News

No Cops in PPS - Call to Action

Keep Police out of Portland Public Schools

The Portland Public School Board is considering bringing police back to schools by the beginning of 2023 – we can’t let that happen! Take action to ensure that PPS divests from the systemic criminalization and policing of Black, brown, low-income, queer and trans, and disabled youth in schools. Show up and/or submit written testimony for… Read More

Image reads "wrap up" with a microphone

Winter Wrap-Up

We’re already 3 months into 2023 and we want to share what we’ve been up to with you. This is the beginning of our quarterly series sharing our top highlights each season.  Civic Engagement We’ve hired 18 young people as Youth Vote Interns, a paid opportunity to do peer-to-peer voter registration for high school-aged youth,… Read More

Stand up for voting rights this April

At Next Up Action Fund, we believe that all Oregonians should have a say in what happens in their community, and a voice in their democracy. Voting is a civil right — the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. 12,000 people incarcerated in Oregon are currently… Read More

2023 School Board Endorsements

We are thrilled to announce our slate of candidates who have earned Next Up Action Fund’s endorsement for Oregon’s May 16, 2023 local elections. We want to elect leaders that come from our communities, share our values, and will fight for young people in Oregon. These elections are crucial: school boards have the power to… Read More

2022 End of Year Report

Dear Friend, Who are we beyond our current conditions? What does it look like to live in a world that truly values the brilliance, heart, and expertise of young people who are Black, brown, disabled, trans and queer, low income, immigrant and refugee?  This is what we do, what we believe in, and what we… Read More

Our compensation philosophy: pay young people well

Black, Indigenous and youth of color deserve to be paid fairly, equitably and with abundance and thriving in mind. As an organization where many leaders get their start, we aim to set an example for what it means to equitably compensate and value young people. Over the last few years, we’ve evolved a new compensation… Read More

Help lower the voting age to 16!

🗣URGENT CALL TO ACTION! Help us lower the voting age in Oregon to 16 by submitting supportive testimony. Find a testimony template and instructions at our link in bio. ✨There are two proposals being heard by the Oregon Legislature on February 21st. HJR 20 will lower the voting age to 16 fully. HB 3206 will… Read More

Image reads: Welcome Special and Jasia. Features a Next Up Logo and photos of Special and Jasia.

Welcome: Special and Jasia

We’re so excited to announce that Special Lovincey and Jasia Mosley are joining team Next Up. Special is joining as the Communications Manager and will be leading on creating an intentional communications strategy to connect with young people across Oregon. Jasia has joined as the Civic Action Organizer and will be leading on voter registration… Read More

Wrapping up the storytelling internship: thank you Zave and Carolina!

One of the best parts of running a Give!Guide campaign at Next Up is getting to work with amazing youth organizers and leaders who join us for an end-of-year internship to support our fundraising and communications. This year, the internship was focused on the power of narrative and storytelling. Thank you so much to Zave… Read More

Image of 7 young people with in orange and yellow, surrounded by butterflies, with the words "we are the present and future"

Community stories from 2022

Our board and youth leaders are the core of Next Up. At the end of 2022, several board members, past interns, and program participants generously shared their stories with our Storytelling Interns, Zave Payne and Carolina Ruiz. Meet Josh, Sophia, Jazzy, Fabiana, Anjali, Dalia, and Nathaniel! We’re so glad you’re part of our work and… Read More