jade District prioritizes its residents’ needs for affordable housing, accessible transit, and green spaces, creating a safe, sustainable community with diverse cultural establishments. The map showcases completed, ongoing, and proposed projects, with detailed descriptions following based on categories, referenced by map numbers.

 

Affordable Housing

PCC SE Affordable Housing

The proposed project will redevelop a 1.6-acre parking lot at 7705 SE Division Street owned by Portland Community College (PCC) to a new affordable housing complex with 124 units. It aims to address housing insecurity among PCC students. APANO will be the co-sponsor, responsible for community engagement, design input, and resident programming.

 

Orchards of 82nd

Orchards of 82nd, a 48-unit affordable housing project developed by Rose CDC, offers ground- floor commercial space for APANO office and multicultural community area, a private courtyard, playground, sheltered parking, and a community room. Its location provides easy access to amenities and the FX2-Division Bus stations.

 

Canton Grill Redevelopment

APANO acquired and intends to redevelop the approximately 1.1-acre site for community uses, potentially including affordable housing units and public spaces. The north section of the site features a 7,148 SF building, formerly a Chinese restaurant for 75 years, now vacant. The rest of the site is a paved parking lot.

 

89th & Brooklyn Affordable Housing & Green Space

Based on EPA’s Greening the Jade Plan in 2018, this project proposes to build a park on the east side and housing on the west side of SE 89nd Ave between SE 90th Place and SE Brooklyn St. The 3 blocks on the west side will be redeveloped to a 3-story courtyard affordable housing complex. Pre- application was approved in June 2023.

 

Climate Resilience

GreenSavers Home Weatherization Partnership

A pilot project funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), APANO partnered with GreenSavers to implement home weatherization projects within the Jade District while also hiring and training APANO community members. We hope to scale up this resilience/workforce development program in future PCEF rounds.

 

Fubonn Shopping Center EV Charging Installation

APANO and Fubonn Shopping Center, Oregon’s largest Asian-themed shopping center, collaborate on the Jade District Electric Mobility Hub project to install 6 EV charging stations near the main entrance of the shopping center, allowing customers and workers to charge vehicles during shop hours.

 

Proposed Community Solar Project at TriMet Powell Garage

Through an emerging partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Trimet, APANO will be applying for PCEF funds to develop a community solar project Trimet’s Powell Garage. The energy produced here would provide free power to residents within APANO’s affordable housing.

 

 Active Transportation

Proposed High-Capacity Transit on SE 82nd Ave

TriMet’s second high-capacity transit route will run on 82nd Avenue, connecting Clackamas Town Center to Northeast Portland. Line 72, currently serving this route, has the highest ridership in Portland. Metro and TriMet currently lead the transit alternatives analysis, aiming to improve access, travel time, and connections to essential services and facilities.

 

FX2-Division Frequent Bus Service

FX2-Division is TriMet’s new high-capacity bus service in Southeast Portland, arriving every 

12 minutes daily. Each bus holds up to 115 passengers, 60% more than standard buses.

 Green Infrastructure

 

Harrison Park Community Garden

In 2015, Jade District established a community garden near Harrison Park Elementary. The garden offers accessible urban farming spaces with multilingual sign-up sheets and instructions, providing lower-income residents, renters, and apartment dwellers with affordable access.

HB 3144 Pacific Islander Student Success Act Ceremonial Bill Signing!

signing

On August 2nd, Rep. Nguyen had the honor to have her very first take home bill signed by Governor Kotek. We are proud of the work our office did, but this work could not have been done without the ground work done by Oregon’s Pacific Islander community.

PACIFIC ISLANDER STUDENT SUCCESS BILL (HB 3144) provides resources and targeted interventions to 

address the academic opportunity gap hurting Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian students. Pacific Islander communities are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in Oregon. They are seeing unacceptable education disparities including above average suspensions/ expulsions and decreasing attendance to staggering dropout rates.

HB 3144 will fund strategies to:

  • Address the disproportionate rate of disciplinary incidents of PINH students Increase parental engagement. 
  • Increase the engagement of PI students in after-school activities 
  • Improve literacy levels in PI students grades K-3.
  • Support PI students to maintain and improve academic performance 
  • Devise culturally responsive pedagogy and practices 
  • Increase attendance of PINH students in community colleges and four-year 

This Plan will fund strategies to:

Higher education institutions 

Student Success Plans Grow Oregon’s Existing Strategy. Oregon passed plans in 2019 & 2021 for 4 other culturally specific student groups (African American, Latinx, Native, LGBTQ2IA+) that were seeing statewide academic assessment disparities. 

This was a Community-Led Effort and we couldn’t have made this possible without the groundwork of the community! Thank you to the following organizations: 

The Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition, APANO, Samoa Pacific Development Corp, Coalition of Communities of Color, and others have been discussing how to craft a bill like this with ODE since April 2021. 

 

Good News from the Capitol!

STRONGER SCHOOLS: 

HOW OREGON DEMOCRATS ARE CHAMPIONING EDUCATION

 

During the 2023 legislative session, I was proud to join my Democratic colleagues in championing historic wins for Oregon’s K-12 schools and students and investing in making child care more affordable and easier-to-access for working families in every corner of the state. 

With these wins, we are working to ensure every child in Oregon has a safe, nurturing place to learn and grow from cradle to graduation. 

On August 2, Governor Tina Kotek signed several of these wins into law. This is going to make Oregon’s schools stronger by: 

    • Fully funding Oregon’s K-12 schools with record investments that will ensure students are set up for success in the classroom (House Bill 5015). 
    • Attracting, retaining, and training talented educators and guarantee every kid graduates with basic life skills (Senate Bill 283). 
    • Improving early reading skills in the classroom, which is shown to have long-term, positive impact on kids graduating from high school (House Bill 3198). 
    • Supporting students from diverse backgrounds so all kids–including LGBTQ+, Black and Brown students – feel safe at school (House Bill 3144, House Bill 2281, and Senate Bill 1050).

 

  • Investing in Oregon’s early learning and child care infrastructure so parents don’t break the bank to keep their kids safe during the workday (House Bill 3005).

 

With these gains, Oregon kids will be set up for short and long-term success inside and outside the classroom for years to come. To learn more about these efforts, click here. 

HOW DEMOCRATS ARE RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: OREGON’S HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS CRISIS

Oregonians are clear that we must make progress on the housing and homelessness crisis. This session Democrats successfully responded and delivered major wins on housing and homelessness that will: 

 

  • Get people off the street and into shelter;
  • Prevent more homelessness by keeping people housed;
  • Address the root cause of homelessness by building more affordable housing. 

On July 27, the Governor signed several of these bills into law, moving us one step closer to achieving these goals and making a real difference across every corner of the state. This is how we give every Oregonian access to safe and affordable housing in the community of their choice. 

If you’re interested in getting to know about the bills that were signed into law, click here. 

We also got some more good news: The bipartisan Affordable Housing & Emergency Homelessness Response Act that we passed back in March continues to make a positive impact across the state. This month, over 40 community organizations received funding to support youth experiencing homelessness. 

These investments will help some of Oregon’s most vulnerable youth and families by connecting them with rental assistance, shelter facilities, outreach, culturally-specific services, mental health and substance abuse services, transitional support, and more.

The organizations that received funding span across the entire state and include Hearts with a Mission of Roseburg, Medford, and Grants Pass; J Bar J Youth Services of Central Oregon; Community in Action of Ontario; Mid Willamette Valley Community Action of Salem; Connected Lane County of Eugene and Springfield; and New Avenues for Youth of Portland. For a full list of organizations, click here. 

 

 

Wildfire Resources

  • Have you signed up for emergency alerts? Get lifesaving alerts and instructions during emergencies at https://oralert.gov/. 
  • Wildfire season has started in Oregon. Visit https://wildfire.oregon.gov/Pages/current-conditions.aspx to track fires and air quality throughout the state.
  • Smoke in the air? Protect your home from wildfire smoke by following these tips: Protect your home from wildfire smoke https://youtu.be/pjtdkaT7x8w 
  • It’s wildfire season - make sure you and your family are prepared in case of an emergency. Visit www.ready.gov/plan to learn more about developing an emergency plan and creating a go-kit ready with supplies for health, safety and identification. 
  • Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gasses and fine particles from burning trees and other plant materials that can be dangerous if inhaled. Keep yourself safe from smoke by:
    • Limiting your exposure to wildfire smoke
    • Reducing time spent outdoors and engaging in vigorous outdoor activity 
    • Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated
    • Reducing other sources of indoor smoke and dust 

Read more about what to do when there’s smoke in the air at https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served//le8622.pdf 

About Evacuation Levels

🟢 LEVEL 1 (Green) - BE READY to evacuate. Be aware of danger in the area. Stay informed: Sign up for emergency alerts with your county. Check local emergency service websites, social media, TV news and radio for updates. This is the time for preparation. Have your emergency plan and go-kit ready with supplies for health, safety, and identification. Act early if you are older or have children, disabilities or limited access to transportation. Consider moving pets and livestock. Plan possible evacuation routes. If you can do so safely, check with your neighbors and share information. 

Follow this wildfire evacuation checklist: https://wildfire.oregon.gov/Documents/Wildfire_Evacuation_Checklist_En.pdf 

“Be Ready” Graphic available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese

🟡  Level 2 (Yellow) - BE SET to evacuate.There is significant danger in the area. Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Stay informed and be alert. Continue to check emergency service websites, social media, TV news and radio for updates. Time to act - follow your emergency plan and grab your go-kit of essential supplies for health, safety, and identification. Inform loved ones of your evacuation plans. Conditions can change rapidly. You do not need to wait for another evacuation notice. Leave if you feel unsafe.

“Be Set” Graphic available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese

🔴  Level 3 (Red) - GO NOW!There is extreme danger in the area. Leave without delay. It is unsafe to stay and threatens the safety of you, your family and emergency responders. Do not stop to gather belongings or protect your home. Emergency responders may not be available to help if you choose to stay. Do not return until officials announce the area is safe.

“GO NOW!” Graphic available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese

Shelter 

  • Call 211 or 833-669-0554 to connect with a disaster case manager or local housing navigator
  • Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit https://www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html for shelter assistance. About: For individuals whose homes were destroyed or had major damage, the state, in collaboration with the Red Cross and other community partners, will work with them to find more sustainable, long-term housing and to provide additional assistance and support as needed. 
  • Text SHELTER and your zip code to 43362 to search for shelters nearby. 
  • Text DRC and your zip code to 43362 to locate a Disaster Recovery Center.About: A DCR may help someone apply for FEMA assistance, find housing, and answer any questions someone has after a disaster. 
  • Livestock shelters: visit https://www.oregon.gov/oda/agriculture/Pages/WildfireResources.aspx and click on the “animal sheltering dashboard” for more information.  

After a Disaster 

Call 833-669-0554 to connect with a disaster case manager or local housing navigator for disaster recovery resources.

Disaster Assistancewww.disasterassistance.gov/ About: Click “Find Assistance” to fill out a quick questionnaire about your circumstances to be directed to a list of relevant resources. This site allows people to apply for assistance, check application statuses, get help with housing and food, and more.

Returning to property:

Renter Wildfire Recovery:

Replacing Documents

Federal:

State: 

Personal: 

  • Credit and debit cards: Contact your credit and/or debit card company directly.
  • Insurance documents: Check with your insurance agent.
  • Medical records: Call your doctor or your medical insurance company; medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.
  • Real estate and property: Contact your county government.

Legal Resources

Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Program. Oregon lawyers, through the Oregon State Bar, are partnering with FEMA and the American Red Cross to provide legal assistance on FEMA claims, contract claims, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters and more.

Mental Health Resources

  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 (call or text) (24/7/365) | www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helplineAbout: SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. 
  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (24/7/365)https://988lifeline.org/ About: This lines provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones. 
  • Behavioral Health Support Line: 800-923-4357 (HELP) (24/7/365)About: The Oregon Behavioral Health Support Line is a free and confidential resource for all Oregonians who are looking for emotional support. You do not need to be in a mental health crisis to call this line.
  • Crisis Text Line: Text OREGON to 741741About: A free crisis text line is available to Oregonians who need immediate assistance for behavioral health support. If someone is in crisis, they can text OREGON to 741741, and they will receive a text response from a live, trained crisis counselor who can provide them with help. The line is available 24/7.
  • Military Helpline: 888-457-4838 (24/7/365) | Text MIL1 to 839863 (text line only available M-F, 2-6pm)About: The Lines for Life Military Helpline offers help and hope to all military-connected community members. Our service is free, confidential, and available by phone, 24/7. This helpline is operated independently and not affiliated with the Department of Defense. 
  • Youthline: 877-968-8491 or text TEEN2TEEN to 839863 (youthline only available 4-10pm daily)
  • County-level crisis services contacts About: Visit this directory for county-specific resources. 

Other Misc. Resources

The swearing-in ceremony marks my official representation of the new HD48 boundaries, which includes South East Portland and Damascus areas from Kelly Butte to Powell Butte, and Barton to Carver.

While most of the Capitol building is under construction, some parts of the building will be open to the public, including committee meetings and legislative offices. All committee meetings are available (as always) for virtual viewing on the Oregon Legislative Information Site (OLIS). Members of the public can make their voices heard by submitting written testimony or by signing up for virtual or in-person testimony. You can read more about opportunities for public engagement on the Oregon Legislative website. 

Stay Connected! 

You can get in touch with me directly by visiting or connecting through: 

  • My Legislative Website
  • Email at Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov
  • Call our office at 503-986-1448
  • Visit my office in the House Chambers on the fourth floor, H-473

Trong cộng đồng,

In Community,

siggy

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1448

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301

Email: Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov

Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nguyen

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