Advisory board pushes outreach push with short videos, interns and volunteer recruitment ahead of levy planning

Committee member Lorraine said the center’s activities had changed her mother’s day-to-day life: “This has been a game changer for her,” she said, describing transportation, classes and social meals that reduced isolation.

The advisory board spent much of its meeting debating how to raise community awareness ahead of a possible levy targeted for November 2026 (not yet officially approved). Members prioritized two complementary outreach tracks: short, shareable video clips (30 seconds to one minute) to show quick impact on social platforms and longer (about three minutes) feature pieces to host on the center’s website.

Board members recommended collecting "organic" user-submitted material — short live-action photos or phone clips — and funneling those to the center’s social media manager or foundation editor for lightweight editing. Committee member Jesse offered to assemble submitted clips when files are provided.

Several members urged the board to explore internship programs (Portland State and tri-county summer-work schemes were discussed) to staff outreach and marketing tasks. They noted that an internship could be hosted by the district, the foundation or a third-party youth program that provides stipends and job coaching.

Members also discussed legal and ethical limits on staff involvement in campaign activities: staff and district employees must remain factual and objective if a levy campaign begins, while individual board members can participate as private citizens. The board agreed to identify a point person and small working group to coordinate outreach, to ask Molina (the district’s social media contact) whether the district will accept user-submitted videos, and to follow up with staff about internship options.

Next steps: the chair will collect Molina’s contact details and the board will list volunteers interested in serving as the outreach point person at the next meeting.