Color PAC Action Fund is Now Oregon Futures Lab
A special message from our executive director.
DEAR SUPPORTERS,
On behalf of our board of directors, I’m thrilled to announce that Color PAC Action Fund is now Oregon Futures Lab!
WHY?
We listened. We heard consistent feedback from stakeholders indicating that our nonprofit, nonpartisan organization required an identity separate from its affiliate (and founding entity), Color PAC.
We took action. In response to that feedback, our board and staff began the in-depth process of rebranding the organization in 2019.
We finished the job. Some of our closest partners have already been referring to us as Oregon Futures Lab (or, “OFL,” affectionately); I have the honor of publicly sharing our new name, logo, and brand with you today.
OUR NEW NAME
Inspired by Black Futures Lab, our new name captures 3 key elements of our work:
Oregon – We are committed to the land and governing bodies of this place we call home. Year after year, our work has intentionally expanded beyond the Portland metro area – to include the rural and tribal communities experiencing among the steepest inequities in public investment.
Futures – In every facet of our work – from recruiting reflective leaders, to training bold candidates, to supporting accountable public servants – we are building a new Oregon that will benefit not only today’s constituents, but also generations to come.
Lab – From breaking candidate win records to remaking power, we are on the cutting edge of transforming public leadership for the better.
OUR NEW LOGO
Created by the best. Our new logo is the result of the extraordinary professionals over at North. We send endless thanks to Lucila and the team, who contributed their talents pro-bono! An extra hearty thanks for the team’s willingness to extend their vast knowledge of digital outreach to our 2019 cohort of candidates.
We think it suits us. After receiving feedback from stakeholders, we selected a logo and design elements that visually represent the disruptive, effective, and authentic leadership traits embodied by candidates and leaders we support. We hope that’s what comes to mind as you become familiar with our new look and feel.
WHAT’S CHANGED?
More targeted focus. We were glad to be working regionally alongside Amplify, and we’re also proud to now operate as an Oregon-specific project. That means we can focus exclusively on 1) the unique needs of Oregon communities; and 2) building the political power of Black, Indigenous, and other Oregonians of color. The support of Northwest Health Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Voqal, MRG Foundation, Group Health Foundation, Tides, and other generous donors and funders has been key to making this change possible.
Board leadership shifts. A noticeable change at Oregon Futures Lab has been the departure of board member Kari Herinckx. Kari served as a valued member of the board until her new congressional position posed a conflict. We miss Kari dearly and wish her continued success in public service. Continuing the cycle of fantastic Oregon Futures Lab leaders are new board members Marlene Yesquen, Josué Peña Juárez, and Precious Edmonds. Our organization is in excellent hands with their combined wealth of knowledge, passion, and vision.
Growing our staff. In the midst of an organizational rebrand, board member transitions, and supporting more candidates than ever, we’re also gearing up to welcome the talented Stephan Herrera to our team of Oregon Futures Lab employees. Serving in the role of interim chief of staff, Stephan will manage Oregon Futures Lab’s operations, program development, implementation, and planning. In the meantime, we’re lucky to partner with Stephan on OFL’s strategic direction-setting and program design with the support of a technical assistance grant from Meyer Memorial Trust.
WHAT’S THE SAME?
Our partnerships. We continue to work closely with community-based groups and organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color to identify, train, and uplift leaders of color.
Our trainings. With these partners, we’re still facilitating group-based leadership development training (remotely, where necessary due to COVID-19). And we’re still leading governance and issue-based training, this year with foci on the 2020 census and public childcare.
Supporting candidates. Oregon Futures Lab, formerly Color PAC Action Fund, remains an affiliate of Color PAC. Together, we continue to support candidates and their staff to run successful campaigns for public office in a world where reflective, accountable democracy has never mattered more.
Our organizational leadership. In an industry where employee turnover is a long-standing challenge, yours truly – along with our superstar census justice director Kathy Wai – remain at the helm. I’m more committed than ever to help usher Oregon Futures Lab into the next phase of its growth.
WHAT’S TO COME
Build the ship; steer the ship. Despite our many successes, Oregon Futures Lab is still a young, emerging organization. We must deepen our roots while honoring the rhythms and imperatives of community accountability in this time. This is no easy feat.
Mission confirmed. The candidates and public officials that Oregon Futures Lab supports understand that COVID-19 has not created any crisis that Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color were not already tackling before the outbreak. A broken healthcare system, housing instability, food insecurity, childcare deserts, overwhemed and underfunded schools – these systemic failures all pre-existed the outbreak, disproportionately harming Black and Brown communities.
Solutions honed. If the COVID-19 pandemic is a symptom of broken policies, then the candidates and leaders we support possess the unique lived experiences, knowledge, and insights to help Oregon get to the root of the problem: ineffective governance that serves the few, not all.
We need you on board. Oregon Futures Lab can play a major role in creating the leadership bodies necessary to weather storms ahead. We can’t do it without you – and we hope we can count on your generous contributions – and renewed contributions – to help see us through.
Warmly,
Ana del Rocío, Executive Director
