Portland Breakfast Meeting Summaries and Follow up

Summary of the major messages from the

Portland Breakfast Needs Assessment Meetings

Health and Wellness – September 14, 2005:

• Articulate a vision for health in Portland metro area so that the various players know where and how they fit into the larger picture.
• Need to take into account the big picture—those things that have an impact on health, for example how communities are built.  Are we building safe, walk-able communities, where the infrastructure encourages healthy behaviors?
• Education is available but how do we affect behavior change—what is available in schools, access to healthy nutritious food, cost vs. calories.
• Potential audiences include new mothers/parents, teachers, health care professionals, legislators.

For more detail of this meeting go to:  HEALTH & WELLNESS

For follow up information go to:  HEALTH & WELLNESS FOLLOW UP

Enterprises, Innovation, and Economic Development – November 9, 2005:

• The single most pervasive issue of concern for businesses is employee benefits—in particular health insurance.
• Assuring an educated prepared workforce—in particular, preparing young people to come into the workforce.
• A strong desire to develop a purposeful and easy connection between Portland area entrepreneurs and businesses with the research and researchers at OSU.

For more detail of this meeting go to:  ENTERPRISES, INNOVATION & ECON DEV

For follow up information go to:  ENTERPRISES, INNOVATION & ECON DEV  FOLLOW UP

Environmental Issues – February 22, 2006:

• The issue of accessing research and influencing the research agenda was prevalent throughout the meeting—especially research that relates to environmental issues in urban areas. The group went so far as to suggest research questions. Most prevalent were the impact of measure 37, alternative energy, invasive species, economic value of open space, etc (see meeting notes).

• Huge need for environmental education and involvement in community gardens, especially for youth, people of color, and low income audiences. This is increasingly important as Oregon’s population grows and becomes more diverse.

• Need for public/resident education about IPM especially in relation to managing parks and other public lands.

• Recommend creating a Master Home Environment program to work with builders and home owners on indoor air quality issues including mold.

• Recommend that OSU conduct an annual survey of metro area residents to determine their highest priority related to the environment. This could be used by policy makers in resource allocation and could serve as the basis of:
• An “annual conversation” with OSU on the environment
• A Portland lecture series
• Portland City Club forums

All of which could be covered by the media and broadcast on public access cable TV channels.

For more detail of this meeting go to:  ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

For follow up information go to:  ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES  FOLLOW UP

Helping Portland Area Kids to be Successful – February 23, 2006:

• Research Issues:
• Need a matrix of who’s providing what
• Need a formal assessment of kids who aren’t being served—where are they and what are the needs
• Summary of the body of knowledge—what do we know that works
• The impact of various public policies on youth success

• Professional Development:
• Huge professional development needs for teachers and direct youth service providers
• Volunteer program management including recruitment, training, program management, evaluation, etc.
• Creating successful partnerships

• Direct Service Needs:
• Preparing kids for higher education and the workforce which includes basic life skills
• After school program curriculum

• Public Policy Issues:
• Helping decision makers understand the services provided, the gaps, what’s needed to maximize success, and developing public policy that will have a positive impact on youth success.

For more detail of this meeting go to:  HELPING PORTLAND AREA KIDS

For follow up information go to:  HELPING PORTLAND AREA KIDS  FOLLOW UP

Communities and Culture – May 30, 2006:

• Create a web site where community organization can post what they’re working on next year by major theme.  This could be a resource for teachers and for other organizations who would like to collaborate on a project.  “Oregon Involved” is creating a summary of all non-profits in the state.  This might be an additional field in that data base.

• Community organizations would be interested in hosting student interns.

• Offer a professional degree program focused on leadership for the arts—Professional Arts Administration degree.

• Would like a web based connection of faculty expertise at OSU.

• Help in making culture, music, and the arts open and accessible to all, both in and out of school (examples: Symphony in the Park; Art Quake).

For more detail of this meeting go to: COMMUNITIES & CULTURES

For follow up information go to:  COMMUNITIES & CULTURES FOLLOW UP