Gary, a member of the Civic Action Group, holds his “Homeless Constitution” which he wrote in response to police harassment in Denver

Cherie Honkala at the Rally following the PPEHRC Truth Commission in Cleveland, Ohio, July 2006.  Sisters’ Systemic change staff attended the Commission and Rally

Title 14 Sit Out at City Hall, September 2002.  Photo By Stephen Voss.

Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human campaign logo

New:  Click here to sign up for an Action Item list to keep updated on Sister’s community organizing and systemic change work!

New Street Roots Survey: click here.

Systemic Change Goes to the Root

Sisters’ Systemic Change Program is committed to identifying and implementing immediate and long-term solutions to problems faced by people experiencing homelessness both locally in Portland, Oregon and nation-wide.

crossroads Leadership Operating Team (cLOT, ‘see-lot’ ) is the oversight group for the Systemic Change Program, creating its plan of work each year and making sure that work is accomplished.  cLOT takes its leadership from people who have personal experience with homelessness.

CAG, Sisters’ Civic Action Group is Sisters’ exciting community organizing branch made up completely of people who have experienced homelessness.  Since its formation in 2006, CAG has been very active on such issues as Portland’s Sit-Lie Ordinance.  CAG has ramped up its exciting classism-busting activities drastically since October 2006 when we hired Patrick Nolen as a Community Organizer.  As part of its current campaign, CAG is working on filming CAG-led or participated in events to better bring our words to our community. Their web page features these videos and more; click here to learn more.

Announcement: WRAP Report Without Housing

The Western Regional Advocacy Project (WRAP) of which Sisters is a proud member, released a report on 11-14-06 outlining the causes of our current homelessness crisis and defining a way out of it.  Click here to read more.

Sisters’ Definition, Vision and Approach to Systemic Change

Systemic Change is a creative process that honors the interconnectedness of all parts of a system and transforms it at a deep and lasting level.  We envision a community where all people are valued.  This value is expressed through the sharing of power and responsibility, and each person’s access to healthy food, safe housing, health care, and meaningful work that contributes to the well-being of ones self and community.

Sisters Of The Road works toward this vision through the changing of hearts and minds - by building authentic relationships, sharing our vision, and providing information that transforms perceptions:

• Within the Sisters’ community - Staff, Volunteers, Customers, Donors, and other Sisters’ supporters.
• In the larger Portland community - Housed and Unhoused residents of Portland
• Within policy-making and enforcement groups – City Council, City offices and bureaus, Portland Police Bureau, etc.

Our Systemic Change activities around Portland and the region

• CAG: Sisters’ Civic Action Group has ramped up its exciting classism-busting activities drastically since October 2006 when we hired Patrick Nolen as a Community Organizer.
• crossroads Leadership Operating Team; guides Sisters’ systemic change work
• WRAP - Western Regional Advocacy Project, of which Sisters became a founding member in 2006
• Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign out of Philadelphia’s Kensington Welfare Rights Union -Sisters’ allies
• Mayor’s Street Access for Everyone (SAFE) Work Group; a hot potato!
• Personalist Center; our new construction project adjacent to the cafe
• PHLUSH public bathroom project/Restroom Implementation Team; an Old Town Chinatown group Sisters participates in
• Education and Outreach
• Mayors’ Vision Committee
• City-County 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness
• Pilot Projects: Bringing Solutions to the Table
• Voices from the Street; Sisters book on homelessness, changing hearts and minds!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities working within Sisters to amplify Systemic Change, click here.

From left: Systemic Change Program Manager Devin DiBernardo, MLK Day guest speaker Willie Baptist of the Poor People’s Economic Rights Campaign, and Bill Boyd of the Portland Chapter of the Social Welfare Action Alliance which sponsored Willie Baptist’s appearance.  Thank you Mr. Baptist and SWAA!