Happy Fall!
Welcome or welcome back to Portland Community College and our Queer Resource Centers! We loved seeing you at Weeks Of Welcome, and we're excited to see you at more of our upcoming events. Check out what we have coming up, and learn other important information about our spaces in this month's newsletter!
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About the QRCs
by Simon
The Queer Resource Centers offer tons of different ways to get connected, find community, and access support. Some of our offerings include:
- One-on-one support from staff
- Events and student clubs
- A Discord server
- Support navigating services at PCC
- Help reporting discrimination & harassment at PCC
- Connection to campus and community resources
- Help updating your name and pronouns in PCC systems
Our spaces also provide coffee, tea, and pantry snacks like oatmeal and cup of noodles; personal hygiene products ranging from menstrual products like pads and tampons to safer sex products like internal and external condoms as well as dental dams and lubricant.
Students can land on the comfiest couches and chairs to study, finish homework, use computers and print, check out books from our library of all queer media, or chat with student advocates.
Our Rock Creek, Sylvania, and Cascade QRCs are equipped with a clothing closet as well as binder samples for trying on. If you have some old clothes, in good condition, you can donate them or maybe refresh your wardrobe with a piece or two. Want to make a large donation to one of our closets? Contact the center’s coordinators at qrc@pcc.edu.
At this time, all of our centers have in-person hours:
- Monday: 10-3PM
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10am-4pm
- Friday: Virtual services 10am-4pm
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|  | Hybrid Point Foundation Scholarship Workshop
Join us in a virtual scholarship workshop with the Point Foundation on Tue, Nov 10, 2026 from 12-1pm. They will tell us about their Flagship Scholarship for students looking to pursue a transfer Bachelor's Degree as well as their new Career & Technical Education scholarship geared towards students in non-degree seeking trade and vocational programs. These scholarships are specific to LGBTQ2S+ and ally students seeking financial support. Register now on Pantherhub!
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Southeast Highlight
In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, the Southeast library will have a display for students, community members and staff to appreciate. Drop in to explore the display and learn more about transgender communities.
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| Rock Creek Highlight
November 20th is Trans Day of Remembrance. A day of mourning the loss of fallen trans siblings. Especially recently, with the rise in trans and queer disappearings, staying informed and hopeful is of the utmost importance. To recognize the loss, the RC QRC’s biweekly Q-club will focus on trans empowerment on the 18th.
For questions about the event, contact qrc@pcc.edu
For accommodation requests, contact AEDR@pcc.edu
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Sylvania Highlight
On November 9th the SY QRC is hosting a Director Q&A and screening of Second Nature, A documentary about the different ways in which animals in nature ignore, defy, or simply sidestep binary sex and heterosexuality. Second Nature discusses gender nonconformity, queerness, and love in the animal kingdom. Director Drew Denny will answer audience questions after we watch the movie! It will be screening from 12:00 to 2PM in TCB 212. Tickets are limited, so please register on PantherHub now!
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| | Student Basic Needs Resources
By: Kamarionna
The Student Basic Needs Center is available on each PCC campus and can connect you with the Basic Needs and Sustainability Leadership (BNSL) team who are able to help students and community members with various resources both inside and outside the PCC network. At the Student Basic Needs Center, you can find:
- Food resources
- Health resources
- Financial resources
- Legal resources
- Technology assistance
You can visit https://www.pcc.edu/basic-needs/basic-needs-hub/ to find your campus hub or schedule a remote appointment. The QRC wants to see you thrive and encourages students to seek out support. This fall, spaces will be open at the following times, based on Campus:
Rock Creek: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10am- 3pm
Cascade: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10am- 3pm
Sylvania: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10am-3pm
Southeast: Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10am-3pm
Remote: Mon: 9am- 12pm; Tues, Wed, Thurs: 9am- 3pm; Fri: 9am-1pm
For more information, you can email the center at basicneeds@pcc.edu
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LGBTQIA2S+ Orgs Advocate for Representation in Salem
By: Kamarionna
Oregon has the highest share of LGBTQIA2S+ adults of any state in the nation; however, there is no commission representing these communities in Salem. Despite our size and history, our community’s issues go unmonitored in state policy, with no dedicated body to advise the Governor and Legislature or ensure representation on state boards. Oregon’s LGBTQIA2S+ history runs deep and a commission means a permanent, structural voice.
Oregon’s current certification program, COBID, was built to level the playing field for minorities, women and veteran-owned firms competing for public contracts. In 2023, a disparity study showed that these businesses continue to underperform in state contracting. Oregon collects almost no data on which industries these businesses work in and the LGBTQIA2S+ business community is entirely excluded from the certification system. The MOSAIC bill is the first step towards real visibility; a certification category for sexual orientation and gender identity, real data and real accountability from the state agencies awarding contracts.
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PCC Resources: Scholarships
By: Rahim WL
It’s scholarship season! (If you’re in college it’s always scholarship season) So here are four scholarship opportunities that are coming up and open now!
PCC Foundation
The first of these is our very own PCC Foundation. Applications open on November 1st, so mark your calendar. The average award from this scholarship is 1800 dollars, and if you’ve completed the FAFSA and/or ORSAA you qualify for the scholarship just by being a PCC student, so be sure to apply at pcc.edu/foundation
POINT Foundation
Next, the POINT Foundation’s community college scholarship applications are closed, but their Career and Technical Education Scholarship applications are still open. For students looking to get a job in the trades and/or taking vocational programs, you can apply for this 2000 dollar scholarship until December 3rd at pointfoundation.org/scholarships
OSAC Scholarship
Third, the applications for the OSAC scholarship for 2027-2028 are open on November 1st. One application will sign you up for multiple scholarships at once, so if you’ve filled out the FAFSA look into this one, it could save you some time while applying for scholarships. (oregonstudentaid.gov/scholarships/)
Pride Foundation
Last but not least the Pride Foundation has a scholarship open until January 8th. It is a scholarship for LGBTQ+ students with an interest in advancing the well being of their communities. As well as those who have faced systemic barriers to academic success. It’s available if you are a LGBTQ+ resident in Oregon, and It opened on October 11th so apply early at pridefoundation.org/find-funding/scholarships
With so many scholarships available it can be overwhelming applying to all of them. If you take it slowly though, and apply to a few a day, it adds up quickly. Don’t miss out on these opportunities, and good luck future graduates! |
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PCC Oregon Legislative Internship Program
The PCC Oregon Legislative Internship Program is currently accepting applications for this academic year’s cohort. This program is designed to support students applying for an internship in an Oregon Legislative Office during the 2027 Session and includes both Winter and Spring terms.
Participants will receive 4 tuition free credits each term as well as a travel grant to assist with transportation to and from the State Capitol. For more information and the online application please visit https://www.pcc.edu/legintern.
The application deadline is the end of the day on Wednesday, November 4th.
Student Art at the Capitol
I'm reaching out with an opportunity for PCC students to have their artwork displayed
PCC is partnering with the Senate President's Office to showcase PCC student artwork at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem during the 2027 legislative session. Students from any PCC campus or program are welcome to submit pieces for consideration, and the Senate President's Office will make the final selections.
The submission deadline is Friday, November 13.
Students can submit multiple pieces, and there is no cost to participate. Artwork does not need to be framed when submitted. PCC will coordinate with selected students on the logistics of preparing and transporting their work.
Submission form |
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Our newsletters are written by QRC Student Advocates and professional staff. If you have an opportunity to include here, please reach out to us:
qrc@pcc.edu
© Copyright 2026 Portland Community College. All rights reserved.
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