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Portland: Who volunteers, and why?

While people in the rest of America have been steadily dropping out of civic life since the end of World War II, Portlanders have been doing just the opposite. In 1974, 21 percent of Portlanders attended at least one public meeting on town or school affairs, compared to 22 percent for residents of comparably-sized cities. By the early 1990s, the figure for the rest of the country had been cut in half (11 percent), but Portland had increased to 30-35 percent.

Why Portland?

There may be no simple answer, but creating a "user-friendly" form of government has helped. That includes welcoming the participation of neighborhood associations and local advocacy groups, and creating the Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) system, increasing trust and the sense that the government is "us."

Since the late 1960s and the 1970s, an often contentious relationship between citizens and city representatives over a wide range of issues shifted steadily toward a more inclusive "call and response" system where both the city and activists learned the value of cooperation, adaptation and accommodation. The decline in traditional social groups (such as fraternal organizations and labor unions) was counterbalanced with the fast rise of advocacy organizations. In 1960 there were 31 advocacy groups in Portland; 184 by 1972, and more than 400 by 1999.

A Cloudy Future?

By some measures, the level and time spent volunteering has leveled off or declined during the last decade, despite events like the 9-11 terrorist attacks. But on a recent survey, 70% of Oregon non-profit organizations reported that they have seen an increase in volunteers over the past five years, with increases reported among both young people and seniors.

Portland By The Numbers:

1974: Rates of letters to the editor in Portland and the nation: 6 percent. 1994: rate in Portland 17%; nationwide 4%.

Mid 1970s: 50-60% of Portland residents signed petitions; 40% nationwide. Mid 1990s: Portland 75%; nationwide 25%.

Early 1970s: 15-16% of Portlanders and other similar-sized cities served as officers or committee members of some local organization. Mid 1990s: Portland 28%, 7% nationwide.

54% of Multnomah County residents state they volunteered in 2004; 29% nationally.

18% volunteered more than 50 hours a year in 2004; 30% did in early 1990s.

Resources:

http://www.handsonportland.org/
http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/
http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/orgs/cic/
http://www.metro-region.org/
http://www.pew-partnership.org/
http://www.cascadelink.org/vol/index.html