Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) presents data on Oregon's growing opportunity gap. Slides tailored for Northern Willamette Valley region.

1. Toward A Thriving Future
Closing the Opportunity Gap for
Oregon’s Kids

2. The American
Dream: For
Everyone?
Oregon, and our nation as
a whole, is experiencing
widening socioeconomic
disparities. The
circumstances into which
a child is born, coupled
with long-standing
patterns of discrimination,
largely determine the life
he or she achieves.
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3. More than 1 in 5 children
live in poverty.

4. Growing up
in poverty impacts future
achievement.
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5. Multiple
Factors Impact
Opportunity
Neighborhoods
and Communities
Family
Circumstances
Educational
Experiences
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6. Neighborhoods & Communities

7. 7| OREGONCF.ORG
Low-income
children in most
Oregon counties
have a greater than
50% chance of
remaining low-
income as adults.

8. Solutions to
Strengthen
Neighborhoods
& Communities
Affordable
Housing
Community
Engagement
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9. Family Circumstances

10. Over 50% of children are being
raised by an adult with a high
school degree or less.

11. 1 1| OREGONCF.ORG
More than 1 in 3
single-parent
families are in
poverty.

12. Nearly 1 in 3 kids live with parents
who lack secure employment.

13. 1
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More than 1 in 4 single parents are unemployed.

14. Incomes have stagnated among families with children.
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15. Childcare and housing costs add
to economic instability.
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16. Solutions to
Strengthen
Family
Circumstances
Parenting education
Career-technical
education
Family wage jobs
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17. Educational Experiences

18. Gaps in
opportunity can
be seen as early
as 9 months
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19. 1 9| OREGONCF.ORG
Only 1 in 3
low-income
children are
likely to attend
preschool.

20. Low-income kids start
and stay behind in school.
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21. 76% of
Oregon’s kids
graduate from
high school.
67% of low-
income kids
graduate from
high school.
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22. 2 2| OREGONCF.ORG
12% of low-
income
students
receive a post
secondary
credential.
34% of their
non-low-
income peers
did.

23. Solutions to
Strengthen
Educational
Experiences
Early care &
education
Enrichment &
extracurriculars
Post secondary
support
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24. Improving the lives of all Oregonians
through the power of philanthropy.
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26. “May this report serve as a call to
action…This gap in opportunity is
unacceptable, and it is up to all of us to
ensure that all our children can reach their
full potential.”
Robert Putnam, Harvard University
Author of Our Kids and Bowling Alone
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