Slavic Community Center of NW, Inc, a local 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, was established in 2011 by local community leaders and businessmen. Our fundamental goal – help members of this community become fully functional, well-integrated part of the society in every aspect of their life in this country: education, employment, health and wellness, social services, business development, career growth, legal assistance, etc. while preserving their cultural heritage.
We all know that Oregon and Southwest region of Washington is home to over 150,000 immigrants and refugees from every corner of the former Soviet Union. Everyone arrives here for a different reason: some came for freedom of religion, some from persecution on ethnic grounds, some were fighting for their lives, while others wanted to reunite with their family. Some came to establish a business either by the invitation or by the luck of the draw with the Green card. No matter how they all got here, the main goal is to unite this culturally-rich community on the common grounds in order for them to gain access to unlimited resources, which will help them succeed in all aspects of their lives. The Slavic Community Center was designed with all of those aspects of life in mind by creating four major sectors within the center: Social, Educational, Business and Informational.
Covid-19 Relief Packages:
Our most recent project focuses on providing resources for relief in response to the current global pandemic. A big concern of ours at the Slavic Community Center is that the Slavic community continues to be disproportionately underserved and uniformed in this social issue. With the assistance of our volunteers and staff from the Multnomah County Health department, we were able to gather necessary resources to create relief packages and plan a safe delivery strategy to distribute the boxes to families affected by the health crisis. Each box contained a box of masks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, tissues, paper towels, chapstick, soap, toothpaste, and laundry detergent which were picked up by family members through a drive-by system on our premises. In addition to material goods, they were given information on virus prevention and medical guidance. Dedicating a day to this event, we were able to serve 100 Slavic families and supply them with the necessities needed to support their health and safety.
New Year’s Toys for Underprivileged Children:
A bi-annual event put on by the Slavic Community Center, the New Year’s Toy Distribution aims to alleviate struggling Slavic families during the holiday season. With the financial support from our sponsors, we are able to acquire gifts to distribute to underprivileged families in time for the holidays. This tradition has been ongoing for 4 years and the amount of gift recipients multiplies every year, with recent years allowing us to provide toys to over 350 children. Participating organizations and programs also use this event as an outreach platform, providing information on more assistance programs that are available to families seeking financial relief.
The highly anticipated Portland Slavic Festival draws the attention of thousands every year, including community groups outside of the Slavic circle. Planned and prepared by the Slavic Community Center, this event celebrates Slavic heritage in a variety of traditional displays and programs. By uniting the diverse members of the former Soviet Union and showcasing their rich cultural aspects, this exciting event promotes and advocates for the Slavic culture in America, a key factor in easing the assimilation of immigrant communities in the United States.
Besides cultural celebration and entertainment, the Portland Slavic Festival also provides organizations including the Multnomah County Health Department, Adventist Health, Trimet, Portland Park and recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service with community outreach opportunities that are beneficial for both parties. Businesses and organizations are able to share their information and resources with an underrepresented community, widening their circle of influence and creating valuable connections.