SLS: Community Impact Program Assistant with Taking Ownership PDX (2026-27 school year)

This position is one of the options for Portland State's Student Leaders for Service program. Please apply to the Student Leaders for Service program to express interest in this opportunity. To access the application to apply for SLS for the the 2026-27 school year, please visit https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/864961

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Taking Ownership is a community and reparations-based organization in Portland, Oregon founded with the intention to activate and utilize community members and their resources for equitable change. Together we renovate and revive Black-owned homes and small businesses that have requested our help, with an emphasis on enabling Black homeowners to age in place, generate wealth and simultaneously deter predatory investors and real estate professionals to deflect the gentrification process.

As the Community Impact Program Assistant, you would help in a variety of ways:

• Indirect Service: Helping with volunteer coordination, documenting impact through storytelling, and providing general program support. 
• Direct Service: Participation in Community Impact project days, working alongside volunteers and directly supporting homeowners through hands-on service.
• Outreach and advocacy: Help expand awareness of our work by connecting with the PSU community, supporting volunteer recruitment, and sharing the broader story of housing inequity and preservation of Black homeownership in Portland.

There’s also room in the role to help shape a small outreach effort with PSU students, like organizing a group volunteer day or awareness campaign. You will have a designated supervisor who checks in regularly and helps you think though ideas you may have.

Remote Option: Some elements of the role (outreach, research, planning, storytelling) could be done remotely. There would be an expectation of in-person involvement through community impact project days and other in-person initiatives.

Skills and Knowledge Required: We’re looking for someone who’s reliable, open to learning, and cares about community work. Strong communication skills are helpful, since the role includes working with volunteers, homeowners, and helping share our story with others. Any experience with volunteering, community work, event support, or even social media and storytelling is a plus.

Orientation/Training: Training and onboarding will be provided by multiple team members. The Development Director would guide you through your day-to-day responsibilities, especially around storytelling, outreach, and volunteer engagement. You would also receive hands-on training and support from our Community Impact director. 

Benefits of Getting Involved: Serving with us gives students a real-world look at how community-based work actually happens. You'll build a mix of practical skills like communication, organizing, and working with diverse groups of people. You'll also learn a lot about Portland’s history, especially around housing and displacement in Black communities.

Location & Transportation: Varies across the Portland Metro Area, primarily in Inner NE, Outer NE, Inner N, and Outer N Portland. 

Schedule Available: The SLS member would serve approximately 4–6 hours per week throughout the academic year. Most hours are flexible and can be scheduled during weekdays. There will be some opportunities, and occasional expectations, to participate in weekend Community Impact project days or special events, as that’s when a lot of our direct service work takes place. We would communicate those dates in advance and work with the student’s schedule as much as possible.

Supervision: The SLS member would report directly to our Development Director, who would serve as their primary supervisor and main point of contact throughout the year.