Author: Julie Omelchuck

This author has written 10 articles
Read more about the article MHCRC Joins Local Jurisdictions in Filing Comments Opposing the FCC’s Proposed Rule Making Undermining Existing Negotiated Cable Service Franchise Agreements

MHCRC Joins Local Jurisdictions in Filing Comments Opposing the FCC’s Proposed Rule Making Undermining Existing Negotiated Cable Service Franchise Agreements

The MHCRC joined forces with 30 other local government jurisdictions across the nation to file comments and reply comments in opposition to a recent proposed rulemaking at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  The proposed rules could undermine public benefits negotiated in cable services franchise agreements, including franchise fees, and also allow cable companies to rely on the authority under a cable franchise to use the public right-of-way for non-cable services without additional compensation, permitting, or other regulations.

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Read more about the article First Program of its Kind in Oregon:The Black Filmmaker Fellowship
Open Signal Labs fellows at the program launch event, July 2018 (from left to right): Dustin Tolman, Tamera Lyn, Kamryn Fall, Sika Stanton, Elijah Hasan. (Missing: Noah Thomas.) (Photo by Sam Gehrke.)

First Program of its Kind in Oregon:The Black Filmmaker Fellowship

July 2018: With the help of an MHCRC Community Technology Grant, Open Signal launched a new incubator for emerging African American filmmakers, called Open Signal Labs. Designed to provide deep and transformative career advancement training to emerging Black filmmakers, the pilot fellowship recently enrolled six local artists. Keeping the number of participants enrolled to a select few, the artists are guaranteed one-on-one and small group professional training, collaborative and individual production experiences, well-publicized public screenings, career guidance and networking opportunities, and mentorship from industry professionals. Challenging the predominantly white male industry, Open Signal hopes the program provides Black filmmakers with…

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Read more about the article 2019 Community Technology Grant Cycle

2019 Community Technology Grant Cycle

Apply Now! The 2019 Grant Cycle is now Open for Pre-Applications The Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission is pleased to announce the opening of its 2019 Community Technology Grants funding cycle and encourages eligible organizations to apply. The Pre-Application deadline is December 6, 2018. For more information and to access the Pre-Application click here. [masterslider id="7"] Some pictures from past Grantees.

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Read more about the article 2018 Digital Inclusion Summit
City of Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler welcomes attendees and spoke about digital inclusion as an essential component to participatory democracy and economic opportunity.

2018 Digital Inclusion Summit

On May 10, 2018, the Digital Inclusion Network (DIN), led by Multnomah County Library and the City of Portland Office for Community Technology (OCT), hosted the 2018 Digital Inclusion Summit. Over 120 individuals attended throughout the day representing 69 unique organizations. The theme for the full-day event was ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY and included a series of featured speakers, panel discussions, and networking breaks to help advance our collective efforts to build a digitally connected, prosperous community. Thanks to the production support of Open Signal the event was live streamed and is available for replay here. A summary video produced by MetroEast Community…

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Read more about the article Centennial School District Awarded TechSmart Grant
From left: MHCRC Program Manager, Julie Omelchuck; Director of Curriculum & Student Learning at Centennial School District, Angela Hubbs; MHCRC Commissioner, Sue Diciple; Centennial School District Superintendent, Paul Coakley.

Centennial School District Awarded TechSmart Grant

Centennial School District (CSD) has been awarded a MHCRC TechSmart Initiative grant of $1,043,495 to implement a four-year project using project-based learning instruction to develop a cohesive, technology-rich, integrated math and science curriculum for 7-9th grade students.  The project aims to address an identified need to improve student outcomes in math and science, close the achievement gaps between student groups, as well as increase math and science credit attainment in 9th grade.  The project will begin in the school year 2018-2019 with a small cohort of experienced teacher teams along with the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) coach.      

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Read more about the article First Annual TechSmart Shared Learning Event
An attendee describes the technology-related classroom management challenges teachers face.

First Annual TechSmart Shared Learning Event

On May 8, 2018,  principals and technology coaches from 5 school districts gathered together for the first TechSmart Initiative Shared Learning Event, co-hosted by the Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission (MHCRC) and Pacific Research and Evaluation (PRE).  The event celebrated the work of Multnomah County School Districts, recipients of TechSmart Initiative Grant funding, and invited attendees to gather and collaborate on learnings from each district’s TechSmart Grant project. Discussions focused on classroom management techniques, digital citizenship, teacher and student engagement strategies, and group and individual training techniques. The MHCRC TechSmart Initiative for Student Success was originally launched in 2014 with the goal…

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Read more about the article 2018 NW Media Summit: Access The Future
Alex Chiu demonstrates animation technology used in his classes at Open Signal.

2018 NW Media Summit: Access The Future

On April 27-28 MHCRC staff joined regional community media makers for the 2018 NW Media Summit: Access The Future, an event organized by the Alliance for Community Media NW (ACMNWR) and held at Open Signal in NE Portland. The annual gathering has a mission of strengthening collaborative efforts between PEG (public, educational, or governmental organizations), community media centers, LPFM, public radio, independent filmmakers, and other media creators while providing professional development through informational workshops and panels. This year's programming centered around professional development for the next generation of community media leaders, emergent production techniques, better practices for reaching out to marginalized communities,…

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Read more about the article Annual Virtual Scholars Student Panel Celebrates Another Successful Year
Source: https://vs.pps.net/Page/1

Annual Virtual Scholars Student Panel Celebrates Another Successful Year

On Thursday, February 15, 2018, MHCRC staff attended the Portland Public Schools (PPS) celebration for the Annual Virtual Scholars Student Panel.  The Panel was made up of high school student participants of the PPS Virtual Scholars Program (VS), a recipient of the MHCRC Community Technology Grant Program. The grant funded Digital Transformation Project focuses on addressing the problem of the achievement gap between demographic groups, specifically targeting students who are not on track to graduate in four years because they are credit deficient. The program offers PPS high school students courses in Health, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies by means…

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Read more about the article Open School East Campus Grand Opening

Open School East Campus Grand Opening

On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 MHCRC Chair Carol Studenmund and staff joined Governor Kate Brown in celebrating the grand opening of Open School East (OSE). OSE is a new school in the Rockwood neighborhood designed to serve 7th – 12th grade students, who are not being served by traditional schools, and prepare them for success in careers and college. OSE is a 2016 MHCRC Community Technology Grant recipient. Grant funds provided by the MHCRC have been used to purchase technology and digital curriculum in support of getting all students back to meeting or exceeding grade-level benchmarks in both reading and math by…

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Read more about the article MHCRC Participates in Principal for Almost a Day Event at Grout Elementary School
A teacher at Grout Elementary demonstrating differentiated learning methods

MHCRC Participates in Principal for Almost a Day Event at Grout Elementary School

Julie Omelchuck, MHCRC Community Grants Program Director, visited Grout Elementary School, in participation of the October 27th All Hands Raised annual event, Principal for Almost a Day (PFAD). Grout Elementary School is a one of five Portland Public Schools engaged in the MHCRC TechSmart Initiative grant to the district focused on K-3rd grade reading and English language learners’ progress. Highlights from the visit included participating in a professional learning planning session with third grade teachers for the literacy adoption currently underway in the district and observing classrooms where teachers are using technology tools and rotation station strategies to differentiate learning…

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