Oregon legislators have directed federal coronavirus relief money specifically towards the Black community, through the Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resliency. The Fund's creation is thanks to the Council of Trust, an 11 member group of Black leaders, activists and lawmakers in the state. The funding can be awarded to Black Oregonians, Black business owners and Black-led community organizations who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The fund launched last week, and already over 4,000 Black individuals have applied.
KBOO's Claire Rischiotto spoke with three members of the Council of Trust, State Rep. Akasha Lawrence Spence, philanthropist and former MRG Foundation director Sharon Gary-Smith, and economist and Director of Operations at Pensole Academy Stephen Green.
Apply for relief funding through the Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency here.
- KBOO