VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY:
The visionPDX Input Report

SOCIAL ISSUES:
Diversity

  


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Portlanders imagine a future in which diversity is fully embraced.

Section Summary

Portlanders have strong feelings about diversity, whether they identify with the mainstream or with ethnic, racial, religious, gender or other minority groups. Many people feel that Portland is incredibly diverse and appreciate the amount of diversity in the population. Many others, however, believe that Portland is overwhelmingly non-diverse and hope that the city becomes more diverse in the future. In particular, those speaking from minority perspectives frequently mention experiening racism, classism, homophobia and other forms of systemic injustice.

Respondents desire an increase in dialogue across cultures and for physical spaces that allow for such communication to take place. People likewise wish to see more opportunity for integration of minority groups in all neighborhoods. At the same time, respondents call for an investment in culturally-specific resources and services (especially in schools) and places for cultural groups to congregate on a regular basis.

Portlanders are extremely concerned with the growing socioeconomic gap as it relates to disenfranchised and minority groups. These respondents often cite the recent increase in condo developments, denouncing this as bad development policy that produces gentrification and disproportionately affects minority communities.They express a need to hold community dialogues in affected communities and neighborhoods so that government can fully understand these impacts. 

Summary of Main Ideas

  1. Many people have an appreciation for Portland’s diverse communities and cultures.
  2. Portlanders identifying with minority groups frequently experience inequities and injustices in their lives.
  3. Portland’s ethnically diverse groups seek greater recognition, more opportunities and improved relations with the broader community.
  4. Many sense that the existing neighborhood system needs to change because it does not adequately integrate minority groups into decision-making and public participation.
  5. Training to increase understanding of diversity and culturally appropriate practices is needed for all sectors of government and for the community at large.
  6. People want to see more opportunities for leadership development in minority communities and more leadership positions filled by minorities.

Summary of Tensions and Disagreements

  1. Is Portland a welcoming place for all?

MAIN IDEAS

  1. Many people have an appreciation for Portland’s diverse communities and cultures.
  • Community members enjoy the vast array of culturally-specific restaurants, education and entertainment options.
  • Many people hold the impression that Portland is generally accepting of diverse individuals and communities.
  • Some people look forward to the anticipated increase diversity of the Portland metro area's population.
  • Persons identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer appreciate the overall sense of acceptance in Portland.
    • People find comfort in being able to be open about sexual orientation.
    • Many people still want to have the right for everyone to marry, including same sex marriages.
“I love that Portland is becoming a more culturally diverse community and that people are doing some good thinking about how to embrace that.”

  1. Portlanders identifying with minority groups frequently experience inequities and injustices in their lives.
  • Many people in minority communities describe the uneven distribution of wealth and lack of family wage jobs as forms of racial injustice. 
  • They attribute the persistent income gaps between whites and minority groups and the lack of sufficient affordable housing to the legacy of racial segregation.
  • Community members also express frustration from being discriminated against based on their income level, religion, skin color, ability, age, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation.
    • Immigrants and refugees are often unable to utilize the professional skills they bring here from other countries in their work.
    • Minorities often feel targeted and/or misrepresented by media sources.
    • African Americans and other groups express anger and resentment over their displacement from North and Northeast Portland neighborhoods.
“I have lived in Portland for almost 2 years. In my time here, I have witnessed drug sales on the property where I live, racial discrimination, death threats against myself, physical threats against my person, and constant harassment…there appears to be a problem with racial equality in the city of Portland.”

“[I would like to see] less economic disparity (income gap) and racial segregation and more balanced neighborhoods – affordability, gentrification are problems. Address disconnect between jobs and housing, encourage equitable growth that is sensitive to affordable housing needs and prevents displacement.”

“[In the future] not one person will be living under a bridge, people of color and those that are marginalized will not be treated with indifference, but with dignity and respect. We will not just be mouthing these words, rather we will take action.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. “More cops that come from North Portland area (recruited and retained), less racial profiling, improve unemployment rates among minorities.”
  2. More effort should be made to ensure that employers recruit and hire minorities.
  3. “Encourage minority owned businesses to move back to downtown. Provide incentives for minorities to live in affordable housing in the Pearl/NW.”
  4. Implement loan programs and incentives for potential minority business owners.
  5. Policies need to directly reflect values that encourage minority populations to feel welcome to live anywhere in the city.
  1. Portland’s ethnically diverse groups seek greater recognition, more opportunities, and improved relations with the broader community.
  • In general, many members of ethnic minority groups seek to increase respect in the mainstream for their community and for the cultural richness they bring to Portland.
  • Some people would like to see greater public recognition of both historical and recent oppression of minority groups.
  • The common portrayal of people of color in the local, mainstream media is seen as generally negative and should change to highlight community strengths.

    African American / Black Community:

  • There is a feeling among many respondents from this community that there are not as many opportunities for African Americans as there are for other ethnic communities.
  • Respondents sense a growing lack of unity and solidarity within the African American community. They attribute this, in part, to the displacement of families from North and Northeast Portland.
  • There is a need for more advocacy from within this community.
  • Black-on-Black crime needs to be eliminated.
  • There is a need for more African American people in visible leadership positions.
  • The mainstream media and culture must stop targeting African Americans.
  • There is anger and resentment regarding gentrification in the Alberta and Mississippi neighborhoods, and how it has disproportionately affected the African American community (for more, see Economy: Housing).

    African Immigrant Community:

  • There is the feeling that this community is largely ignored by decision-makers and their many cultural backgrounds go unregognized.
  • African respondents are made invisible when they are counted as Black or African American.
  • At the same time, respondents call for increased interaction and integration between African immigrants and African Americans.
  • There is a need for more support of recent African immigrants and refugees.
  • A community center should be designed for the African communities.

    Arabic and Islamic Community:

  • There should be more support for this community, and recognition of their contributions, especially by the media.
  • Many wish elected officials would hire Arabic or Islamic staff.
  • Greater accommodations are needed for their religious beliefs and practices, such as:
    • Respect for gender separation;
    • Making Arabic a language offered in public schools;
    • Offering Halal lunches for Muslim children;
    • Providing swimming facilities for women only; and
    • Making a place for the required Islamic prayers in schools.
  • Establish an Arabic or Muslim sister city for Portland.

    Asian and Pacific Islander Community:

  • Have more culturally-specific services and resources for this community.
  • Better integrate specific groups within this community, such as the Korean community.
  • Provide more exposure for this community’s contributions.

    Latino / Hispanic Community:

  • Provide more educational opportunities for this community, for both youth and adults.
  • Help other communities understand that Latinos are here looking for opportunities to lead better lives and they are not criminals (this was often mentioned of undocumented Latinos).
  • Reduce police harassment of this community.
  • For day laborers specifically, create a center where they can access services and employment.
  • Create an Ombudsman’s Office for Latinos.
  • There were some calls for staging boycotts and demonstrations to show the growing political power of this community.

    Native American Community:

  • Recognize that they native people are the original inhabitants of this area and of the entire continent and afford them the respect that they deserve.
  • Create a community center for Native Americans.

    Russian and Eastern European Community:

  • This community would like more opportunities and services.
  • Have an organization that could bring together all Russian-speaking people.
“I am a teacher and I feel often that my voice and the voices of our most marginalized students are not heard.”

[I would like to see] more black owned businesses. [African American] museum with Oregon history. Ethnic plaza malls. Strictly ethnic performing arts- general music, dance, acting. Money Management services- more black parks- access to loans for small business and home ownership.”

“Make amends or reparations for the decades of urban renewal that wiped out the neighborhoods (Rose Quarter, Vancouver/Williams, North Mississippi) where people of color lived."

Sample Strategies:

  1. People suggest that more public displays be placed throughout the city that portray different cultural groups’ historical contributions to Portland.
  2. More museums, cultural heritage sites and ethnic plaza malls should be constructed to highlight the diversity of Portlanders.
  1. Many sense that the existing neighborhood system needs to change because it does not adequately integrate minority groups into the decision-making and public participation.
  • People are concerned that homeowners and businesses are typically privileged and have more access to decision-making through the Neighborhood Coalition system.
  • Some want to abolish the neighborhood associations because they are too “middle-class and white”.
  • Others desire the neighborhood system to change, finding ways to also include non-geographic, identity-based groups that cross neighborhood boundaries.
  • Some believe that Neighborhood Associations could better include minority groups if they were provided more resources.
“Portland’s lack of cultural and racial diversity is a detriment/hazard to all that live here. It makes for a city of people who believe they are open and yet are incredibly sheltered and xenophobic…”

“Integrate communities who have experienced historical oppression and trauma (classism, racism, heterosexism, ableism etc.) into our city, county and state administrations; oppression is a social ill that is carried on within our societies, culture and institutions. We may not be able to address it on every cultural level but we can sure inform our policy decisions and institutions by including input from those communities within our current structures!”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Encourage elected officials to listen more to the community, especially to the Neighborhood Associations.
  2. Support Neighborhood Associations so they can better reach out to and integrate diverse communities in their work.
  1. Training to increase understanding of diversity and culturally appropriate practices is needed for all sectors of government and for the community at large.
  • Education and awareness should be a tool for building more unity within the community.
  • Trainings are necessary for police, public servants and the general public. For instance, some people request that school staff receive cultural sensitivity trainings in order to understand the increasing diversity of students.
  • One way to increase understanding is to recruit and retain more minorities in public servant appointments and positions of power.
  • Portlanders call for more physical and social spaces where diverse community members can interact and communicate.
"We need to have community dialogues—genuine communications about racism and poverty.”

"I would love to see a police force that is more culturally diverse. I am a parent of 3 African-American children and it is my biggest fear that a police officer will harm them at some point in their life merely due to the color of their skin.”

“Dismantling institutional racism in the Portland Police force especially regarding African Americans. Actually all city and county governments (including public schools) need to be re-structured in a way that dismantles the institutional racism that has been embedded in them since conception.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. Build more permanent physical spaces where cross-cultural communication and dialogue can occur.
  1. People want to see more opportunities for leadership development in minority communities and more leadership positions filled by minorities.
  • The City should invest in the development and support of civic leadership of minorities.
  • Leadership, both public and private, should become ethnically diverse, working to open opportunities, alleviate citywide social issues.
  • Portland needs more women and people of color in positions of power.
"[In 2030] leadership in the city (private and public) is ethnically diverse, demonstrating that the city has done a better job alleviating poverty and opening opportunities to everyone."

"I think Portland is the best kept secret in this world. Yet, I hope Portland in 20 years is an international model for clean efficient living, with a safe infrastructure, and where communities of color are underlined in leadership roles, shop owners and community leaders.”

"[In 2030] There are brown Indian faces living together clean and sober in communities; actual homes that they built with their own minority owned and operated construction company that was started with the help of Habitat for humanity and WEX training our own men in some marketable job skills. In the center of this energy self-sufficient community is an organic garden from which our people eat and market the surplus through their co-op. We have an abundant supply of clean water and renewable energy. The Multnomah (Willamette) river is so clean that we are no longer afraid becoming ill from eating salmon or any other fish from it, nor are we worried about our traditional food plants being contaminated."

TENSIONS AND DISAGREEMENTS

  1. Is Portland a welcoming place for all?

    Although a majority of people agree that diversity is a value that Portlanders share, there are key differences of opinion about exactly how accommodating Portland is to ethnic minority groups and diverse communities. As the city experiences steady growth of ethnically diverse populations over the next twenty years, what will it mean to truly embrace diversity?

    Portland is inviting the way it is.

    A large number of respondents think that Portland is accepting of its diverse community members. They feel that Portland is set apart from some other cities and rural communities in that it welcomes people to be open about their lifestyles, sexual orientation, cultural practices, etc.. Some people also believe that with greater diversity in Portland, the city will become a more enriched metropolis, and will begin to take on a similar feel to larger cities across the nation.

    Portland should be more attuned to the arrival of newcomers.

    Many people talk about how the current systems set up for assisting immigrants and refugees do not meet all of the needs that come with relocating from a foreign country. The complaints range from feeling discriminated against based on race, language, ways of dressing and religious practices to not being able to reap the benefits that Portland offers. Examples of what seems inaccessible and unaffordable by many ethnic minorities include community events and programs, youth activities and sports, higher education and quality jobs.

    Some of Portland's long-term residents do not feel welcomed.

    A third perspective comes from a large number of respondents who believe that Portland has a long way to go before it is truly welcoming of all its residents. There is a fundamental concern about how the city can possibly increase diversity in inner-city neighborhoods when ethnic minorities that have lived in Portland for generations are priced out of the city.