Late last year, Alberta Main Street received a grant from The William G. Gilmore Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation to fund Equitable Alberta Street. The project aims to expand the organization’s capacity to address issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion on and around NE Alberta Street, and to ensure that underserved populations are informed about and supported in their efforts to access social and economic resources available to them.
Specifically, the grant provided funding to hire a part-time Equity and Engagement Coordinator. AMS recently chose Kenya Budd for the position. Budd will support the organization’s work on three goals:
- Adopting policies and performing outreach to diversify the base of committed volunteers and skilled community leaders;
- implementing projects that create greater economic and social opportunities for local minority residents and youth, and
- providing technical assistance and AMS financial support to underserved populations.
Budd identified the means by which she will approach those goals.
“My work will include forming relationships with the variety of people and cultures that represent our diverse community,” she said.
Budd brings over 10 years of experience as an educator and consultant, training senior leaders and developing measurement tools for businesses to help improve diversity outcomes.
While her efforts will primarily focus on the commercial corridor, Budd hopes area residents will play a role in addressing inclusion issues as well. She cites the need for residents to reach out to each other; to be welcoming, but she acknowledges the challenges to that effort.
“Because of systematic disinvestment and displacement, mistrust has grown over the years. To rebuild trust will take time,” she said.
Budd also encourages neighborhood newcomers to become more knowledgeable about the history of the area to understand the displacement that has occurred over the years. To learn more, she suggested visiting Alberta Main Street or the Research Room at the City of Portland Archives & Records Center (1800 SW 6th Ave, Suite 550). Some information is also available online on the Main Street website and the City Auditor’s website.
Budd lives in the Overlook area of North Portland. Reach her Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Alberta Main Street office (1722 NE Alberta Street), by email (kenya@albertamainst.org) or call (503) 683 – 3252. she said. Budd brings over 10 years of experience as an educator and consultant, training senior leaders and developing measurement tools for businesses to help improve diversity outcomes.