Catholic Charities of Oregon is launching an Emerging Leaders Board designed to connect young professionals with meaningful opportunities to serve, lead and give back. The initiative will bring together community-minded emerging leaders who are passionate about volunteerism, advocacy, and strengthening communities across Oregon.
Catholic Charities of Oregon is seeking passionate young professionals who want to make a meaningful difference in their communities through service, advocacy, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
The organization is currently forming its new Emerging Leaders Board (ELB), an advisory group designed to engage the next generation of community-minded leaders who are eager to support Catholic Charities’ mission while growing their own leadership experience and community connections.
The board will bring together emerging professionals from across Oregon who care deeply about strengthening communities, supporting vulnerable neighbors, and helping create lasting solutions to poverty and injustice.
Members will have opportunities to volunteer, support fundraising and community engagement efforts, connect with nonprofit and business leaders, and learn more about the work Catholic Charities is doing throughout Oregon in areas including housing stability, refugee and immigrant services, food assistance and long-term support for individuals and families facing hardship.
“This is about creating space for emerging leaders to become more deeply connected to their communities and to the people around them,” says Kaleen Deatherage, CEO of Catholic Charities of Oregon. “We want to help foster a lifelong culture of service, generosity and civic engagement. When people begin investing in their communities early — through volunteerism, mentorship and mission-driven work — those values often continue throughout their lives and ripple outward into the broader community.”
Deatherage says she is excited to see the board come together and help shape the future of community involvement and philanthropy at Catholic Charities.
“There are so many talented young professionals throughout Oregon who are looking for ways to make a difference and connect with something larger than themselves,” she notes. “The Emerging Leaders Board is an opportunity to build relationships, develop leadership skills and support work that directly impacts thousands of people across our state every year.”
Catholic Charities hopes the Emerging Leaders Board will also help cultivate future nonprofit, civic and community leaders while expanding awareness of the organization’s mission and impact.
Individuals interested in learning more about the Emerging Leaders Board or getting involved are encouraged to email:
communications@ccoregon.org
The first informational gathering for interested participants is planned for June 11 at the Catholic Charities of Oregon office in Southeast Portland.