Accomplishments

2010 Accomplishments

MACG has made substantial contributions to the metropolitan area over the last year through the following accomplishments:

• Training Leaders. Nine MACG leaders attended one-week intensive regional training institutes conducted by the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) Northwest. Another fifty-seven members of MACG institutions participated in local leadership institutes. In addition, two leaders were trainers and nine were reflection group leaders in those institutes.

• Turning Listening into Action. In response to repeated stories from institutional members concerning unemployment and debt, leaders formed a work group to develop strategies to surface stories and identify possible areas for future research and action. In November, the first meeting was held attended by 17 individuals from five institutions.

• Researching and Acting on Issues. Leaders organized regular monthly research action team meetings to support MACG campaigns on housing for survivors of domestic violence, health care reform, and sustainable jobs.

• Creating Housing for Survivors. Clackamas leaders raised over $10,000 to open the first of three self sustaining post-emergency houses for survivors of domestic violence, addressing a critical housing shortage for this population. Leaders oversaw the purchase and remodeling of the house which is currently providing housing for eight women. In November, leaders held an assembly attended by over 200 leaders and received commitments from the Clackamas and Multnomah County Chairs to assist MACG in obtaining corporate and foundation funding for two more survivor houses (one in Multnomah County).

• Linking Children with Health Insurance. Leaders spread the word about a newly available state-funded health insurance program for children, and began to enroll children in the program. At the forefront of this effort have been eight MACG Certified Application Assisters who have assisted families in submitting applications. Nearly 30 children now have health insurance as the result of this process.

• Advocating for Workforce Standards. MACG leaders participated actively to oversee a City of Portland workforce agreement that they helped create in 2009. The agreement ensures family wage and benefit standards, plus participation of disadvantaged populations in training and job opportunities in city-sponsored energy efficiency retrofit projects.

• Retrofitting a Neighborhood. MACG formed an outstanding team of contractors, labor unions and community-based organizations to successfully propose and implement a program to bring energy efficiency improvements to 100 homes in the NE Portland Cully neighborhood. “Changing the Climate in Cully” was and continues to be a success on all fronts. Due to MACG’s outreach efforts, 225 Cully homeowners signed up for the program (one in nine eligible in the neighborhood). One hundred homeowners are expected to complete the improvements, saving 270 metric tons of carbon, and increasing the comfort and value of their homes. In addition, 15 new union jobs with benefits were created, with 11 more expected.

Past Accomplishments

Click here to read the highlights of MACG's accomplishments in its first seven years.