See something we could improve on this page? Give website feedback.
Label:
Blog post
A message from Tyesha McCool Riley, Human Resources Analyst
Published
I'm the mental health program specialist for the city. I focus on creating safe, inclusive, equitable, supportive spaces for those in our workforce who experience any type of stress, distress, or mental health disability, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, no matter the severity.
I'm honest. I'm direct. But I'm also empathetic and caring. We have to center people because the people who show up here every day to do work are so much more than a personnel number. We are individuals and our lives are complex. My goal is to help people take care of themselves, no matter the circumstances.
For example, some of our employees are always out in the community and sometimes they witness life and death situations. You know, it gets intense, right? That has a profound impact on someone. How do we provide support? How do we make sure that managers are equipped to navigate those conversations? So I do a lot of work around developing trainings and creating tools and resources for people to access.
Sometimes trauma shows up in different ways. Some workers experience discrimination from the people they serve or the folks they work with. So we support on how to approach that, to take action and not just sweep it under the rug.
I have a background as a mental health clinician. I'm a therapist. Prior to coming to the City I was in community mental health. I worked with youth, and I worked with women who were impacted by sex trafficking.
I'm born and raised in Portland, so this is my place. This is where my roots are. When I drive down certain streets, I have profound, vivid memories. I’m a mother – I have six daughters. So I think about the memories that I've created with my children here as well.
When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my family. I couldn’t carry a note if you put it in a bucket, but if they’re singing karaoke, I’ll do the backup dance moves!
What MLK Day means to me... it means that my life matters, too. MLK day is about someone saying, I have the courage, I have the will, I have the hope that something can, will, and shall change. And no matter how big or small it is, I am going to do my best to play a role in it. I am going to do that until I can't do it anymore. And Doctor King did just that. He took his last breath doing that.
Today we have a voice, we have a choice. We have built resilience and confidence in our abilities to stand up against the systems that were never created to include us, to empower us, or help us to be successful. But yet here I am today as a black woman, proud and unapologetic. And that's why MLK is a day to remember. It is a day to celebrate and to honor the man who stood up for something.
And he's standing up for something as that torch continues to be passed. We are still holding the torch, and we are still pushing forward. No matter what, we are doing it.
Tyesha is one of the leaders of the City African American Network. CAAN seeks to build a common bond of fellowship among Black employees who honorably serve the City of Portland. CAAN advocates for fair employment and equal promotional opportunities for African-Americans through positive relationships with City and community leaders who value and embrace “diversity” beyond just awareness. Opportunity Builds Diversity.
What Martin Luther King Jr. Day means to me
By Tyesha McCool Riley
Martin Luther King Jr. Day holds profound significance for the Black community and for the nation as a whole. The day commemorates civil rights and honors Dr. King's legacy as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, recognizing his contributions to the struggle for racial equality and social justice.
It’s an opportunity for each of us to reflect on the issues of racism and inequality that plague our world and communities and to educate ourselves and others about the history and significance of the civil rights movement.
Dr. King’s message of nonviolence and justice serves as a source of inspiration for contemporary activists fighting for social change, encouraging continued efforts towards equity and equality.
The day is also recognized as a national day of service, encouraging and calling us to action as individuals to engage in community service and promote social responsibility. It should be a reflection of Dr. King’s commitment to helping, leading, and advocating for others and driven by unity and hope among diverse communities where racial harmony and equality are fully realized. The day moves us collectively to take action against injustice, promoting a sense of responsibility to work towards a more free and just society.
Today and every day let us give respect and honor to those on whose backs have been built the foundations of today’s Civil Rights movements – the price being their blood sweat, tears, and sacrifice.
As we reflect, celebrate, and serve, let us keep hope alive. The work and journey may have its challenges, but it is hope that gives us the wind beneath our wings -- powering us to soar toward peace, justice, and harmony.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”