Social Equity and Opportunity Forum

The Portland Metropolitan region is widely recognized as one of the most vibrant and best places to live in the country. However, like other parts of America, opportunity is not equally available to all and inequality remains an issue. When we speak of opportunity, we speak of fulfilling potential to thrive in physical, cultural, intellectual, and spiritual terms. When we speak of equity we speak of fairness, within and between generations, in the distribution of access, benefits, and burdens. These issues, equity and opportunity, are part of a larger conversation about sustainability – a concept that recognizes that economic, environmental, and social facets of society are interwoven, with the health of one mutually dependent on the health of the others.

We believe that this region can become a model for innovative policies that help level the playing field for all citizens and address the oft-neglected social dimension of sustainability. This can be achieved by marshalling the intellectual, social, political, and economic resources available to address the inequities that have, unfortunately, been increasing rather than receding. To support this vision, the Social Equity and Opportunity Forum (SEOF) was established in 2007 by the Dean as a bridging and brokering entity whose mission is to elevate visibility and understanding of these issues in the region and facilitate effective response.

Through research, outreach, and education, the Forum is a convener, connector, communicator, and cultivator. For example:

• We convene diverse community members to productively explore equity and opportunity issues;
• We connect people and ideas in order to foster the development of new and enhanced knowledge and networks;
• We communicate the urgency of the problem and the promise of policy changes so that decision makers, leaders, and the general public can better understand and act upon these issues;
• We cultivate innovation in research, policy, and practice.

The Forum seeks to establish well-traveled bi-directional bridges to social change. The Forum links with:

• Notable research and policy centers
• News media
• Front line social change agents
• Legislators and legislative organizations
• Opinion leaders
• Emerging leaders.

Key initiatives include Social Bottom Line Reporting, Equity Action Engagement, Publications, and our What’s the Big Idea Lecture Series.