By Kris McDowell
SE Uplift has announced the recipients for the 2026 Community Small Grants which will produce 16 projects serving District 3. A record 56 applications were submitted, requesting over $149,000 in funding. With only $44,000 in funding provided by the Office of Community and Civic Life, the process was highly competitive. The Grant Review Committee spent many hours of careful consideration and thoughtful discussion to select the grantees.
Active Children Portland will host a free Spring Family Fun & Resource Fair at Mt. Tabor Park. The event will bring together BIPOC and low-income families for a day of movement, play and community connection. Families can enjoy movement-based activities (relay races, yoga, soccer mini-pitches and basketball) while exploring local resources focused on health, housing and sustainability.
Art Heaux will present the Second Annual P-Town Short Film Festival in partnership with Depave PDX’s Big Break summer block party. The free outdoor screening of short films by local filmmakers will be held at Depave’s SE 7th Ave. and Sandy Blvd. site with local vendors and the filmmakers in attendance.
Care for Caregivers Campaign will advance their mission of creating meaningful change for caregivers in their health, workplaces and communities through three migrant-led community discussions, shared meals and collaborative art builds. The intent is to deepen public understanding of caregiver conditions, advocate for socioeconomic and political reforms, promote the rights of Filipino health workers and build an advocacy taskforce.
Diverge will offer two free trainings serving up to 50 participants each to build skills for engaging unhoused neighbors who are neurodivergent. The nonprofit works to increase access to health and wellness supports for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Dream Big City will host Portland’s first free Filipino Cultural Festival, celebrating Filipino heritage, at Portland Dream Plaza. The event will feature live music, dance and community performances with vendors, entrepreneurs and artists in an accessible setting.
Futel will support the Sunnyside Shower Project by providing a free public telephone and service for patrons. They will supply the hardware, internet connectivity and phone services for one year, strengthening community resilience by offering reliable, low-barrier communication for neighbors experiencing housing or economic instability.
The Know Where to Go: District 3 Resources project will design, print and install easy-to-read posters showing where and when free groceries, meals and low- or no-cost bicycle repairs are available. Posters will feature simple maps, schedules and QR codes for updates and will be placed at food sites, mutual aid hubs and community locations.
Luminous Together Art Grove 2026: Whispers & Leaves will present five interactive art installations at the APANO Jade International Night Market at the PCC SE Learning Garden. The free, multigenerational art space will strengthen cross-cultural understanding and belonging through shared creative expression while uplifting Asian diaspora and BIPOC artists.
Madison South Neighborhood Association will undertake a six-month effort to expand participation, strengthen cultural understanding and build local pride designed to reflect the neighborhood’s current identity and diversity. Through multilingual surveys, outreach events and mailed invitations, residents will help create a community-driven name change and rebranding.
Milagro Theatre’s Community Artes program will provide free and low-cost bilingual workshops, performances and festivals celebrating Latinx arts and culture in Portland’s Central Eastside. Hands-on activities including storytelling, visual art, object theatre, printmaking and music that will foster creative expression, cultural identity and cross-cultural understanding.
Nextgen Connect Center will host the Somali Heritage Time Capsule Festival, a youth-led cultural storytelling event bringing together Somali youth, families and the broader Portland community through art, performance and dialogue. By uplifting local Somali artists, vendors and performers, the festival creates economic opportunity, strengthens cultural pride and fosters cross-generational and cross-cultural connection.
Rahab’s Sisters will host two community-based overdose prevention and harm-reduction trainings and conduct reflections on the impact and outcomes of these events. The project will expand access to lifesaving tools and inform future planning, strengthening community health, connection and empowerment through trauma-informed education and engagement with women, trans and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Rocky Butte Farmers Market will offer weekly food education classes, focusing on lower-income shoppers using subsidies to buy local produce. A nonprofit partner and chef will lead demonstrations on seasonal cooking, food conservation and waste reduction. The classes will strengthen food security while supporting small farms and underrepresented vendors.
The Movement Training Network will offer two monthly trainings to build skills for effective environmental and social justice organizing. The project provides accessible, community-centered learning spaces for emerging organizers and those seeking to deepen movement knowledge.
The Shadow Project will help K-8 public schools create neuroinclusive learning environments that support all students, particularly those who learn and process information differently. Educators will receive training and materials to implement research-based social-emotional learning, helping students recognize strengths, set meaningful goals and track progress, allowing them to develop confidence, motivation, social skills and self-management strategies.
This is the 19th year of the Community Small Grants program. During that time, the annual grants have helped grassroots groups working in and/or for the District 3 community with resources to identify their community’s needs, develop collaborative projects and bring their ideas to fruition.