Announcing the Justice Reinvestment Equity Program Grantees

Justice Reinvestment Equity Fund
Written By Laura Nash
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The Justice Reinvestment Equity Program Learning Community

Northwest Health Foundation is excited to announce 18 culturally specific organizations and culturally responsive providers selected to participate in the Justice Reinvestment Equity Program (JREP). These organizations will receive a total of $5,500,000 in grants to support projects that aim to reduce prison use, promote healing and advance community safety in Oregon.

The 18 organizations are:

Each organization is unique in its experience and context, but all are unified by their shared dedication to curbing incarceration, fostering healing, and building a new vision for community safety. More specifically, all are engaged in addressing one of JREP's key focus areas: 1) Victim and survivor services, 2) Violence reduction and/or preventing engagement in the criminal legal system, and 3) Re-entry, diversion and/or curbing involvement in the criminal legal system.

 
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UTOPIA PDX

For example, UTOPIA PDX is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Queer and Transgender Pacific Islanders (QTPI). With JREP’s support, UTOPIA PDX will expand its culturally specific programming to serve QTPI victims and survivors through peer support and traditional healing practices, such as song, dance, food and herbal medicine. 

 
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Mano a Mano

Mano a Mano is one of several organizations in the cohort focused on violence reduction. Through JREP, Mano a Mano will engage in efforts to interrupt violence among Latinx youth in the Salem-Keizer area through street outreach, mentorship, healing circles and wraparound services.

 
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The Stronghold

The Stronghold is a newer organization in Chiloquin led by enrolled members and descendants of federally recognized tribes. The Stronghold will provide re-entry services to Indigenous individuals exiting incarceration in Klamath County through transitional housing, financial assistance, job placement and other social services.

 

We’re proud to support all of these organizations with funding and convenings. In addition, 15 out of 18 organizations will also receive coaching and training from the Latino Coalition for Community Leadership to build internal capacity. We look forward to learning and working alongside the JREP cohort over the next 27 months! Stay tuned for more stories about the amazing work these grantees are doing in their communities.

Special thanks to the JREP Learning Community and our dedicated volunteer advisory group composed of individuals with firsthand experience as formerly incarcerated individuals, policy advocates and direct service providers. The advisory group included:

  • Rusty Butler, Restorative Justice Specialist for Conflict Artistry LLC

  • Mercedes Elizalde, Policy Director for Latino Network

  • Ramiro Navarro, former veteran peer support specialist and small business owner

  • Shannon Wight, Deputy Director for Partnership for Safety & Justice

  • Vanessa Timmons, Executive Director of Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence

 

Questions about JREP? Contact one of our program officers:

David Navarro, david@northwesthealth.org, 503.220.1955

Cleo Tung, cleo@northwesthealth.org, 503.220.1955

Laura Nash
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