What do you do as an equity and engagement manager? My role is to ensure that equity is woven into every policy and program, both internally among staff and externally with our communities. At the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, we believe true equity requires engaging directly with the people most impacted. This means co-creating plans, projects, and programs alongside community members. Our bureau covers a lot of different areas like planning, community technology, climate policy, waste and recycling, and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund. It’s a lot of different types of work, but they all share the big responsibility of making decisions that will impact and shape our city for literal generations. We’re always asking ourselves: Are we approaching this equitably? Are we reaching the right community members?
A major part of this work is acknowledging and addressing past harms. Historically, we haven’t always done a great job of engaging communities effectively or equitably, which has led to a lot of mistrust. Part of my job is rebuilding that trust. We do that by genuinely collaborating with communities. Internally, I sit on the bureau’s leadership and executive teams, working to uphold our commitment to equity, and manage our Equity and Engagement Team, which functions as consultants, policy developers, and implementers of best practices across the bureau.
What does that look like? Every project is different, so there’s no cookie-cutter approach to equity and engagement work. We ask: Who is impacted? How? What past harms need to be addressed, and how can we improve? We did a great project in the Parkrose neighborhood, which I think is a good example of that philosophy. This was a community-led project out of Historic Parkrose. Typically, city planning involves open houses, but those don’t reach everyone. There are a lot of barriers like transportation, capacity, childcare, or just general lack of awareness. So instead of the typical open house, we held an eight-week workshop for local youth where we taught them the basics of city planning and asked them for their ideas on the community needs and priorities. We also held a similar, shorter series for adults and worked hard to make sure people from vulnerable communities were involved. Only after all the background work was complete did we hold a traditional open house. By elevating and centering voices that are usually left out, we created a stronger, and more inclusive community plan.
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.
I’ve found that inequity has spurred so much of my work and passion my whole life. I’m still passionate about water safety, particularly because communities of color disproportionately experience drowning deaths. Even though my current job doesn’t involve water, my commitment hasn’t changed. If I can help make even one person’s life safer or better, I’ll do it. The motivation to positively impact people’s lives and address systemic inequalities motivates me every single day.
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 EV and electric mobility activities. There will be free food from Milk Crate Kitchen and 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. We also want community to be able to connect with all the amazing programs that are doing the work. We’ll have staff from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Portland Bureau of Transportation, PCEF, Portland Parks & Recreation, and more on hand to answer your questions and talk more about the work they’re doing to help the city meet its climate goals. Plus several community organizations and activities for the whole family.
What do you like about your work? I love the variety and innovation in my role. One day I’m in leadership meetings, another I’m speaking to 500 students at a middle-school climate fair. Community engagement is my favorite aspect of the work, though. I love connecting with people and I love that I’m constantly learning new ways to approach our work. I’m surround by amazing colleagues who make my job meaningful and fun.
Tell me some things you like about Portland. I was born and raised here, and I am super close to my family here. I love Portland’s proximity to nature and the fact that on any given day you can be in the mountains or at the beach or surrounded by so many different types of beautiful scenery. There are so many great events, tons of great food, and it seems like every weekend there is no shortage of things that keep my family busy.
Serving and advocating for the city I grew up in brings so much meaning to my work. Portland has my heart, and my passion for making it better grows every day.
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Join the City in celebrating Earth Day – Together as One at Laurelhurst Park on Saturday, April 19.