We’re kicking off the City of Portland’s second annual bike bus season with a special Earth Day ride that’s open to the public. On April 22, we’re inviting anyone who commutes downtown to join one of nine different routes across the city and bike to work.  

Find your route and learn more about the Earth Day celebration that concludes the ride downtown at Salmon Springs. 

In this issue

• Hello from the City
• Resources and Engagement Opportunities
• News: Social housing resolution; affordable housing
• Events
• Your Portland Moment

How did you get into this line of work? I started working for the city at 15 as a lifeguard and swim instructor at Matt Dishman Community Center. I didn’t have the language for it back then, but that’s when I really started to notice the disparities around me. It was really obvious that some people weren’t experiencing city resources equally and that didn’t feel right. I found myself drawn to supporting those who lacked resources or weren’t receiving attention. Those early experiences shaped my path and really set up my life-long curiosity and dedication to the intersection of equity and community engagement. 

How does this work matter to Portland? We have a responsibility to be transparent about what the city is doing and why. Genuine engagement ensures the right people have a seat at the table, particularly those directly impacted by the decisions we make. Transparency and community engagement become the norm when you practice equity-centered engagement. 

What's happening for Earth Day? Every year the city gets asked to participate in different Earth Day events which is amazing, and we will continue to do. But this year we’re also hosting our own celebration, Earth Day – Together as One, on April 19 at Laurelhurst Park, starting at noon. This event is co-hosted by our Chief Sustainability Officer, Vivian Satterfield; our new Chief Engagement Officer, Amanda Garcia-Snell; and people can meet some of the Mayor’s appointments to the new Sustainability and Climate Commission. Mayor Wilson, Vivian, and Councilor Novick will be saying a few words. We will have a community bike ride and free food from Milk Crate Kitchen. Nikki the Brown Clown is doing an Earth Day story time. So we’re there to celebrate the fact that Portland has been, and continues to be, a national and international leader in climate action and climate justice.

Read more of our interview with Harmonee. 

TriMet is making improvements on the MAX Blue Line!  

Work will take place April 27 to May 10, between Gateway/NE 99th Ave Transit Center and Cleveland Ave. Shuttle buses will run in place of trains during construction. Visit trimet.org to plan your trip, and allow extra travel time.

Serve on a board or committee

Volunteer opportunity with direct impact on police practices, policies, and oversight   

Serve on the Community Board for Police Accountability, a new independent governing body established to make recommendations about Portland Police Bureau practices, policies and directives, with a focus on community concerns.

Apply by 5 p.m., Monday, April 14 

Apply to the Parks Levy Oversight Committee 

Join the Parks Levy Oversight Committee and advise Portland Parks & Recreation on adherence to Parks Levy language, fiscal accountability, transparency, and more.  

Application is open until April 21, 11:59 p.m. 

Help shape the future of transportation in Portland 

Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is seeking Transportation System Plan Community Advisory Committee members. The committee will advise the director of PBOT, support project team staff by advising on key tasks throughout each phase of the 2045 TSP workplan and will focus on policies and outcomes of technical analyses while providing valuable insights into community values and investment priorities. More information about the Transportation System Plan. 

Deadline Extended to April 21st, apply today! 

Mayor Wilson: Portland is stronger together 

More than 10,000 Portlanders joined as many as 3 million people nationwide last weekend to raise our voices and rally for public education, reproductive rights, free expression, LGBTQIA2S+ rights, veterans, Social Security, and communities, issues, and programs the federal administration has placed under threat. “I’m proud of Portland,” said Mayor Keith Wilson. 

Portland City Council adopts groundbreaking social housing resolution  

Portland City Council unanimously adopted a landmark resolution to explore social housing models as a solution to the city’s ongoing housing affordability crisis and supply problem. This resolution directs the City Administrator to study social housing models and deliver a comprehensive report. The study would pave the way for the implementation of social housing in Portland. 

Help Native American communities close the digital divide 

The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has launched the Digital Skills Building for Native Communities Grant, funding programs that expand digital skills training for Portland’s Native American community. Nonprofits and educational institutions can apply by April 11. 

Affordable housing: Construction has started at Peaceful Villa 

Partners at Home Forward closed financing on their redevelopment of the Peaceful Villa Apartments, and construction has started on 166 affordable homes. The Portland Housing Bureau awarded Portland Clean Energy Community Benefit Funds (PCEF) to help this project meet sustainability goals using solar panels and energy-saving design. 

Eric Engstrom named director of Bureau of Planning and Sustainability 

Eric Engstrom has been appointed as the director of the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. “Eric’s leadership experience, strategic vision, and deep understanding of Portland’s planning and climate landscape uniquely qualify him for this role,” said Deputy City Administrator Donnie Oliveira. “He will play a pivotal role in advancing Portland’s sustainability, economic vitality, and community focused development.” 

Meet the Ombudsman 

The Ombudsman is here to make sure City government treats Portland residents and businesses fairly. We investigate complaints and identify ways to resolve them. As part of the elected City Auditor’s Office, we’re independent and impartial. Watch this video with the City's Ombudsman Jennifer Croft.

“Hygiene Hysteria: Patrolling Women’s Health and Morals” is the latest exhibit from the Portland City Archives & Records Management division of the City Auditor’s Office. 

In the early 20th century, the Social Hygiene Movement aimed to curb vices like gambling and prostitution while reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections. This eventually led to the establishment of the Cedars Detention Facility for Women, where those diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections were confined. 

“Hygiene Hysteria” features materials related to the creation of the Cedars detention facility. Ordinances, resolutions, reports, and correspondence reveal the perspectives of City leaders at the time and shed light on the treatment, lack of autonomy, and disregard women faced. 

A graduation ceremony was held last month for 20 volunteers who completed Rose City Self-Defense training to become empowerment self-defense instructors. The volunteers completed 40 hours of training to graduate! 

Since 1979, Rose City Self-Defense (formerly the WomenStrength, GirlStrength and BoyStrength programs), has provided free empowerment-based self-defense classes and personal safety workshops to people around the Portland metro area.  Our classes offer more than just physical self-defense skills. Included are topics such as using your intuition, understanding different escape options, negotiating consent, information about abusive relationships, boundary setting, and assertiveness skills.  

Congratulations to our new volunteer self-defense instructors!