Welcome to the April 2020 edition of the Equity Lens! 2020 has been incredibly challenging on several fronts, but the CCC has been busy as ever! We are also excited to welcome a new member to the team.
HERE'S A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THIS EDITION OF THE EQUITY LENS:
Executive Director's Update
Dear Members, Partners, and Community,
Communities of color around the United States, and definitely in Oregon, are caught between Scylla and Charybdis.
In Homer’s epic poem, “The Odyssey,” the protagonist Odysseus was confronted on his ten-year journey home with many horrible choices, not the least of which was his facing two mythical “sea monsters” near the Straits of Messina, Scylla, and Charybdis. (In reality, Scylla was a rock shoal on one side of the strait, and Charybdis was a whirlpool on the other). Odysseus had to navigate between these two maritime hazards to continue his journey and keep his men alive.
The choices for Oregon’s communities of color are no less frightening in this epic horror story of COVID-19 that we are living.
We must navigate a system of healthcare that, intentionally or not, has existing healthcare disparities for our communities in egregiously disproportionate numbers (pick a category: access, insurance coverage, outcomes, mortality/morbidity rates, etc.); a system where zip code and ability to pay is the most direct indicator of predicted health; and a system that, even in the throes of COVID-19 cannot or will not provide testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for those most vulnerable, susceptible and at risk. Our local counties’ statistics bear this sad fact out.
Too, communities of color must simultaneously travel the economic systems of oppression that had relegated lopsided percentages of our communities into jobs that are incredibly low income, low benefit, and little protection, until a few weeks ago when COVID-19 began ravaging our country and those workers’ jobs miraculously transformed into “essential services.” (Imagine that: America finally understands that to plant and harvest and get our food to market; to provide care and support to our elders and our children; to transport us; to clean for us; to wait on us; to serve us at the grocery store; these are at long last recognized as essential services.). Many of the workers providing these now-deemed-essential services are the selfsame and frequently demonized undocumented workers. They contribute mightily to our economy and tax base that all of society relies upon to maintain the American, and Oregonian, way of life.
Even the economic systems meant to provide support (CARES Act, unemployment insurance, federal relief support to tax filers) have failed immigrants and communities of color in their distribution and access. Some families in need are still “waiting for their check.”
So we become faced with tough decisions. Do we risk endangering our very lives to exposure to go to work, knowing full well that the health systems are frayed and unsupportive? Do we avoid the potential expenses of interaction with the health system and put off receiving care until viruses like COVID have damaged too much to recover? Do we try to feed our family or try not to die?
The answers should not be mutually exclusive.
The good news is that communities of color are resilient: the members of communities of color have weathered daunting atrocities in our past, and yet we are still here in Oregon of all places. We are the progeny of survivors of the Bataan Death March, the Middle Passage, the Trail of Tears, Chechnya and numerous genocides in Central and South America, and around the world. Even after all of that suffering and endurance, however, we seek the same as everyone else: health, prosperity, opportunity, and a quality life. This, too, shall pass.
The public at large should take some solace in the fact that the 19 member organizations of the Coalition of Communities of Color are working even more assiduously on the community’s behalf during this pandemic.
Africa House. Asian Family Center. Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO). Hacienda Community Development Corporation. Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). KairosPDX. Latino Network. Milagro Theater. Muslim Educational Trust (MET). Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). Portland African American leadership Forum (PAALF). Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives (PCRI). Slavic Community Center. Slavic Network. Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI). Unite Oregon. Urban League of Portland. Verde. VOZ Workers’ Rights Education Fund.
These are the entities on the ground, working with families and children and displaced workers and small businesses, working through xenophobia and language challenges, working through systems not meant for us. Please support them, fund them, and call them to see how you can help during this trying time for us all. They are working for you, but suffering, too. Many have had to lay off staff. Many have uncertain future revenue streams. Without these organizations in our community’s future, our region will not work as well, nor with as much equity. Please support them.
I encourage you to visit our members’ websites to understand how very much they have accomplished in so short a time with so little resources. They have built community funds to support small businesses; fought for testing for low income, BIPOC, and immigrant communities; established food distribution processes for seniors and youth; provided daycare sites and volunteers to help those folks who still had to work with relief; they have helped find ways to continue to educate our kids and find resources for those without internet or computers; they have translated government forms so people could apply for help; fought to keep people from being evicted; fought to keep people’s utilities shut off; and are fighting still to make sure that a post-COVID world includes housing and jobs and transportation and healthcare for people of color and immigrants; they have done all of this, and so much more.
Your Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC), my amazing staff, and our supporters have stepped up during this crisis as well, working with and on behalf of our organizational members, trying to help save lives and livelihoods. (This includes the exciting arrival of Anissa Pemberton, our Portland Clean Energy Fund Coalition Coordinator and newest team member. Please read about them below.)
You can read some of my entire staff’s updates below in detail, but here is a sampling:
Amassed resources and created a COVID-19 resources page on our CCC website, with information, links to governmental and multiple-language friendly sites, internal and external resources, and other data;
Launched a research effort to attain disaggregated health and financial statistics trying to capture real-time the direct impacts of COVID-19 on our communities, who can access small business and paycheck relief from our communities, etc.;
Has continued to advocate on virtually every meaningful statewide and regional body working on issues of reaction and remediation based on COVID pandemic (Governor’s Joint Economic Task Force, the Mayor’s/Prosper Portland’s/City of Portland’s group, Metro, the Counties, Small Business, Oregon Worker’s Relief Fund, Digital Divide in time of COVID, etc.; CCC is helping to facilitate a May 7 Mayoral Forum on Small Business;
Supporting the efforts of leaders in the African American (Black) community to outreach to elected and other governmental officials to focus on the Black community for specific requests around testing, contract tracing, personal protective equipment (PPE), as this is one of the most impacted communities;
Partnering with disability, senior, youth and other intersectional communities to identify remedies to the existing Oregon Crisis Care Guideline, and potential collaborative efforts;
Worked to advance the Oregon Worker’s Relief Fund’s funding and implementation, advocacy for which was led by members (VOZ, Latino Network) and other colleagues and partners around the state (Causa, PCUN, others);
Have been instrumental in influencing and supporting ongoing efforts such as the (successful) passage of Multnomah County’s Business Income Tax decision; and Washington County’s strong decision to proceed apace on the implementation of a budget and team for the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer and staff; and the Governor’s decision on corporate taxes with respect to Student Success Act funding, and more;
Have continued to work on any number of important ballot measures and election day issues, including the CCC, endorsed Measure 26-210 put forth by Metro which would fund services to address the heart-wrenching shortage of permanent supportive housing and homelessness resources in our region;
Received immediate support from some of our existing funders (Northwest Health Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, Collins Foundation, Libra, and more) who realized the importance of letting CCC focus activities on COVID-19 work; we remain grateful;
Sought funding from outside foundations to find support for members directly serving the children and families of our communities and member organizations (FamilyCare Health, others)
Those of us that are still working during this period when at least 30 million other Americans have lost their jobs consider ourselves fortunate. We also know that we have a responsibility at the CCC to our members and to support those most in need, our communities.
Like Odysseus, our journey will continue past the perils of these horrible outcomes to arrive in a calmer, healthier, and better homeland. But we have a collective responsibility right now, even amidst the backdrop of COVID-19, to make sure that as we adapt to this new reality, we continue to lead with race, we continue to lead with equity, we continue to lead with access and opportunity for those least positioned to navigate administrative morasses developed by old systems. We continue to remind those elected and other government officials, and leaders of corporations and foundations, that the decisions they make today will impact Oregon and Oregonians for decades to come.
Now is the time to put equity first, not after the pandemic is over. Now is the time to put equity in every decision. Make them fairly. Involve all members of the community, especially those most negatively affected. And make them as if lives depended on your choices -- because they do.
Respectfully,
Marcus Mundy, Executive Director
Coalition of Communities of Color
CCC ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATES
Virtual Portland Mayoral Debate
We are pleased to co host this virtual Portland Mayoral Debate to Call for Accountability and Economic Development for Black, Indigenous, Latino and other People of Color with the National Association of Minority Contractors-Oregon, Oregon Native American Chamber, LatinoBuilt, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center, and the Coalition of Black Men. Participating candidates include Osvaldo Gonzalez, Sarah Iannarone, Teressa Raiford, and Ted Wheeler.
Interested? Please Register by clicking on the image.
City policies have a direct impact on the economic and social well-being of Portlanders – and on communities of color in particular. The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated, and deepened economic inequality and access to recovery resources, and the next mayor must close this gap and pursue economic and racial justice in all of the city's policies, processes, and projects. This inequality of economic development exists in housing, transportation, jobs, and workforce development, small business assistance, and many other areas. This Zoom town hall debate will ask candidates to spell out exactly how they intend to close these gaps if elected and give our communities the opportunity to hold them accountable once in office.
Additional Documents For Debate:
CCC Members in the News
Muslim Educational Trust
Oregonian: Portland’s Muslim community springs into action to feed the needy during coronavirus crisis
Latino Network & Voz Worker Education Project
Portland Mercury: Immigrant Rights Groups Call for Unemployment Support for Undocumented Oregonians
Self Enhancement Inc. & KairosPDX
Oregonian: Opinion: The racial disparity of COVID-19’s impacts are well-known. Oregon officials aren’t doing anything about it.
CCC Welcomes Anissa Pemberton as the new Portland Clean Energy Fund Coalition Coordinator
Anissa Pemberton has joined the CCC as the Portland Clean Energy Fund Coalition Coordinator. Growing up in rural Illinois, Anissa faced the climate crisis at a young age in the pollution from industrial agriculture and manufacturing in their community. After moving to Portland, they served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a disability organization for two years. Anissa began working with the Portland Clean Energy Fund as a field organizer for 350PDX, and then worked for two years as the Coalition Manager at 350PDX. Their duties at CCC include advocacy and management of the Portland Clean Energy Fund. They hold a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Augustana College. You can contact Anissa at anissa@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org.
CCC ADVOCACY UPDATE
Coronavirus Advocacy
The global pandemic caused by the coronavirus has most directly impacted immigrant and refugee community members, low-income families, students, folks with underlying conditions, and communities of color. Due to the state of emergency our community is in, I have been coordinating with officials at school districts, the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and the Governor’s office to share as many resources and needs as possible between our member organizations and governments. We are working with the Governor’s office on specific budget requests for immigrant and refugee community members impacted by the Coronavirus, and have been in contact with them regarding their Economic Revitalization Council. We have also been engaging with the Mayor’s office in the City of Portland for his Economic Impact & Intervention Task Force. Childcare, collection and reporting of disaggregated data, wage recovery, access to health care, paid sick leave, housing stability, and small business supports continue to be the top advocacy areas related to COVID-19 response.
2020 State Legislative Session
While we had a robust agenda that was approved by members during our January bi-monthly member meeting, we were not successful in passing any of the bills due to the Republican walkout and the abrupt end of the 2020 legislative session. These and other priority bills included:
COFA/Refugee Tuition Equity
Oregon IDA Initiative
REDEFINE: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE UPDATE
Over the past few months COVID-19 has swept across the globe, effectively shutting down nations, destabilizing economies, and causing tens of thousands of deaths. But the novel coronavirus has not impacted all communities equally. BIPOC communities are more acutely affected by this crisis. There are myriad reasons for this disparity. Pre-existing conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension are known to make those who contract the disease more likely to develop a serious case of the illness. These are all conditions that people of color are disproportionately affected by. For the past few months, CCC has participated in a national cohort of organizations, convened by the Kresge Foundation and the Institute for Sustainable Communities, examining the relationship between climate change, health, and equity. COVID-19 provides a stark example of the disparities experienced by communities of color in these areas. Among other factors, both lack of access to healthcare and greater exposure to air pollutants puts BIPOC communities at greater risk of developing serious complications from the novel coronavirus. Communities of color are often concentrated in areas with a lack of greenspace and tree canopy coverage and in closer proximity to industrial areas and heavy traffic. The existing state of crisis in many communities has only been exacerbated by COVID-19.
During these uncertain times, we continue to advance our work, reframed within the new reality that we are in and centering the current crisis within it. CCC has continued work on the Zero Cities Project. The goal of the project is to develop a community-led roadmap to 100 percent renewable energy with a focus on the building sector. In February staff from Verde, CCC, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), and a participatory action research (PAR) team composed of community members from CCC member organizations and OPAL Environmental Justice, testified at a City Council hearing about the project, lessons learned, and next steps.
CCC, Verde, BPS staff and PAR team members at February City Council Hearing
One of the key takeaways from the project was the importance of energy efficient multi-family housing. Yet, a split incentive exists between landlords and tenants, as tenants are responsible for paying utility bills while landlords are responsible for making investments in buildings, resulting in landlords lacking an incentive to make investments to make buildings more energy efficient . During the next phase of the project the project team is excited to explore creative solutions to this problem. COVID-19 has made issues related to household energy burden even more urgent as large swaths of the population are economically impacted by job losses due to the virus. Though many utilities have a moratorium on shut offs, the question remains of how mounting debt will affect communities after the pandemic is over.
COVID-19 has magnified existing systemic inequities that make communities of color more vulnerable to crises. Environmental injustices are one of many factors that contribute to the disparate impact that COVID-19 is having on communities of color. As we look to what we want our post-coronavirus world to look like, we must address these issues and work toward creating a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.
PCEF Update
The Portland Clean Energy Fund Coalition has been meeting virtually for about a month. Since the beginning of this health and economic crisis, we successfully defended the Portland Clean Energy Fund against opposition advocacy to delay payments from billion-dollar corporations who make over $500,000 in the City of Portland. We are working hard with our coalition member organizations to ensure that communities of color are represented and centered at decision-making tables who are driving forward a response and recovery effort to COVID-19.
The Portland Clean Energy Fund is needed more than ever for communities of color. It will grant much needed resources to communities of color during the economic recovery from this crisis. We are excited to see these grants begin to roll out in the winter of 2020, and the PCEF Coalition will continue to protect and uplift the Portland Clean Energy Fund in the coming months.
Apply to join the Portland Clean Energy Fund Grant Committee!
The PCEF Grant Committee is looking for a new grant committee to join them as Andrea Hamberg intends to resign. The PCEF Committee is dedicated to ensuring that Portland's diverse communities see themselves on the Committee. The Committee is seeking a community member with knowledge of Native American history, an understanding of the diversity of the local American Indian/Alaska Native community and issues surrounding the Urban Indian experience.
If you meet the qualifications above and are interested in serving your community by supporting clean energy and living-wage jobs, then we want to see your application. You can check out the announcement for the new grant committee position here!
Research Justice Update
The Research Justice Center has shifted its data collection efforts, and research projects focus on prioritizing the evaluation of needs and vulnerabilities of communities of color during COVID19. The RJC is collecting various data points that tell the broader story about the effects of the crisis on our communities. Data gathered covers but is not limited to the following areas, employment, unemployment, mental health, digital divide, health disparities, homeless/houselessness, education, incidents of hate, and the everyday needs of surviving a pandemic.
Partnering with Multnomah County to review the most recent COVID19 data and help develop the narratives on these data and Oregon's communities of color. These data include demographic information on both negative and positive testing results and mortality rates. You can view these data updates at the Regional COVID19 Data Dashboard.
RJC is working with the Oregon Employment Department to ensure the reporting on the demographics of communities of color experiencing unemployment. You can follow these data reports as they are made available on the State of Oregon's Employment Department Quality Information website.
RJC is collaborating with other coalitions that represent communities of color to ensure the collection and distribution of disaggregated data on Oregon's communities of color.
Working on the City of Portland's Digital Divide Work Group to help communities of color connect during the COVID19 pandemic.
Partnering with Portland United Against Hate to capture and report on hate incidents occurring in response to COVID19
In collaboration with the Oregon Latino Health Coalition and a statewide steering committee, we are collecting data on the immediate culturally and linguistically specific mental health needs of Oregon's communities of color.
In collaboration with Multnomah County Library and a city-wide steering committee, we are collecting data on the immediate needs of Black families with children.
Participating in Multnomah County's COVID19 LGBTQ+ Task Force
In addition to these COVID19 specific tasks, we are also working on two new data projects listed below.
In partnership with statewide Latinx leaders and scholars and the joint office of Oregon Health Authority -- Public Health Division and Multnomah County Health Department, we are working to modernize two public health surveys, Oregon's Healthy Teen Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
In partnership with Oregon Housing & Community Services and ECONorthwest, we are providing consultation on the methodology of Oregon's first Regional Housing Needs Analysis
If you have data questions or concerns, please contact andres@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org
Bridges: Leadership Development Update
We are wrapping up Phase 1 of our Leadership Development strategic planning, a thorough review of previous programming including analyzing the current structure, culture and operations of Bridges. In collaboration with the Executive Director and key Bridges leadership, we have refined our long-term goals to guide us in developing an overall strategy in revamping Bridges with the main purpose of facilitating cross-cultural leadership development, professional enhancement, and placement of alumni in decision making spaces across the state. The CCC envisions an Oregon where our communities of color self-organize, build our collective power, and our leaders are implementing community-driven strategies to obtain self-determination, wellness, justice, and prosperity. The strategic plan will address four key components including curriculum design, leadership pipeline, alumni engagement, and sustainable funding.
If you are a Bridges Alumni, please be on the lookout for an Alumni Engagement Survey at the end of April 2020! We look forward to future collaborations with member organizations and external stakeholders. If you would like to learn more about Bridges, please contact See Eun Kim at seeeun@coalitioncommunitiescolor.org.