Citizens for Community outlines hub operations, grants and staffing plans

Kellen Klein, executive director of Citizens for Community (C4C), presented a progress report on C4C’s programs and the community hub, describing partnerships with the City of Sisters and the hub’s offerings: pay-what-you-can coworking, meeting spaces, sliding-scale event rentals and a nonprofit lending library. "For the record, I'm Kellen Klein, executive director of Citizens for Community," he said as he opened his presentation.

Klein said the hub averages about 20–25 outside organizations using the space each month and highlighted program impacts: a Civic Leadership Academy that has produced local leaders, momentum grants that awarded $15,000 this year to grassroots projects, and a rotating artist-in-residence program. He noted the organization currently uses a contracted community manager, Madeline Metolius, supported by a private fund for about six months, and expressed optimism about future Murdoch Charitable Trust funding that could enable a full-time program manager on a three-year cycle.

Councilors praised the hub’s contributions to civic engagement, event coordination and emergency response partnerships (referencing the Flat Fire response). Klein described the hub as "a convener" and a place that has enabled broader local partnerships and nonprofit efficiency; he also asked councilors to continue supporting the hub’s work through collaboration and, where appropriate, funding. Klein invited councilors to C4C’s monthly community builders meetings and highlighted the organization’s 10-year anniversary event on July 24.

No formal council action was required on the presentation; councilors expressed appreciation and affirmed continued partnership with C4C.