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It's time that Portland and the state of OR have honest and courageous conversations about racial equity and take active steps to change policy and systems.  When sharing the findings with elected officials at City Hall, I heard very defensive comments from Council members, especially around employment and hiring of people of color in City positions.  Access to professional and leadership level positions will greatly assist in changing and addressing the institutional racism that exists today. 

Portland's demographics are changing rapidly and ignoring the factors that race plays in access to services, quality jobs and educations, housing, health care, etc - will only increase the ever growing disparities.  Racism is a tenacious evil, but it is not unbeatable.  Going back and forth about whether racism exists does not help to advance the discussion. Racism exists.  Disparities exists.  This is our starting point to do something to change these situations.  These disparities affect everyone - we are interconnected and each person must get involved in the work to de-toxify Multnomah county.

posted 3 years ago
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