By VINCE JONES-DIXON
Multnomah County Commissioner, District 4
As September arrives across East Multnomah County, cooler mornings and the start of turning leaves signal one of my favorite times of year: back-to-school season. Whether your family is getting ready for that first day of kindergarten, sending off high school seniors, or reminiscing about when they were young, September brings a renewed sense of community across East Multnomah County.
A strong start in education sets the stage for a lifetime of success. That is why I am particularly proud to highlight Multnomah County’s Preschool for All initiative. Preschool for All connects 3- and 4-year-olds to free, high-quality early childhood education, giving our youngest community members the foundational skills they need while offering opportunity to working parents and caregivers.
By expanding accessible, high-quality early learning opportunities across our region, we are investing directly in the future vitality of East County and the region as a whole. If you have young children or know a family who could benefit, I encourage you to explore available programs and enrollment options by visiting multco.us/programs/preschool-all.
Investing in our community’s future isn’t just about supporting our schools, it’s also about ensuring your voice helps guide how our local government serves you.
Right now, Multnomah County is actively recruiting community members to serve on the Charter Review Committee. Every six years, this resident-led committee meets to examine our county charter (our local constitution) and, if needed, recommends changes to improve how county government operates.
We need strong, diverse representation from District 4 to ensure East County’s unique needs and perspectives are reflected at the decision-making table. Applications are open now and are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 1st, 2026.
The Office of Community Involvement is currently hosting both virtual and neighborhood-based info sessions to help you learn more, answer questions, and assist with the application process. Multilingual flyers and session schedules are all available to help spread the word.
Whether you are interested in applying yourself or helping us recruit a neighbor, please visit multco.us/programs/charter-review-process to get involved.
Thank you for everything you do to make East County a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. I wish all our students, teachers, staff, and parents, a wonderful start to the school year, and to all, a wonderful transition to Fall! ◼︎
Vince Jones-Dixon has been the Multnomah County Commissioner from East County since 2024 and is a former member of the Gresham City Council.