Latest news from The Office of Equity & Human Rights
Latest news from The Office of Equity & Human Rights
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January 2016
Director's update
Dante J. James, Bureau Director
Dante J. James photo
Dante J. James welcomes attendees at the City's Kwanzaa Celebration on December 30, 2015, hosted  by DEEP (Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland).
Happy New Year! January is a natural time to not only reflect on past accomplishments, but to remind ourselves of our mandate from the 2011 City of Portland Ordinance that established the Office of Equity and Human Rights (Ordinance No. 184880).

In the ordinance, City Council declares that, “Achieving equity requires the intentional examination of policies and practices that, even if they have the appearance of fairness, may marginalize individuals or groups and perpetuate disparities or injustices.” Through the city-wide budget process, Title II of the Americans with Disability Act Transition Plan, and the Bureau Racial Equity Plan evolution, to name a few, the Office of Equity and Human Rights has influenced change in the way City bureaus develop policies, practices, and procedures.

City Council also declares that, “Working toward equity requires an understanding of historical contexts…” Our Equity 101 training, which is now mandatory for all City employees, focuses on the history of racial disparities in Oregon and the U.S., as a foundation to explain why equity matters. 

Our Annual Report will be released early this year and will include updates on our progress and momentum in terms of the Ordinance and the Portland Plan. 

The Annual Report will outline accomplishments in detail, but I would like to highlight a historic move by City Council. Casting a unanimous vote in July, Council adopted City-wide Racial Equity Goals and Strategies as binding City policy. These goals may be specifically couched in terms of racial equity, but achieving these goals will help provide greater benefits for everyone as they receive the services of the City.

You may have heard by now that I will be heading to Oakland, California this month to assist their City with opening a Department of Race and Equity. Under the agreement between our cities, I will be “on loan” to Oakland for a total period of three months, and the City of Oakland will reimburse the City of Portland for all expenses incurred. Being asked to take on this assignment says a lot about what our office and regional jurisdictions are accomplishing in the field of equity. We have also consulted on the creation of similar offices in Tacoma, Washington and Austin, Texas. The benefits of having governmental jurisdictions across the country working to institutionalize equity are immeasurable to historically under-represented communities of color and communities with disabilities.

During my absence, Senior Policy Advisor, Judith Mowry, will be overseeing the office. With her breadth of institutional knowledge and community experience, the temporary transition should be seamless.

The OEHR team is busy on the path to realizing equity and enhancing the City of Portland. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time. You may reach us at: oehr@portlandoregon.gov 

Peace and blessings to you in the New Year,
Dante
City Council approves two equity hiring initiatives
Anna Kanwit and Dante James
City Human Resources Director, Anna Kanwit, and Dante J. James testify before Council on January 6, 2015.
City Council unanimously passed two proposals aimed at broadening the candidate pool for diverse City employment, two weeks ago.

The City allows at-will and temporary employees to be appointed without a Human Resources recruitment process. The Office of Equity and Human Rights brought a resolution to Council, introduced by Mayor Hales, that directs Council offices and City Bureaus to submit Direct Appointment Reports on a semi-annual basis. After 12 months (two reports), the office will provide a report to Council with its overall findings on the use of direct appointment hiring, along with any recommendations based on the findings.

Mayor Hales also introduced the Charles Jordan Standard, named to honor the legacy of Portland’s former parks and recreation director and one of two Black City Commissioners in the City’s history. The standard, inspired by the National Football League’s Rooney Rule, will have City leaders interviewing at least one qualified person of color, woman, person with a disability, and LGBTQ community member during a competitive recruitment process for bureau director positions. City Park Ranger, Sam Sachs, advocated for the standard and testified before Council in support.
Portland hosts National League of Cities' Black Male Achievement Convening
Stephon Hartley
At his press conference, Mayor Hales invited BMA Summer Youth Experience participant, Stephon Hartley, to share his experiences. 
Last October, the City of Portland hosted 35 Black Male Achievement (BMA) representatives from six U.S. cities. Participants attended workshops and site visits to learn about BMA Portland’s efforts in the areas of policy promotion, organizational structures, city-community collaboration, and engagement of young Black men and boys.

Mayor Charlie Hales hosted a joint press conference at City Hall on October 15 with National League of Cities and BMA representatives. Following the press conference, the community was treated to a hip hop show at City Hall featuring Star Chile, DJ O.G.ONE, and special guests.

“We’re proud that the National League of Cities has chosen Portland for their Technical Assistance Cross-site Convening,” said Dante J. James. “It shows that BMA Portland is an example of success and other cities are taking notice.”

The City of Portland was selected as one of 11 cities to participate in the National League of Cities’ BMA Initiative. The program is designed to work across public and private sectors and among jurisdictions to help improve the life outcomes of Black men and boys in four key areas: Education, Employment, Family Stability, and Criminal Justice.

Housed in the Office of Equity and Human Rights within Mayor Charlie Hales’ portfolio, BMA works with officials in Multnomah County government, as well as with for-profit and non-profit entities.
Equity at Work
The success of The Office of Equity and Human Rights can be measuredin partby how community members experience equity in the policies, practices, and procedures of City bureaus. The "Equity at Work" feature focuses on equity wins in City government. This month, we feature Portland Housing Bureau.
Portland Housing Bureau
Implementation of the N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy is underway by the Portland Housing Bureau (PHB). Developed in close coordination with community members, the plan is a combination of policies and investment strategies to address the legacy of involuntary displacement in North and Northeast Portland, which has disproportionately limited housing opportunity for Portland’s African American community.

Through these investments, PHB has already assisted more than 50 low-income North/Northeast Portland homeowners with critical home repairs that will allow them to retain their homes—approximately 70% of these households were African Americans who had lived in their homes for more than 25 years. The N/NE Neighborhood Housing Strategy also lead to the development of an affordable housing Preference Policy, finalized in December, for North and Northeast Portland’s historically marginalized households.

As the City begins work on its budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, the Bureau has placed a heavy focus in its budget development process on increasing programming resources in East Portland, where low-income households and Communities of Color are being priced out. Additionally, PHB is working with service providers to complete racial equity assessments and develop action plans with all of its contracted organizations.
Portland Commission on Disability bids farewell to founding members
The Portland Commission on Disability arrived at a milestone on December 2015. Six founding commissioners completed their terms after serving since 2008.
Jan Campbell, Joe VanderVeer, Phyllis Petteys, Adam Kriss, Amy Anderson, and Travis Wall were recognized at a celebration coordinated by present Chair, Lavaun Heaster.
The Portland Commission on Disability’s mission is to guide the City in ensuring that it is a more universally accessible city for all. The commission advises City Council and City bureaus with the goal of creating more inclusive and accessible policies, services, and practices. Although the six founding members will no longer serve as Commissioners, they will, no doubt, continue their disability advocacy in the community.
Kwanzaa Celebration
Photo of Joyce Harris
Joyce Harris leads youth attendess through the Libation and Kwanzaa Ceremony
The all-volunteer Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP), led by Debbie Casselton, hosted the City's Annual Kwanzaa Celebration on December 30, 2015. Every year, Community and CIty employees come together to celebrate the holiday.
Thanks to the DEEP crew for another successful event that celebrates diversity.
Photos can be viewed here.
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