how we support
CARE FOR DISRUPTIVE LEADERSHIP
Background: Many BIPOC leaders can often feel unsupported, overwhelmed, or even unsafe in entering public office or other community positions. These experiences often lead to a shorter tenure in their role. In 2022, OFL felt the need to respond to this dynamic, and launched Care for Disruptive Leadership (CDL) to look at sustaining BIPOC leaders toward a racially just Oregon. We do this by particularly focusing on wellness and a shared supportive environment for development.
About the program: CDL recognizes the traumatic impact of racism for many BIPOC leaders and seeks to retain these leaders by exploring leadership development through a lens of holistic wellness. Our intention in this approach is to disrupt the conventional leadership model by focusing on wellness rather than output.
Program Framework & Topics: Oregon Futures Lab (OFL) uses a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) model in developing and administering the program. Together, we hope to create a space that is created by and for BIPOC leaders to be honest, vulnerable and invest in our community resilience.
We will co-create spaces to discuss topics like:
Personal wellness goals,
Examining our relationship to money and power,
Unpacking the impact of compliance and governance to our state of being,
Owning our personal stories and narratives and
Other topics the group can choose from such as; generative conflict, healthy boundaries, imposter syndrome etc.!
Additional components of the program include one-on-one support, added meet up opportunities for affinity spaces, and access to financial resources for increasing one’s holistic wellness.
The application for BIPOC leaders to join the cohort program is open until 11:59pm on May 5, 2025.
Due to the nature of this c(3) program, this opportunity is not open to candidates running for office.
“As a queer person of color, I often find it challenging to slow down and give myself and my body the care and attention it deserves. CDL has been instrumental in reminding me that these acts of self care are necessary and important.”
how we sustain
PROGRESSIVE GOVERNANCE ACADEMY
Progressive Governance Academy (PGA) is a three-day training designed to support leaders in creating bold change and building towards a new vision of what it means for progressives to hold and exercise governing power. PGA’s curriculum is rooted in an organizing approach to governance and also includes a significant focus on models for collaborative and inclusive governance. PGA is offered in partnership with several of our national partners; re:Power, Local Progress and State Innovation Exchange. This program is geared towards incoming local electeds, their teams and our community-based partners doing the tough task of local governing.
This program is generally offered in the summer. Please sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates.
GOVERNING WITH CARE
Governing with Care (GWC) is a three-day training designed to support leaders by equipping them with the skills to govern with care collaboratively, organize their bases and succeed in their roles of leadership. This program is geared towards incoming local electeds, their teams and our community-based partners. Our 2023 program, offered in the winter, was created for incoming school board members and partners; it covered the following topics:
Governing as a Pro-Worker & Pro-Union Leader
Building Safety in Leadership
Perfecting Your Communication with Stakeholders
We look forward to offering GWC later this year for incoming local electeds. Please sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates.
BIPOC LEGISLATOR SCHOOL
Oregon Futures Lab’s BIPOC Legislator School (BIPOC Leg School) is a multipart training series to prepare legislators and partners for progressive, movement-oriented governing. It’s also a community-building space to connect advocates and community-oriented legislators as they enter institutions that have historically excluded and targeted BIPOC communities. As a movement, we must continue to invest in, replenish and cultivate our leadership pipelines.
BIPOC Legislator School is a weekly training series taught by and designed for Oregon’s BIPOC legislators, legislative staff and community leaders. It aims to build a strong foundation of skills and strategies to navigate power and political institutions.
We will announce BIPOC Leg School for the long session later in the year. This is traditionally hosted after the November election and before swearing in of the following legislative session.
BIPOC Executive Director Support COhort
BIPOC Executive Director Support Cohort (BIPOC-ESC) is a brand new 2024 program. BIPOC-ESC is a pilot program to support BIPOC EDs in their lifecycle of leadership. We aim to create space for leaders to connect and build relationships, leverage resources for care and build a shared analysis of how to build BIPOC power across Oregon.
Applications are currently closed for this program.
“I was new to government and politics - I needed to understand how to go about my new role as an elected official. It was the connections to newly Elected officials that was important for me. ”