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Parks and nature 2024: Diversity, equity and inclusion

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New affordable housing close to transit serves Portland’s Jade District community

By Ambar Espinoza

April 24, 2019 1:55 p.m.

the view of a new apartment building from the corner of SE 82nd Avenue and Division Street

Orchards of 82nd in the Jade District became home to 47 families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the local median income in early February. Within days of the rental applications opening, more than 300 families applied for these one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The waiting list is now closed at nearly 400.

Applications available for Portland Tribune internship for high school journalists

April 24, 2019 12:02 p.m.

woman interviewing another woman at Metro Regional Center

Pamplin Media Group, through a partnership with Metro, is offering three part-time, paid summer internships to high school journalists in the Portland metro region. The program aims to elevate and amplify the voices of students from historically underrepresented communities. Students of color, low-income students and members of other underrepresented groups are eligible to apply.

Ants don't have to be a bother inside. Get rid of ants naturally.

By Faith Cathcart

April 24, 2019 11:38 a.m.

close up of a winged queen ant with her brood

In nature, their activities aerate the soil, help fertilize and pollinate plants, and spread seeds. But in your home, it’s another story. No one wants to see them marching across the kitchen counter. Here are a few tips to keep ants out of your lunch.

Metro hires Julio Garcia as human resources director

April 15, 2019 11:30 a.m.

Metro human resources director Julio Garcia

Garcia comes to Metro from Salt Lake City, where he has served in the same role for Utah’s capital city. Before that, he was an associate HR director at Salt Lake County, and served as Salt Lake County’s director of elections from 2003-2008.

Share your thoughts on Metro’s potential parks and nature bond measure for November ballot

By Yuxing Zheng

April 15, 2019 10:50 a.m.

photo of tour at Chehalem Ridge led by Centro Cultural

Community members are invited to help shape a potential parks and nature bond measure the Metro Council is considering placing on the November ballot. An online survey available April 15 to 30 allows community members to weigh in on their top priorities for potential investment.

PILOT projects test new approaches to equitable transportation in greater Portland

April 15, 2019 9 a.m.

Zoomed in photo of a woman's hands holding a smart phone with a car-hailing app visible from the screen

Metro awards $150,000 in grants to four pilot projects that will test ways to provide more equitable access to new transportation technologies – from ride-hailing to car-, bike- and scooter-sharing - around greater Portland.

Food Waste Stops With Me celebrates first year’s successes

April 12, 2019 2:36 p.m.

Take Two Bars from Grand Central Bakery, made with leftover ingredients

Food Waste Stops With Me launched in April 2018 as a partnership between Metro, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and city and county governments to provide information, resources and technical assistance to food service businesses to help reduce food waste.

Metro’s Visitor Venues: Economic driver and employer of thousands

By Heather Back

April 8, 2019 3:26 p.m.

Aerial photo of solar array on the rooftop of the Oregon Convention Center

Portland’s most prominent visitor venues, operated by Metro, contributed $756.7 million to greater Portland’s economy in 2018, according to a report by Crossroads Consulting. The report said the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center, Oregon Zoo and Portland’5 Center for the Arts combined for 1,435 events, collectively which translated to $756.7 million in spending, 7,160 jobs and $26.5 million in tax revenue.

Organizations, school districts strategize, reach out to youth to advance equity in construction career pathways

By Cristle Jose

April 8, 2019 3:11 p.m.

woman talking to students at SEI trades fair

Union trade groups, community partners and schools are trying to change the negative perceptions about the trades and show students that construction is a viable and promising career path with good wages and benefits and skill development.

Joint letter from Metro Council President Lynn Peterson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler on Rose Quarter Improvement Project

April 5, 2019 1:16 p.m.

On April 4, 2019, Metro Council President Lynn Peterson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler sent a joint letter to Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Tammy Baney about the Rose Quarter Improvement Project.

Parks and Nature puts Equity Action Plan into action

By Grady Wheeler

April 4, 2019 3:40 p.m.

Attendees representing environmental, community-based and culturally specific organizations gathered in the Metro Council Chambers for an all-day equity training.

With the help of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team and the Center for Diversity and the Environment, the Parks and Nature Department hosted an all-day equity training for more than 60 people from around the region on March 11.

Metro Council considers potential parks and nature bond measure for November ballot

By Yuxing Zheng

April 2, 2019 11:33 a.m.

The view from Wapato Lake viewpoint at Chehalem Ridge

The Metro Council has asked staff to develop a package of proposed investments with an initial framework focusing on racial equity and climate resiliency across six areas: protecting and restoring land, taking care of Metro parks, awarding community grants, supporting local projects, creating trails for walking and biking, and delivering on large-scale community visions.

Read the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard

April 1, 2019 4:10 p.m.

photo of Camp ELSO students learning to fish at Blue Lake

Sprinavasa Brown and Dr. Kellianne Richardson – two women of color – founded Camp ELSO in 2015 to provide Black and Brown children in greater Portland with opportunities to explore nature and environmental professions. Brown shares her journey and offers advice to White environmentalists and nature educators in the spring 2019 issue of Our Big Backyard.

Reclaiming spaces: Camp ELSO inspires children of color to explore the outdoors, science careers

By Sprinavasa Brown

April 1, 2019 10:01 a.m.

photo of two Camp ELSO guides and one student at Oxbow Regional Park's ancient forest

The story of Camp ELSO (Experience Life Science Outdoors) started with our vision. We want Black and Brown children to access more and better experiences than we did, experiences that help them see their potential in science, that prepare them for the potentially steep learning curve that comes with declaring a science major.