Community Resilience Hubs and Networks
On Monday, May 5th, Thrive East PDX’s Communications Coordinator Sabina Urdes and Thrive East PDX Community Resilience Co-Chair Simone Crowe took a trip to the Oregon State Capitol in Salem to meet with legislators and promote HB 3170, Community Resilience Hubs and Networks. You can read more about the bill HERE.
The first stop was the office of Senator James Manning Jr. for a presentation and Q&A of HB 3170. Unite Oregon members gave an overview of HB 3170, Simone shared ways in which Thrive East PDX members, such as Day One Tech, are already using their spaces as Resilience Hubs, with limited resources, and Sabina shared personal stories of community resilience, living in East Portland and coming together as a community to overcome extreme weather events, and why a dedicated Resilience Hub is critical to overcoming challenges and emerging stronger as a community. Senator Manning was receptive, asked questions, and requested more info about the bill.
After the stop at Senator Manning’s office, Simone and Sabina stopped by Representative Pam Marsh’s office, to print handouts about the bill. Representative Marsh is one of the sponsors of the bill, along with Senator Khanh Pham and Representative Thuy Tran. Handouts in hand, Simone and Sabina walked the hallways of the Capitol and visited the offices of various Senators and Representatives to drop off handouts and request their support of HB 3170.
Thrive Partners are working with Unite Oregon to expand Legislative funding for the Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant. In times of crisis, these hubs are critical lifelines where community members can support one another and receive resources during a climate disaster like a wildfire or heat wave. HB 3170, $10 million in funding to go to the Oregon Department of Human Services, is still in the Ways and Means while they work on the budget, but we are gearing up for it to hit the House floor. We need all hands on deck!
Here are two ways you can support:
1) Host Simone to present on the bill and campaign to your community, and get your people involved. Email simone.crowe@gmail.com to coordinate.
2) Travel to Salem for Lobby meetings with Simone and Sabina. You could be eligible for a stipend from Thrive for up to $250.
Contact Simone or Sabina at simone.crowe@gmail.com or sabina.urdes@gmail.com.
