community action team ⚡️

Cohorts
Written By Isabela Villarreal

In this cohort, you’ll meet with a collective of community members ages 16+ monthly to work on issues your cohort cares about the most.

program overview

Serving Oregon’s community, our year-round development cohorts meet bi-monthly to ensure that every young person builds the community organizing skills and anti-racist social justice analysis they need to make change in their communities. We center Black, Indigenous, and youth of color because we can only authentically address the most pressing issues when engaging those that are most impacted by the problem. Community Action Team (CAT) is a collective of community members ages 16+ that have consistent meetings to work on issues they care about the most. 


Our CAT meetings are how we have community members give input and get involved in Next Up’s systems change and base building work so we can have youth always leading the way. CAT sets priorities on issues they want to organize around and learn more about, so we work together to take on campaigns such as lowering the voting age to 16 or learning together more about topics such as decolonizing white supremacy culture, Black Liberation, intersectional feminism, and more. We want to empower folks to be the change in their communities, and lead the way for us as we all fight for a better future. This will be the space for you to meet other passionate community members who share the same passion for justice, and are dedicated to investing their time and energy for it.

C.A.T. TOPICS & ACTIVITIES

The year-long goal for the program is to expand Next Up’s base of young leaders, execute grassroots projects, and use the tools and resources available to make tangible changes in our community. As a member of the Community Action Team 2025 cohort, you will:

  • Contribute to the creation, implementation, and facilitation of Community Action Team-led events and other campaigns.

  • Support Next Up’s state legislative policy priorities by giving verbal and written testimony, traveling to the State Capitol, and talking with legislators. 

  • Build relationships with Next Up Action Fund Legislative Organizers, Deep Canvassers, and Election Organizers.

  • Support organizing efforts around issues on the intersections of youth, racial, social and economic justice—both locally and occasionally statewide.

  • Learn and deepen your understanding of anti-oppression and anti-racism.

  • Participate in civic engagement activities, as needed, outside of meetings; such as: get out the vote efforts (phone banking, text banking, canvassing), voter registration, and endorsement committees.

program details

Applications Open: Thursday, July 17th 2025

Application Deadline: August 11th, 2025 at 11:59pm

Program Duration:​ September 2025 through June 2026

Compensation: $22/hour, up to 12 hours a month. This is a temporary, part-time position.

Logistics: Meeting 2x each month on the second and fourth Monday from 5:30 pm to 7pm. 

Location:​ 75% Hybrid/In-person, 25% Virtual. A cell phone or laptop will be needed to join meetings, send and receive emails/texts, and participate in virtual activities. (The Next Up office is located in SE Portland.)

Participants are required to attend the hybrid onboarding session held on September 15th, in order to participate in the program.

The first official meeting will be held on Monday, September 22nd 5:30 pm to 7pm.

expectations

Attending CAT meetings twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Monday from 530 pm to 7pm. 

  • Attending monthly membership meetings to engage our community in Next Up’s work.

  • Participation in 17 out of the 19 CAT meetings annually (if you’re going to miss CAT meetings, just make sure you communicate that with the Advocacy Manager and they will understand!).

  • Attend monthly membership meetings.

  • Lead planning for at least 2 events. 

  • Passion for grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, event planning, community building, and electoral advocacy

  • Quarterly check-ins with the Advocacy Manager to work on a personal plan for your leadership development.

  • 2 Meetings (at minimum) per quarter with an assigned accountability buddy.

qualifications

  • Community member, working or living in Oregon.

  • Have access to reliable wifi and a smart device (computer, tablet, phone) to access Zoom.

  • Passion for social justice, youth justice, and racial justice.

  • Commitment to anti-racist, intersectional organizing.

preferred (not required)

  • Access to individual transportation (drivers license and vehicle).

  • Has completed the UPTURN Leadership Academy with Next Up.

If you are excited about this program but have barriers to participation, please still apply, and we can discuss how you can be successful.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to Jasia at jasia@nextuporegon.org

Please answer all of the application questions in full sentences - you should aim for at least 3-5 sentences for each one. We want to learn about who you are, so it's important that you give us a sense of yourself and why you are interested in the program!

Isabela Villarreal