Family Forward Action

America's child care crisis is avoidable. You read that right. The child care crisis is wholly avoidable. Instead, families are forced to choose between paying for housing or paying for child care. Every family in need of child care *could* have it, if only our government prioritized fixing the very real crisis on our hands. Which is why we'll never stop letting them know this should be one of their top concerns. - - - "Having a young child in this country is a cause of poverty. It's not correlated with it, it is a cause of poverty," Elliot Haspel, the author of the nonfiction book "Crawling Behind, America's Childcare Crisis and How to Fix It," told the Harvard Graduate School of Education in October. Haspel noted that the demographic group most likely to face eviction "are Black children under the age of five. And a lot of this is a child care story. It isn't a housing story." (CBS) https://ow.ly/BB7l50Uh022

The end to No School November is near! (For our friends who don’t have current school-aged children, November is not-so-lovingly referred to as “No School November” given the large number of days when school is not in session.) We’re bracing for No School December, too, and want to hear from you: when school is out, do you struggle to find child care? Many on our team have experienced the challenges of finding care, holiday or not. And that’s why we want to change the status quo. Child care must be something our government prioritizes and funds, and we’re taking our demands to the Capitol. We’d love to have you join us in this fight! From leadership development and volunteering with the Family Forward team, to supporting our work financially, there are so many ways to get involved. One way is to support our sister organization, Family Forward Oregon in the Willamette Week's Give!Guide! This is their first year in the G!G and for donors, TODAY is another Big Give Day! With every $10 donation in the Give!Guide, you’ll earn a chance to win today’s Big Book Day prize: a $500 gift card from our hometown icon, Powell’s Books. And, if you’re 35 or under, Powell’s Books will be giving out an additional $500 gift card to a donor under the age of 36. That means you have two chances of winning! In whatever way you’re able, we appreciate your support today and every day. Partake in the Give!Guide today at https://lnkd.in/gUR7rTAV -- ?El fin de "Noviembre Sin Escuela" está cerca! (Para nuestros amigos que no tienen hijos en edad escolar, noviembre se conoce, no tan cari?osamente, como "Noviembre Sin Escuela" debido a la gran cantidad de días en los que no hay clases). Nos estamos preparando para "Diciembre Sin Escuela" también, y queremos saber de ti: cuando no hay clases, ?te cuesta encontrar cuidado infantil? Muchos en nuestro equipo han experimentado los retos de encontrar cuidado, sea durante las fiestas o no. Por eso queremos cambiar el status quo. El cuidado infantil debe ser una prioridad para nuestro gobierno y una inversión que financie. Estamos llevando nuestras demandas al Capitolio y nos encantaría que te unas a esta lucha. Desde el desarrollo de liderazgo y el voluntariado con el equipo de Family Forward hasta apoyar nuestro trabajo económicamente, hay muchas formas de involucrarte. Por si te lo perdiste, ?estamos en la Give!Guide de este a?o, y HOY es otro "Big Give Day"! Con cada donación de $10 en la Give!Guide, tendrás la oportunidad de ganar el premio del "Big Book Day" de hoy: una tarjeta de regalo de $500 de nuestra icónica librería local, Powell’s Books. ?? Y, si tienes 35 a?os o menos, Powell’s Books dará otra tarjeta de regalo de $500 a un donante menor de 36 a?os. ?Eso significa que tienes dos oportunidades de ganar! De cualquier manera que puedas, agradecemos tu apoyo hoy y todos los días.

TONIGHT: This evening, leaders and activists will be coming together virtually to discuss local and federal election results and what it means for Portland and Oregon. We’ll also make plans to be power players in the upcoming legislative session. Together, we will talk about the intersectional needs of families, how we can relate and organize our communities, and what it takes to keep Oregon a safe haven for families and the people that live here. We will be making a solid political action plan and getting ready to take action in 2025! Please reach out to Audreona ([email protected]) if you’re interested in joining and want to be added to the calendar invite! -- **ESTA NOCHE:** Esta noche, líderes y activistas se reunirán virtualmente para analizar los resultados de las elecciones locales y federales y lo que significan para Portland y Oregón. También haremos planes para ser actores clave en la próxima sesión legislativa. Juntos, hablaremos sobre las necesidades interseccionales de las familias, cómo podemos conectarnos y organizar nuestras comunidades, y lo que se necesita para mantener a Oregón como un refugio seguro para las familias y las personas que viven aquí. Crearemos un sólido plan de acción política y nos prepararemos para actuar en 2025. Por favor, comunícate con Audreona ([email protected]) si estás interesado/a en unirte y quieres que te agreguemos a la invitación del calendario.

With emboldened bigotry and hatred on the rise, our commitment to advocating and making space for our transgendered gender-expansive siblings and loved ones is unwavering. In commemoration of the lives unjustly taken, we honor the Transgender Day of Remembrance to acknowledge the tremendous loss our communities now grapple with. “These victims, like all of us, are loving partners, parents, family members, friends and community members. They worked, went to school and attended houses of worship. They were real people — people who did not deserve to have their lives taken from them.” (Human Rights Campaign, “Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community in 2023.) We will stay on this battlefield, working together to dismantle the unfortunate culture of violence we live in; to image and bring to life a future where all of us can live our lives free from the fear of violence; and to protect the next generation of those fighting racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and xenophobia. Thank you for being with us in this fight.Who should we be commemorating this Transgender Day of Remembrance? How can we honor your loved ones? -- Con el aumento del odio y la intolerancia envalentonados, nuestro compromiso de abogar y crear espacio para nuestros hermanos, hermanas y seres queridos transgénero y de género expansivo es inquebrantable. En conmemoración de las vidas injustamente arrebatadas, honramos el Día de la Memoria Transgénero para reconocer la tremenda pérdida con la que nuestras comunidades ahora lidian. “Estas víctimas, como todos nosotros, eran parejas amorosas, padres, familiares, amigos y miembros de la comunidad. Trabajaban, estudiaban y asistían a lugares de culto. Eran personas reales, personas que no merecían que les arrebataran la vida.” (Human Rights Campaign, “Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community in 2023”). Permaneceremos en este campo de batalla, trabajando juntos para desmantelar la desafortunada cultura de violencia en la que vivimos; para imaginar y dar vida a un futuro donde todos podamos vivir sin temor a la violencia; y para proteger a la próxima generación de quienes luchan contra el racismo, el sexismo, la homofobia, la transfobia y la xenofobia. Gracias por estar con nosotros en esta lucha. ?A quién debemos conmemorar en este Día de la Memoria Transgénero? ?Cómo podemos honrar a tus seres queridos?

The winter weather is quickly approaching, but spring will be here before we know it! To help us dream of sunnier days, our friends at Give!Guide are hosting a giveaway for today’s Big Bird Day. ??? Support Family Forward Oregon (or any of our amazing partners tagged here: Adelante Mujeres, Basic Rights Oregon, Next Up, Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Partnership for Safety and Justice, YWCA of Greater Portland, and NAYA Family Center) on today’s Big Give Day with a donation of $10 or more and you’ll be entered to win a $500 shopping spree at Backyard Bird Shop — just in time for your springtime feathered friends. Each donation of $10 earns you another chance to win! Make a contribution today at?https://lnkd.in/gUR7rTAV?to be entered, and find all of the incredible nonprofits participating in this year’s Give!Guide at?giveguide.org. --- ?El clima invernal se acerca rápidamente, pero la primavera llegará antes de lo que imaginamos! Para ayudarnos a so?ar con días más soleados, nuestros amigos de Give!Guide están organizando un sorteo por el Big Bird Day de hoy. ??? Apoya a Family Forward Oregon en el Big Give Day de hoy con una donación de $10 o más, y entrarás en el sorteo para ganar $500 en compras en Backyard Bird Shop, justo a tiempo para tus amigos emplumados de primavera. ?Cada donación de $10 te da otra oportunidad de ganar! Haz tu contribución hoy en https://lnkd.in/gUR7rTAV para participar, y encuentra todas las increíbles organizaciones sin fines de lucro que participan este a?o en Give!Guide en giveguide.org.

Meet Audreona Mullens: Family Forward’s Regional Organizing Director and a fierce advocate for moms and caregivers across Oregon. Audreona’s work is all about breaking down barriers, empowering families, and fighting for systemic change. She says it best: “I’m not the kind of person that needs notoriety or accolades... I am truly here because the work is rewarding. The validation comes from families getting what they need.” From expanding Paid Leave Oregon to advocating for child care funding, Audreona is creating real change for families across the state. Fuel this powerful work by donating to Family Forward through GiveGuide: https://lnkd.in/gUR7rTAV

Mark your calendars! Family Forward is hosting a Care Summit in the new year. ?? When: January 24-26, 2025 ?? Where: Kennedy School, Portland, OR ?? Who: Caregivers across Oregon This summit is a space for caregivers to: - Build a shared identity across differences - Deepen understanding of care issues - Grow as leaders and advocates in our movement Over two days, we’ll come together to strengthen our community and collective power to make change for caregivers across the state. Attendance is free, but spots are limited to 50. Traveling far? First-come, first-serve lodging is available—reach out for details. Registration opens soon—stay tuned!

Today’s another Big Give Day! ?? Splendid Cycles?has teamed up with?Willamette Week for this year's Willamette Week's Give!Guide to support organizations like our to bring you an exciting opportunity: donate $10 or more TODAY at Give!Guide, and you’ll be entered to win a 2024 Orbea Kemen 40/Kemen 40 Mid! ?? Imagine taking the scenic route home on this incredible e-bike. + all donors who contribute $25 or more throughout the campaign have a chance to win a garden starter plant package from our longtime partner, Peoria Gardens – 20 plants for your dream pollinator or vegetable garden, delivered right in time for spring. ???? At Family Forward, we’re building an Oregon where caregiving is valued and supported. Over the last 15 years, our advocacy has led to policies like paid sick days, equitable family leave, child care access, pay equity, and so much more for families across the state. Join us in creating lasting change for parents, caregivers and families across Oregon. ?? Donate today at https://lnkd.in/gUR7rTAV

In Missouri, Alaska, and Nebraska, where paid sick leave was on the ballot, voters overwhelmingly approved it! ?? With strong support—57% in Alaska, 58% in Missouri, and a massive 74% in Nebraska—workers will now have access to earned sick time. This means up to seven days of paid sick leave in larger businesses and five days in smaller ones. Everyone deserves the chance to care for themselves or a loved one without risking a paycheck. This is a victory for families, workers, and healthier communities. #PaidLeaveForAll https://lnkd.in/gxK2gW49

We know it can feel bleak right now. We hope you’re taking the time that you and your community needs to process it all, and when you’re ready, we hope you’ll take a moment to pause and see what good did come from Tuesday’s election. Though many things didn’t turn out the way we had hoped, there were a number of victories that we can (and should!) celebrate. Abortion was a top issue in this election—and across the country, abortion access and rights won. Millions of people now have the protected right to choose in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York. We know that the majority of people support and want to advance gender justice—made clear by the ballot measure wins on abortion access. Voters overwhelmingly supported an individuals’ right to choose what is best for them and their families, and we are damn proud. When you’re ready, we invite you to join the movement. Together, we can continue to ensure reproductive freedoms are protected and that the needs of parents and caregivers are met. Learn more and get involved https://lnkd.in/gs5gTNTP