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Human Rights Commission and neighborhood leaders urge restoring Office of Equity and community engagement funding
Summary
Speakers including the Human Rights Commission chair sought restoration of positions and small grants in the Office of Equity and Community Engagement, warning cuts would silence marginalized voices and reduce support for multicultural events.
Members of Eugene's Human Rights Commission, neighborhood leaders and community advocates urged the Budget Committee on May 21 to restore staffing and small-grant funding in the Office of Equity and Community Engagement (OECE).
Blake Burrell, who identified himself as the Human Rights Commission chair, said the commission's work depends on OECE staffing. "Their proposed budgetary cuts reduce 3 FTE within that division, potentially causing our commission to lose the necessary support... With the prioritized budget allotment... I would wanna make sure that we are restoring at least 2 FTE within that department and ensuring that the Human Rights is able to action its outreach goals," Burrell said.
Why it matters: Witnesses said the OECE and its multicultural liaison position help ensure historically marginalized communities have a voice in city decisions. Several public speakers described direct impacts if small grants and liaison capacity were eliminated.
Testimony and background
Kiana Kabuko, who said she serves on the Human Rights Commission but was speaking as a private individual, noted the commission's small-grants program is currently $8,000 annually and warned that eliminating that grant would force local Native American events, multicultural gatherings and remembrance events to seek other funding.
Bonnie Sousa, who said she served two terms on the Human Rights Commission and worked on creating the multicultural liaison position, outlined the multi‑year process that led to creating the post and the role it has played since March 2020 in connecting marginalized communities with city decision-makers.
Jencina Hawkins, co-chair of the Neighborhood Leaders Council, also asked the committee to preserve neighborhood association funding that supports newsletters, matching grants and volunteer work across Eugene.
City manager and committee context
During deliberations City Manager Sarah Maderi presented a list of restorations made possible after council action earlier in the day that freed revenue for committee consideration. The city manager recommended partial restorations for OECE: restore some positions and preserve the small-grants program rather than eliminate it entirely.
Ending
Speakers told the committee cuts to OECE would reduce multicultural outreach, training and the city's capacity to include underrepresented residents in policy decisions. Committee members said they would continue deliberations and may refine motion language before the May 28 public hearing.
