The LIIF Early Care and Education (ECE) Team recently headed to Portland, Oregon to visit with staff from the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), founded by refugees almost five decades ago with a mission “to welcome, serve, and empower refugees, immigrants and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential.” Hosts Thomas and Ruth gave a tour of Glisan Landing, a brand-new affordable housing development designed for low-income families in Portland, with 96 of the units designated for immigrant and refugee families. Wraparound services support residents, including two co-located classrooms that will serve a total of 40 preschool-aged children. This project received $1.1 million in funding from BuildUp Oregon, for which LIIF serves as a partner.
LIIF staff attending were:
- Board member Margaret Salazar
- President Kimberly Latimer-Nelligan
- Senior Vice President, National ECE Angie Garling
- ECE Vice President, Advisory and State Policy Shelly Masur
- ECE Vice President, Capacity Building Kim DiGiacomo
- ECE Director, Capacity Building Laura Jackman
- ECE Facilities Development Director Hope Fang
- ECE Program Manager, Capacity Building Allison Guerra
- Data and Analytics Manager, Early Care and Education Kevin Lo
- ECE Senior Program Officer, California Laura Enriki
While in town, the group also attended the Children’s Institute Luncheon at the Portland Art Museum (bottom photo). This event was a celebration of the partnerships and progress happening in Oregon schools. We were inspired by partners’ powerful stories about the real, lasting change for children across the state.
Learn more about LIIF’s co-location work here.
We’re simultaneously combatting the Pacific Northwest’s two highest costs for families: affordable housing and child care. It’s called co-location.