~ building our community together
What is the Rosewood Initiative? The Rosewood Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making the Rosewood area a desirable place to live, work and play.
We partner with residents, apartment managers and owners, businesses, churches, social services agencies, neighborhood associations, and public safety agencies to create space for the community to come together to meet their common goals.
Where is Rosewood? The Rosewood neighborhood area is the 15 block area around the intersection of 162nd and Burnside. The boundaries are SE 157th – SE 165th and NE Holiday to SE Alder. It includes the cities of Gresham and Portland. The Rosewood neighborhood is home to about 5,000 people, 70-80% of whom live in apartments.
What problems do we need to address? Rosewood is a struggling community. Public safety is a major concern for residents and businesses. Traditional policing methods have not been effective against drugs, theft, gang violence, and human trafficking. Portland and Gresham Police Officers and Multnomah County Probation and Parole Officers are reaching out to the community to find new ways to help.
- High crime rate: drugs, gangs, violence, human trafficking
- Overall resident safety
- Negative public perception
- Few activities and mentorship opportunities for youth
- Graffiti and litter
- Lack of coordination and community-based problem solving
How is the Rosewood Initiative making a difference?
Building our community together in Rosewood means that everyone’s help is needed! The Rosewood Initiative is working to connect and support every member of the community. Many apartment owners and managers are doing a great job of partnering with the police and each other. We are working to make stronger connections with owners, managers, and residents to help build community. Churches, neighborhood associations, social service agencies, business owners, and residents in the area are already working to build upon the assets of the community.
Connect – connecting people who live and work in the Rosewood neighborhood with each other and their public safety officers
Support - supporting leadership, skill development, and empowerment of community members to reach their common goals
Promote - promoting Rosewood to others who believe that a community is larger than its geographic boundaries and we all can make a difference in strengthening our community
What is the Rosewood Initiative Doing?
- Instilling a self-policing attitude in the community, residents, property and business owners.
- Helping the community access all available services through property improvement, policing, social service, safety enhancement, and economic development programs.
- Providing outreach services, alternative activities, and skill building for vulnerable youth.
- Creating a community center/non-profit coffee shop/public safety contact office for positive, community-based activities with a full-time community developer. Read more about the Cafe in the blog!
- Document what works to prevent crime, improve quality of life, and increase property values.
It’s already working! Community stakeholders from the Rosewood area and all over Portland and Gresham are meeting regularly, volunteering, and solving problems.
You can help!
Participation – We need your input about problems and solutions.
- We are creating a shared knowledge base.
- What helps your neighbors will help you; your business, your family, your community!
Contributions - any financial support or in-kind investment to make this program work.
See the Rosewood Initiative for yourself!
Local high school students working with Oregon Partnership filmed a documentary about the Rosewood Initiative:
