Clusters Offer Strength

An article appeared in "The Contact", a church newsletter that serves fifty churches in Oregon and Southwest Washington. This article was on the concept of clusters. In this instance it refers to clusters of churches based on affiliation and geography. The goal is to strengthen communities. This is an excellent step forward. Although it was not expressly addressed, it also sets up a structure to share resources, avoid duplication of services, and opportunities to work together to meet community needs. Working as part of a cluster strengthens the church and local neighborhoods.

The same concept can be applied to small businesses and organizations. The City of Portland accomplishes this through seven Neighborhood Coalitions. These Coalitions have historically received grant funds from the City. Organizations within the boundaries of each coalition could compete for a grant to help strengthen neighborhoods. This year the City is not offering grants due to budget constraints, however current projects will continue. Grants provide encouragement, but the real strength is in the structure. These neighborhood coalitions have had opportunities to work together to produce results. Now they are equipped to succeed with or without the aid of grants.