INTRODUCTION (WHO ARE WE?) Were are we?!

 

OUR Community organizing is a process where we as a people who have had the same experiences of "marginalization " with our families or ourselves. We sometimes live in proximity to each other. We came together into an organization that acts in a shared self-interest. Unlike those who promote more-consensual community building, PPU organizing generally assumes that social change will inherently involve conflict and social struggle in order to generate collective power for the powerless. The disparities didn't happen over night. Our educational oppression has been a timeless message that tells of the struggle of our marginalized families and how every day for generations we  push our children to rise above the education system's expectations. We must see and name the process of knowing and connecting to the PPU's message as our Families' capital. PPU's core goal of community organizing is to generate durable power for Portland Parent Union representing the community, allowing us to influence key decision-makers on a range of issues over time. In the ideal, this can get community organizing groups a place at the table before important decisions are made. Portland Parent Union works with, loves up, supports, educates and helps to encourage partnerships, parent leaders, as well as facilitates and participates in coalitions and assists in or creates the development of campaigns to be inclusive of all stakeholders. We have a desire to influence all tables that claim they are working in our behalf. 

 

Portland Parent Union is representing the needs of the Families most impacted by “Pushout” from educational institutions.

 

We have been  intentional about being inclusive of all stakeholders in the conversations. It is important to hear all voices especially the parents and students whom we label as "families." PPU's common sense and critical thinking on this matter tells us that someone is always skeptical of hearing the voices most impacted. The most affected do not trust because they can sense the skepticism.  How many times have we said to those who are educating our children directly or indirectly, " it must be a team effort." This means including and listening to the parents for the needs of the child. Parents know their children. It seems very hard for those who are in the professional realm to understand this concept, even if they are parents themselves. The difference is they have not been affected.  We all speak it but practicing inclusivity has been the problem.  We must define collectively what "inclusivity really means". 

 

 

 

Restoration

 

Many children act out because of adult low expectations of them. Adults meaning parents, teachers, community, etc. That means making sure that all are intentional about the child's needs and not just hoping child will go away. What we are dealing with is a lot of internalized stuff that people are carrying in their hearts. I say this to all, if adults do better the children do better. Children watch adult behavior and copy that. Our intentions have been to unpack some of this stuff. If people will put their egos down and start gathering, talking and listening to each other a whole "paradigm shift" will happen. If we are intentional about practicing talking and listening to each other a restorative essence will penetrate the hearts and minds of people. Until that healing takes place it will still be business as usual. The powerful ones overshadowing the not so powerful. Humans' insecure natures will keep us fighting each other. We know that for sure. PPU is determined, as well as others, to use a different approach this time. We truly know what we could be up against and do need all kinds of experts. It is possible to slow down and pay attention to the real needs of our families!

 

 

 

Healing

 

WHAT IS THE PATH? WHAT IS THE SOCIAL CHANGE? LOOK FOR A WAY TO LIFT SOMEONE UP!

From our truths we believe we have done our best and we are standing in our own light and our own joy?. Are we doing the best we can?

I am discovering that PPU is the main character in this story. Promoting a Paradigm Shift, encouraging all to come together, encouraging the most impacted as the leaders. Navigating the intentional surrendering of our power. This means heart action instead of head action. Now we get it, realizing things happened the way they happened. Someone once said to me don’t want it more for others than they want for themselves. In our desire to bring folks together through our storytelling and the “Loving Up movement”, a discovery happened. Even though  we all think this movement is a great idea we do not have the capacity or the patience to embrace it. This is a fast food society and we are fast food thinkers and doers. We get impatient with the process. Investment in the process is out of the question for whatever reasons. Also there is the class system that we are up against. I have observed those at the table who think they know better and grow impatient with our process. We are the ones harmed, you are not the ones harmed,

but you are in those positions to help us make the changes necessary for our children to get the best education possible.    

 

Liberation

 

The practice for us is that uncovering. We attempted to do this in the first phase of this process. What is happening to this process? Are we grateful for the

process only because it looks/sounds good on paper and to the world. Of course us who have not been trained show up for this process to be supported, validated and mentored. Do we understand this is a work in progress? Do we give room for those who are experts in professional facilitations or do we make room for a slower process for those who are not professional facilitators or professionals at all! 

 

Cultural, Academic, and Class differences is the blend we want but not at the expense of marginalizing the experienced/most affected voice.  

 

The whole idea of the trust circles and relationship building

We need to be in a clear space for all to accept our offerings. This is directed to both sides. We do see the more we meet the more divided we become because we are approaching this process with all levels of expectations. The provision of materials and information to start bringing us to more common ground and to get the ball rolling has not been sucessful.  To PPU this looks like business as usual.  Relationships are waiting to be healed. From that healing comes productivity. It is not just enough to show up. Most of us who come from the "professional privilege" lense refuse to surrender our hearts. We will not talk or give input. We proclaim to all we just want to observe. We who are most impacted say this is equal to not showing up at all!  We've observed after the gatherings most are comfortable with talking with their own professional colleagues, but not with those it is most important to talk to. Yes a shift is imperative. 

 

Some do come with issues against us especially those who claim to be for us. PPU has observed these traits:

• show up because have to, but sure ain't going to participate.  

• become the gatekeepers of this process.

• get offended by our words (our truths) writing us off by not showing up or participating at all.

• never considering that offensive words, community gatekeeping, marginalization, exclusivity, low expectations, sterotyping and classism is what the impacted/affected ones have to put up with everyday of their lives. The internalized distrusting is there. 

• show up with own self interests, to take away, to use against us

 

PPU is concerned by some being in a postion were all could finally come together as a common ground  community. We ask for simple things but there are excuses.. We show up unprepared but yet we think we know what our families are going through. Some think they can speak for us or speak of the process to the public without mentioning the partnerships/relationships with PPU and others. This action gives the illusion that all changes are the District's ideas. The communities on the ground and in the know hear this and become more skeptical of the District's motives.  

 

The district- it feels like appeases us by sending a team that really doesn't have the power to make decision, are new to the process, or do not have an understanding of the agreed upon subject matter. This cannot be acceptable.  This goes under the word "appeasement",  a distrustful word..  

 

 

PPU is a logical- common sense- organization whose life skills/experience navigates our  heart actions, instead of the intellectual stuff. We hold on to the promises made to us  so many times with the  good intentions. How do we dismantle that distrust we have? How do we keep our promises to each other?

 

So many decision makers don’t ask questions or respond with truths when asked. This goes under the word "assumptions".  Meaning they assume we buy their politics. We have begun to call them lies. Again another word that perpertrats the distrust!  

 

as·sump·tion

• 1.  a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.

  "they made certain assumptions about the families"

  synonyms:supposition, presumption, belief, expectation, conjecture, speculation,surmise, guess, premise, hypothesis; More

   

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If you have any objections towards us or our ways understand it is because we show up with life long harms. Any opportunity we get we will speak of our harms because there is never a space to just to let that happen.  There is never anyone who will just listen without judgement, pity, guilt, professional privilege or time constraints.  

 

 

STATEMENT 

 

OUR MISSION

 

to organize ​Parents​ ​for better outcomes by enriching them through support, information and education. We are dedicated to parents: to involve their families, to anticipate their challenges and help them to take advantage of opportunities to guarantee a ​successful student. We are dedicated to the Parent's development of leadership skills, knowledge and responsibility.

 

 

Point of Beginning : The goal as a community is to reduce factors that inhibit academic success. This report, even though we  are critical of the fact that it did not include any impacted families in this process, ( http://allhandsraised.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/exclusionary_discipline_1-3-12.pdf )  asserts that we must agree that exclusionary discipline is a primary factor leading to academic disconnection and ultimately failure; therefore reducing or providing alternatives to exclusionary discipline should be prioritized for all students and especially students of color.

 

Academic success is tied to many factors including quality instruction, culturally responsive practices, relationship building, and a commitment to learning. If students drop out of school they are more likely to be underemployed, reliant on government systems and more apt to be involved in the justice system later in life. We know how many

young people locally are being impacted by exclusionary discipline practices and policies. With coordinated efforts we can reduce the number of students excluded from school and increase the number of students who graduate from high school and move into higher education and gainful employment. Great value can derive from looking at this issue in depth and in a consistent and collaborative way. Practices and definitions differ across districts; however changes can be made as we learn from schools and from students and their families. We can begin to ask ourselves hard questions that will lead to better outcomes for youth. We owe it to young people in our community to address this issue with accurate data, thoughtful analysis, and collaborative solutions. Whether or not we have children in school the entire community will benefit from addressing this issue. 

 

​​PPU has made important steps so that we, amongst the rest of the Family communities, can go forth to do the work that we are called to do. Every family of the educational system has a right to be heard and the children have a right to a great education. We are created in the divine likeness of those who came to demand before us. We live a struggle that we know to well but are creating/demanding  safe spaces for us to be heard.. This is what will sustain us.

 

We write of mental and physical oppression that attempts to keep our children bound to that educational slavery (testing, exclusion, labeling, profiling, privilege). Even though our Families have been indoctrinated with the belief that they are inferior, we will be courageous enough to know that families will evolve into the strong advocates who are respected and listened to as well as looked at as the true leaders.

 

​Our educational oppression is a timeless message that tells of the struggle of our marginalized families and how every day we  push our children to rise above the education system's expectations. We must see and name the process of knowing and connecting to the RESTORATIVE PRACTICES' message as our Families' capital.

 

We are dedicated to the growth and maturity of our Families/Students and  have an inner courage to conquer the trials we come across.

 

When asked for a word to describe the capital of our Families, we call it  "unifiedcollaborative" capital. Ours is a community built on the strength drawn from the love of our Children. This is​​​​​    PARENT POWER                                                                   

                             

 

Expectations:

 

• Showing up with your heart and mind, be present

• Willing to listen (you are at the table with folks on the ground that have been harmed, this could very well be the only place anyone has ever listened to them allow this process to happen no matter how long it takes.

• Prepare yourself by updating yourself to all materials

• You might be the experts in professional processing but we are the experts in on the ground experience lets strategize how to blend the two. 

• Invest in the process/ investment=sacrifice

• Show up ready to participate/contribute

• Make the MRC site your tool for all information, including dates and times  

• Commit to showing up (showing up for families is more inportant than anything.

• Patience/ It will take us longer to process. families ARE not professionals like you. We are not use to coming up with a solutions in an hour

• Be intentional about building those relationships not only with professional colleagues but with the families and community members..

 

1. CHILDREN EXPECT LOVE AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT

2. PARENTS EXPECT TO BE HEARD

3. FAMILIES EXPECT ACTION ON THEIR BEHALF

 

 

 

   REPORT CARD

 

 

CONCERNS AND OBSERVATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 PPU   ASKS/RECOMMENDATIONS

 

• the superintendent to show up sometimes (have not seen her yet). not fulfilling the promises creates distrust.

• when PPS is presenting the discipline disparities to the public we ask them to honor the partnerships as well as the proposals stakeholders have pushed forth. By not doing this it creates distrust because it looks like PPS is taking all the credit for the work that only came about because of the push backs and collaborations as well as the Union Negotiations.. 

• for all to honor how important it is for all stakeholders participation in this process

• alowing the most impacted to be a part of writing the school discipline handbook

• for PPU and CEOURP to meet with the Discipline Coordinator and student service director on- going.

• have a parent rep. attend PPS equity team meetings. (Parents and community should be represneted on all PPS committees, including the school board committees)

• the PPS discipline advisory committee be more transparent. some on the advisory team have no clue of what Restorative Justice is, how important it is to support those orgs. who are on the ground and need help, and bring in a neutral facilitator for the process as well as orientations and trainings.  

• replace the school discipline handbook with the model code 

• school board parent rep. along side the student rep. ( preferably an impacted parent)

• bill 553 (

• SUPPORT  TO PETITION THE STATE FOR FUNDING FOR 553