Annual Report 2014-2015

 OCCV annual report:  June 2014-June 2015

OCCV Survey and Report

Early in 2014, the board identified a need to assess the direction and goals of OCCV, and our effectiveness in reaching those goals.  We hired Adam Phillips as a consultant to gather information from a variety of people who had been involved with OCCV, and to then make recommendations for our future goals and activities.  In June 2014, Adam presented the board with the results of the survey.  In July, he provided a report, “OCCV at 10”, with his recommendations of where our focus should be,  how we could be most effectively achieve our goals with the resources available to us, and how we might expand our capacity and outreach.  

Faith Leader Advisory Group

One of the recommendations in the “OCCV at 10” report was to establish an advisory group of faith leaders to provide feedback and collaboration, as well as to support OCCV’s activities.  Patty Campbell-Schmitt, a retired Presbyterian pastor and long-time OCCV supporter, agreed to chair the committee, along with Adam Phillips.  Eleven faith leaders from various denominations and from around the state were recruited to serve on the group.  They held their first meeting on March 4, 2015, and have demonstrated a commitment to educating people of faith on advocacy as being a part of Christian discipleship. 

Advocacy meetings

One of OCCV’s goals is to educate people on social justice issues, using speakers, discussions and films that focus on a particular issue.  In September 2014, we collaborated with advocates for Measure 88 to present a showing of “The Stranger”, a video about the hardships faced by undocumented workers.   That measure, which unfortunately failed to pass, would have provided a limited driver’s license and the ability to get insurance for those workers.   In October 2014 we showed “Inequality for All”, a documentary by Robert Reich about economic inequality in the U.S.   Juan Carlos Ordonez from Oregon Center for Public Policy provided Oregon-specific information about inequality in our state.

Legislative forum

 Since its beginnings, OCCV has been active in all the legislative sessions, advocating for specific bills that we believe accomplish what God desires for government.  In anticipation of the 2015 legislative session, OCCV held a Legislative forum in November 2014, to hear from legislators and advocates about various bills and issues that would be considered during the session.   Board member John Calhoun, took the lead in organizing the forum, identified ten issues, and set up panels to talk about proposed legislation.   Fourteen legislators and community advocates participated in the panels.   The forum was well attended, the feedback from participants was positive, and a number of those who attended volunteered to advocate on the issues.   Based on what we learned at the forum, OCCV selected a number of potential bills to support in the session.

Collaborations with other organizations 

Over the last few years, OCCV has greatly increased the capacity to bring the voice of faith to social, economic and environmental issues by collaborating with other organizations and groups.  We served on the planning committee and were co-sponsors with Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon for Faith Advocacy Day at the legislature in February 2015.  As an active member of the Jobs with Justice Faith Labor Committee, we cosponsored and assisted in planning the annual Faith Labor breakfast.   In addition, we are actively involved in the Wage Theft Coalition, Children First for Oregon, Health Care for All Coalition, and New City Initiative, which is focused on homeless and housing issues.  We are members of the Human Services Coalition of Oregon, an umbrella organization of groups involved in social and economic justice. 

Other organizations have reached out to OCCV seeking our endorsement as a faith-based organization for their work.  We have formally endorsed bills and campaigns for the following:  Renew Oregon, Raise the Wage, Keep Oregon Working, A Better Oregon and 350.org.

Advocacy during the 2015 legislative session   

OCCV was well-prepared to be strong voice of faith during the session.  As a result of the legislative forum in November, we decided to be involved in a number of issues, organized our resources around those issues, and developed a process for assuring that we could track the progress of related bills to identify opportunities to make our voices heard.  As a result, OCCV had a consistent and effective presence during the legislative session, testifying in person at a number of hearings for bills we had selected to support, including:  increasing the minimum wage;  re-establishing a General Assistance program for unemployable adults;  revising tax breaks for corporations;  the Toxic free kids act, and wage theft legislation.  We provided written testimony on several bills, including supporting legislation to study implementation of a plan to provide health care for all.  All our testimonies included a powerful statement about our belief that God’s intended role for government is to assure that poor and marginalized people are cared for so all have opportunity to flourish, and that our faith calls us to speak on their behalf.

Social media presence

One of the recommendations from Adam Phillips in the “OCCV at 10” report was to increase our presence on social media.  We have been fortunate to have office managers with the skills to get us connected on Twitter and Facebook, and who have made sure that we have frequent postings on those sites.  We now have a bi-weekly blog where various board and staff members post comments relevant to economic and social justice issues.

Budget and Staffing 

Like many small non-profits, over the years OCCV has struggled to maintain adequate funding.  About two years ago, the board made the decision to no longer depend on the uncertain funding from grants, and instead to reduce expenditures to what could be sustained by individual donors.   During the period of June 2014 through June 2015, normal monthly expenditures usually did not exceed our monthly donations, except for instances where there is an anticipated one-time expense.   We continue to be grateful for those donors who give faithfully, see it as a sacred duty for us to be good stewards of the money entrusted to us.  

One of the ways we have reduced expenditures is by having one staff member, an office manager who works 10 hours per week, and to have that person work out of home, rather than paying for office space.   We have been fortunate to  have highly competent and dedicated office managers over this last year.  Tisha Speelman was with us until the end of 2014, when Amanda Larriva took the position.    Both Tisha and Amanda have demonstrated outstanding abilities to fulfill the demands of this position.

Looking to the Future 

The OCCV board has identified several priorities for the coming years.  First we would like to increase the size of the board.  We currently have five board members, all of whom are committed and active in the work of OCCV.  Our newest board member, Patty Campbell-Schmitt, has been a valued addition to our group, and we are now recruiting for two more who can bring that same level of energy and fresh perspective.

Second, we now have a faith advocacy curriculum, focused on Oregon issues, developed by Adam Phillips, in consultation with the board.  We will be developing a strategy for making that available to churches and other groups who are interested in exploring the scriptural foundations for public policy advocacy.  

Third, we are already strategically involved in issues that will be either ballot measures in 2016, or proposed legislation in the short 2016 legislative session.  OCCV will continue to bring a strong voice of faith to public policy development during this coming year.

Fourth, we will continue to seek ways to engage more Christians in the work of advocacy, believing that it is our call as people of faith to proclaim the good news, to do acts of justice, and to also assure that the laws and policies that govern our state are reflective of God’s concern for the well-being of all.  We continue to be challenged and energized by the work of OCCV,  continue to depend  on the prayers, support and action of those who share our vision and desire for a state whose laws and policies align with what God desires for government, a state where the interests of all, and particularly the marginalized, are protected.