The "Future and Thriving of BIPOC Communities Macro Convening" event brought together members of communities of color alongside PSU faculty, staff and students.
Portland State President Stephen Percy says that PSU's role as an anchor institution in the city must be to ensure justice for the communities that have been denied justice, both historically and in the present.
"Racial justice and equity must be central to what we do and who we are and how we engage in the city and in the region," he said. "Ongoing, authentic and relationship-based engagement is what will continue to set this university apart."
His remarks came during a daylong gathering Nov. 4 that brought together members of communities of color alongside PSU faculty, staff and students — some of whom identified as Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color (BIPOC) and some who showed up as allies in the work.
The event, "Future and Thriving of BIPOC Communities Macro Convening", was built on themes emerging from a series of affinity convenings that took place during the summer and fall. Those included pathways to higher education and student success; workforce, talent development and leadership pipelines; economic justice and wealth creation; and climate justice.
"We are saying that there can be no thriving Portland and no just and equitable or thriving Portland State University or any other institution if all is not well with BIPOC communities," said Ame Lambert, PSU's vice president for Global Diversity and Inclusion. "We are saying that the work we do to make it right with BIPOC communities will reap benefits for all of us … What is clear is that we must take action in the present to ensure we have the future we want."
In the morning, discussions and activities focused on envisioning a future where Portland would become nationally known as the most flourishing place in the world with the most thriving BIPOC communities — and what would have to be in place for that to be true. In the afternoon, attendees turned their attention to identifying both "bold ideas" and "quick actions" that the community and PSU could take to close the gap between its current state and the collective vision of a thriving Portland.
On education, in addition to increased access to scholarships and funding opportunities, attendees spoke about the need for better training for K-12 teachers and college professors so they can foster culturally responsive learning environments and curriculum. As one participant put it, educators need to do more than just read about a community, they have to learn what the community needs.
Another suggested partnerships that could bring community members into classrooms so students could feel seen and heard by people who understand their experiences and cultures.
On capacity-building for a diverse workforce, attendees advocated for foresight training for all students so they can anticipate future possibilities and make better decisions in an ever-changing world; offering returning students credit for their prior work experiences; and creating a program for foreign-trained professionals to have their credentials and degrees recognized in the U.S. — often a barrier to employment and career advancement faced by many immigrants and refugees.
On economic justice and wealth creation, attendees suggested rent-controlled spaces since renters of color often pay a premium for renting similar housing in the same neighborhoods as whites; providing increased access to pooled resources and collaborative work opportunities; and creating pathways to C-suites with personal navigators.
On climate justice, attendees recommended a state-mandated curriculum that addresses climate justice and other environmental issues as well as making sure that student leaders who have volunteer hours to complete devote a portion of their time to climate action opportunities.
The day's final discussions underscored that advancing distinct priorities for individual affinity groups would be just as important as advancing a shared agenda. These included better data disaggregation for the Pacific Islander, Asian and Asian American (PIAAA) and Middle Eastern, North African and South Asian (MENASA) communities; building an Indigenous brain trust at PSU; providing intergenerational mentoring for the Black community; creating a publicly accessible clearinghouse of visions, insights and best practices for the Latiné community to tap into; and creating a process for engaging in difficult conversations in the MENASA community.
"I am a relentless believer in possibility and in human capacity, and I believe in what can happen when we resolve to do something," Lambert said. "Time and time again, all of you who have proven the power of vision, passion, will and tenacity in ways big and small in your spheres of influence. The ask is that today, we hone in on our racial justice work, our values and our visions in a deeper, more authentic way, and we surface the sweet spots of opportunity that can most move us forward and most benefit from our collective action."
What's Next
Some efforts are already underway like advancing an Intergenerational Men of Color initiative and working with PSU's Population Research Center to disaggregate data in a way that better serves communities. But that's just the start. Community members reiterated the need for more convenings — but rather than expecting community partners to always make the trek to campus, for PSU to go into the community and visit various community centers.