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To contact me, please click here: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
It’s Unofficially Summer!
I hope you had a great Memorial Day Weekend! Memorial Day is when we take time to honor the memories of those who’ve served and passed on. I always think of my great-grandfather Alva this time of year. He was born during reconstruction in Louisiana in the 1880’s and passed when I was a toddler. He was a WWI veteran who bravely served this country only to return to Jim Crow in Louisiana as a second-class citizen. I honor his memory and all those no longer with us who served.
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What I was Up to During the Blackout Period
Now that the May primary election has concluded, the blackout period has ended on legislative communications. I am excited to give you some upcoming event information and an update on what I have been up to for the last few months!
Since it has been a while, this is a fairly long newsletter. You can click the links below to skip to specific sections of this newsletter:
You may have seen news coverage on the I-5 Southbound closure at Rose Quarter this fall. ODOT has created a webpage with construction travel impacts that is regularly updated for the Rose Quarter Improvement Project.
The closure will start in September and will last about 5 weeks. Like many North Portlanders, I take Greeley to get on I-5 Southbound so I will be planning ahead once the construction starts. ODOT is encouraging drivers to avoid traveling through this area when possible.
Although this will be a major inconvenience, it is a necessary repair to fix the aging infrastructure and prepare for further construction projects. This presentation has information about why ODOT is taking this approach and learn more about the project timeline. You can also read through their FAQ page for more information as well.
ODOT has assured me that they will be having conversations with community partners and will he engaging with the public to make sure everyone is staying up to date. I will be getting regular updates from ODOT and will share information as I get it.
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There will be a 14-hour nighttime closure around July 11th. The exact date may change but the closure to both northbound and southbound will start at 10pm and will end at noon the next day. This closure will allow workers to safely remove an existing sign structure and install a new sign structure near the Oregon Convention Center. I shared my concerns about graffiti on the new sign and ODOT shared that there will anti-graffiti structures to prevent folks from climbing and tagging the new sign.
You can learn more about this closure on the project fact sheet.
Although my day job has kept me pretty busy these last few months, I have tried to get out to as many community events as possible.
61st Annual St. Johns Parade
It is always a pleasure to walk in the St. Johns Parade! The annual parade really is a representation of the unique community in North Portland. I look forward to it every year!
Triple Threat Mentoring 5th Anniversary Gala
Nike Greene founded Triple Threat Mentoring in April of 2020 to help youth of color gain skills through mentorship. The program sets up young people in Portland to become future community leaders. It’s an honor to support these young people.
Benson Wellness Center's 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
I joined Representative Nosse to celebrate the Benson Wellness Center. School-based health centers are one of the most effective ways we can invest in student success, by meeting students where they are and removing barriers to care.
Benson also has a Nursing- Health Occupation Program that is an opportunity for a solid foundation for students who want to pursue a nursing career.
SEI's Cheers to 45 Years Celebration
Self Enhancement Inc. celebrated 45 years of offering resource for youth and families seeking culturally responsive services in North and Northeast Portland.
They have year-round programs for youth, but their summer program will be picking up soon. Their five week program is available for students from second grade to post-high school. Contact your school coordinator for more information if you have a youth that is interested in being involved.
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I had the honor of speaking on several panels about how to engage in the political process in order to effect change.
Open Door House of Prayer Community Health Series
I want to thank Jo’Rita Martin for inviting me to join other healthcare professionals on a panel to discuss making the Black community healthier and how to be strong advocate for our healthcare. I specifically spoke about how healthcare policies can impact outcomes and access to healthcare in the community.
State of Black Affairs Summit 2026
I joined Albany Mayor Alex Johnson and Kevin Hawkins from Oregon State University on a panel called Contemporary Political Realities Impacting Black Communities. We had a robust discussion about how state and local government has direct impacts in our community and how Black Oregonians can engage in the political process.
The Black Community Summit
I joined Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton and Lakeitha Elliot, the executive director of the Gordly-Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement, to talk about how we translate community priorities into effective political action and policy outcomes that serve Black communities.
Katrina Holland from Urban League of Portland was a fantastic moderator for this important conversation.
You can learn more about from this KGW story on the event.
University of Portland
I spent an evening talking with students at University of Portland about how they can get involved in politics. I encouraged them to find internships and other volunteer opportunities while they finish their education.
My office and other legislative offices have unpaid and paid internships during the legislative session. Students and recent graduates that are 16 years or older are encouraged to reach out to legislative offices in late fall to inquire about internship opportunities.
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After each session, there are a few events to acknowledge the accomplishments of legislators and advocates. The 2026 legislative session had many difficulties, so it was good to celebrate the wins we did have this session. I have been taking the time to reflect on the session and gearing up for the 2027 legislative session.
Williams and Russell CDC Business Hub Celebration
This session, we were able to secure funding for the Business Hub at the Williams and Russell CDC development. I joined Senator Lieber, Representative Sanchez, Representative Wise and Representative Isadore to celebrate this victory. Once complete, the Business Hub will give small businesses affordable spaces to work and sell goods, along with help and other services they need to grow.
Governor Kotek Signs Healthcare and Reproductive Healthcare Bills
Governor Kotek signed House Bill 4088, House Bill 4127 and Senate Bill 1598 which were critical bills from the 2026 legislative session to ensure expanded and protected access to reproductive health care, gender affirming care, and preventive services at a time when federal overreach has put Oregonians’ health in jeopardy.
I enjoyed joining Representative Grayber, other elected officials, and community members at the State of the City address by Mayor Keith Wilson. Portland still faces many challenges, but I feel like things are starting to move in a positive direction.
The city is having hard conversations right now about the budget. You can join the 2026-27 budget planning discussion to give your feedback. If you would like to learn more about the budget, the city has put together this Budget Toolkit.
Your advocacy has already made impacts on the budget. City Council recently voted to keep funding for Fire Station 22 in St. Johns. I do not think this would have happened without the community speaking up!
One of my priorities is to support unions and all workers in Oregon. I always try to make time to attend picket lines and other union events during the interim.
UA Local 290 Training Facility Tour
I joined Representative Dobson and other legislative offices on a tour of the UA Local 290 Training Center in Tualatin. United Association Local 290 trains qualified pipe tradesmen as Plumbers, Steamfitters, HVAC/R, and Marine Fitters. This training facility is used to ensure that their apprentices have the skills they need while working in the field.
On the tour, I learned how the College of Mechanical Systems and Technology offers five-year apprenticeships that can turn into to successful careers with no student loan debt. Before this tour, I had no idea how much piping is used in medical facilities. We got to see several training labs that included piping for medical air and gasses used in creating computer chips at Intel.
Supporting Nurses at the ONA Convention
The 2026 Oregon Nurses Association Convention was held in Lane County this year. It was great to see my colleague, Representative Lisa Fragala, and others at this event.
Proud to Stand with OSEA
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I got to spend time with members of the Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA) at the ALF-CIO headquarters in SE Portland.
I look forward to working with OSEA on my vacation payout bill and other important legislation in 2027.
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Spring in Oregon brings more opportunities to be out in the community and in nature. I have lots of plans to spend time in my garden and getting out to as many events as my schedule allows.
There are quite a few events that I am looking forward to in the coming months. Here are a few events in North Portland that I want to share with you:
The Portsmouth and University Park Neighborhood Associations will have their low/no cost bulk waste removal event on May 30th from 9am to 1pm (or until dumpsters are full) at the North Portland Eagles on Lombard & Exeter.
No hazardous material, construction debris, green waste or recyclables. Separated metal are okay. Check out the PNA social media for what can and cannot be accepted. $20 suggested donation.
Starting June 3rd, the Kenton Farmers Market will be at N McClellan Street & Denver Avenue on Wednesdays from 3pm to 7pm. You can get up to $20 SNAP match with Double Up Food Bucks.
From now until November 21st, the St Johns Farmers Marker will be at N Charleston Ave and N Central st. on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm.
Join the celebration of open streets during North Portland Sunday Parkways Presented by Kaiser Permanente on August 2nd.
Come down to N Denver Ave on Sunday, August 16th for live music and 80+ venders.
Apply for a $75 micro grant for a block gathering held in the Portsmouth or University Park neighborhoods from May 1st to October 31st. The application will be available through September 15th.
This program is intended to support neighbors coming together safely and strengthening community in Portsmouth and University Park through Block Parties or Cleanups.
Future Community Events
I will highlight more community events in future newsletters. Please reach out to my office if there are events in the district that you would like me to share.
Just like how Spring is a good time to prep the garden for growing fruits, veggies and flowers, my office has started prepping my policy priorities for the 2027 legislative session. Feel free to reach out if there are any specific issues that you would like me to consider introducing.
I am looking forward to more sunny days to spend in my garden and getting to enjoy the PNW nature. Please reach out to my office if you know of any tours or site visits that I should attend while we have nice weather.
Best,
 Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson
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