2020 Annual Activity Report

This year was a busy year for TOGOCORE, as the community needed us the most. 
Grant Writing

• Community-Based Organization COVID-19 Response Grant
  • The grant asks community-based organizations to provide services to help the Oregon Health Authority to support the health of Oregonians, particularly Oregon inhabitants diagnosed with COVID-19 and their contacts through providing culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible information to communities are at higher risk for COVID-19 and associated complications due to longstanding social and health inequities. These communities include but are not limited to: people of color, people with disabilities, people who are houseless, individuals with substance use disorder, immigrant and refugee communities, faith communities, undocumented communities and farm workers, people experiencing mental health issues, older adults and LGBTQIA+ communities.  Organizations must be able to use outreach methods that adapt to changing information and effectively communicate and engage community members despite physical distance restrictions.
• North Portland Trust Fund Placemaking Grant 2020
  • Grant funding opportunities for community placemaking projects in North Portland.
• Eradication Anti-Blackness and Covid Recovery Grant
• CV (Covid-19) Housing Assistance Program (CVHAP)
• Health Equity Grant
  • Help with:
    • Economic resources – thermometers, personal protective items, wrap-around support and services, wage relief, childcare support, business consulting, and technology needs to improve access to telehealth and distance learning;
    • Food insecurity and housing - food, bedding, transportation, home heating and cooling costs, and outdoor gear for situations of homelessness; and
    • Safety and violence - emergency motel vouchers for people experiencing child abuse or domestic violence, culturally and linguistically appropriate services that address domestic violence, and social life skills programs for parents to address stress, depression, and self-care.
    • Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF)
    • Oregon Care Fund for Black Relief
    • Multnomah County – Basic Needs and Food Assess RFI
      • 80 gift cards distributed
    • Collins Coalition
• Community Outreach

The goal was to educate and directly engage with our community in any Covid-19 related issues. The education part involves several online community check-ins through zoom where organized personnel relayed information to help assist the community both mentally and financially. Personnel participated in various informational sessions to gather information related to health safety, housing assistance, childcare assistance, food assistance, financial assistance, technology/academic assistance, all through a culturally focused lens.

• Distributions
  • PPE, Toiletries and Home Supplies Distribution through using funds/resourses from
    • Community-Based Health Grant
      • African made cotton cloth mask – Afrocentric Business and Community Development
      • Gloves
      • Hand Sanitizers
      • Gift cards for the youth
      • Organization supplies – printer paper, writing utensils, envelopes, etc...
    • Health Equity Grant
      • Thermometer for the households
      • Technology Devices for the youth
      • Hand Sanitizers
      • Gift cards for the youth
    • City of Portland – ECC - Emergency Coordination Center
      • Toiletries
      • PPE
      • Household Supplies
  • Food Boxes (applied to receive maximum of 30 food boxes to deliver every week to the community) from the City of Portland – ECC - Emergency Coordination Center
• Collaboration with various organization

Togo Core collaborated with multiple communities and organization. Mainly with African Family Holistic Health Organization, the Angolan community, Afrocentric Business and Community Development, IRCO and their Multiethnic Advisory Group, Emergency Coordination Center, Oregon Health Authority, the Collins Foundation.

• Financial and Mental support to community

TogoCore distributed rental and housing assistance funds to members of our community, business assistance to the businesses in the community affected by COVID 19, provided laptops and funds for textbooks to several students to help with the transition to online education, mental health focused webinars by a professional that provides consultation, counselling and educational services in diversity, equity and trauma care.

• Youth focused outreach

This year, TogoCore organized multiple youth focused webinars where they were their participation earned them textbook fees as well as gift cards incentives.  They also received school supplies, technology devices, wage assistance (if needed) specific mental health webinars, and most importantly a platform to discuss and share their thoughts and feelings, and communicate with each other.

• Covid-19 focused Educational Webinar to community

Since the beginning of the lockdown due the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been collecting health related information in our community. The feedback that we got from them are that they need help with housing and utility expenses, food security, economic resources, educational support, and social and mental health support for individuals and families.
The mental and physical health of our community. As COVID continues to spread, so does the anxieties around the virus and its many consequences in our community. Although basic science would suggest that the virus cannot discriminate, the past months have shown us that more people are sick and death rates are higher in counties with a relatively larger black or brown population. The project is to have at least two online webinars between September and December on mental and physical health. We will invite during each event two mental health professionals, one African American and one African immigrant, to co-lead the sessions to educate participants in cultural specific and appropriate ways, on stress, depression, physical health, mental health, and self-care, during and beyond COVID-19. The Executive Team, staff, and volunteers will collaborate on the planning, execution, outreach, and evaluation.

• Community Cleaning

2020 Photo Gallery