Fall 2022 Micro-Grant Awards
Brilliance Labs is proud to announce the recipients of our second round of micro-grant awards. These micro-grants carry the legacy of Central Bible Church by funding churches and organizations that are making a difference in our city, especially among those under-resourced or otherwise neglected by majority culture churches and ministries.
HOLLA School
HOLLA School’s mission is to change the academic narrative of Black, Brown and Indigenous youth by honoring lived experiences, catalyzing genius and centering joy. They seek to explore student identities, nurture their curiosity, ignite their criticality and orient them in the world and we do this by systematizing the use of a comprehensive culturally and historically responsive instructional framework that centers literacy and relationships through mentoring, entrepreneurship, and acknowledging the contributions of our community.
Brilliance Labs awarded HOLLA School a $4,000 grant to fund their in-class mentor program.
One HOPE Fellowship
One Hope Fellowship is a new multi-ethnic church plant in NE Portland that recently merged with an existing congregation. Pastor Ricardo Barber describes One HOPE as a place where people belong, and share talents and experiences - where differences in ethnicities, age, or personality style, enhance rather than divide.
The vision of One HOPE Fellowship is to:
Make multi-ethnic Gospel-Centered disciples
Create multi-ethnic Gospel-Centered communities
Build multi-ethnic Gospel-Centered church plants
Brilliance Labs awarded One HOPE a $1,500 grant to fund their Thanksgiving meal box program.
Pamoja House
The mission of Pamoja House is to bring lasting hope to refugees and immigrants in Southwest Portland. This multicultural organization serving the diverse immigrant community of Southwest Portland through education, counseling, and vocational services. They specialize in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), driver’s education, tutoring, and citizenship classes. In addition to meeting the fundamental needs, Pamoja prides itself in community-building and providing personal support to students. They are able to focus on students’ individual needs by maintaining a high level of personal interaction, small class sizes, and caring volunteer staff.
Brilliance Labs awarded Pamoja House a $7,000 grant for interim staffing support that will free up the executive directors to take a well-earned sabbatical.
Immigrant Connection
Immigrant Connection is a DOJ recognized, church-based, low-cost, immigration legal services ministry of Columbia View Wesleyan Church. They exist to provide greater access to low-cost high-quality immigration services in under-resourced communities of the Portland metro area and beyond.. In essence, ICPDX is a ministry devoted to “barrier removal” and “bridge building” -- that immigrants can experience God’s love for them in their area of need and find community with Jesus’ followers in East Portland.
Brilliance Labs awarded ICPDX a $4,000 grant fund their client services.
Jubilee Hall
Jubilee Hall is a non-profit coffee shop with the mission to create a safe space for the refugee and immigrant community for English and job skill training in a real-world setting. They are building out their new cafe on Burnside and 122nd and hope to open in Fall 2022. Inspired by the call to Christian hospitality, their mission is:
Breaking barriers creates a safe space for refugees and immigrants to integrate and elevate confidence.
Opening doors by providing real-world skills and language training opportunities.
Building bridges between communities to collaborate for mutual success.
Brilliance Labs awarded Jubilee Hall a $3,700 grant fund their refugee and immigrant vocational training program.
New Creation Chinese Church
New Creation Chinese Church was started 6 years ago and is the first new Chinese church in Portland in the past 30 years. Their mission is to reach the Chinese community in Portland with the Good News of Jesus.
Brilliance Labs awarded NCCC a $2,100 grant to fund their inaugural Fatherhood conference.
River City Church
River City Church is a new church plant in West Vancouver that exists to encounter the Author of love and engage their community in that love. As a testimony to their faithfulness in this mission, The mayor of Vancouver has called River City Church “an anchor of hope in the city.”
Brilliance Labs awarded RCC a $5,500 grant to fund Dia de Accion de Gracias, a community Thanksgiving meal and Thanksgiving meal boxes for shut-ins and those experiencing houselessness.
Punto de Encuentro Comunidad Cristiano
Punto de Encuentro Communidad Cristiano is a new multi-ethnic Spanish-language church in Hillsboro, OR. associated with the Northwest Baptist Association. Founding Pastor, Nelson Castro has a passion for church planting and evangelism and has planted several churches both in the US and Latin America.
Brilliance Labs awarded Punto de Encuentro Communidad Cristiano a $1,000 grant to fund a gift card outreach for newly arrived refuggee and immigrant families.
