Looking Inward First:
How Your Parks Organization Can Become More Equitable

Organizations across the city are working to create greater accessibility and sense of safety in the outdoors for BIPOC communities and other historically underrepresented communities. Join us in focusing on how best to build successful partnerships with BIPOC organizations and the internal work required to meaningfully and effectively build these relationships.

March 3, 2022, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Format
Deadline to register: March 1, 2022
Workshop is capped at 24 participants

Workshop Description: Portland parks organizations have incredible potential to transform public spaces into places where historically marginalized communities* feel welcome, inspired, and connected. Focusing on the fundamentals of organizations (values, mission, governance structure, programming, communication, etc.,) this workshop is designed to have participants reflect on their organizational mission, practice of community engagement, and desire to act inclusively.  Those attending will learn how to assess their internal organizational capacity to serve historically marginalized communities (representational models), and apply these tools to develop strategies for eliminating barriers to doing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within their own organization. Breakout sessions will include opportunities for participants to strategize what changes would be necessary to better represent the communities they serve or want to serve. 

Workshop is capped at 24 participants. Please limit participation to one person maximum from your organization. If you register and are no longer able to attend please email office@portlandpf.org so we can fill your spot.

*PPF defines historically marginalized communities as anyone who has experienced inequities as a result of their class, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, nationality, disability, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or age. We recognize that this list is not comprehensive and strive to prioritize all groups that experience inequities as a result of how they identify or are identified by others.

About the Facilitators

This workshop is facilitated by Ashley Balsom and Melina Pastos and supporting facilitator Dr. José Meléndez.

Ashley was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and has called Eugene home for most of her life. Ashley obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Montana, where she studied Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management with a focus on policy. Ashley is currently a second year Master’s student in the Community & Regional Planning program at the University of Oregon, where her field of study is community organizing and equitable planning practices. 

Melina is a first descendant of the Flathead Indian Nation in Northwestern Montana where she grew up. Her professional work in universities, tribal organizations, and the nonprofit sector has been dedicated to expanding educational access and equity in underrepresented communities. Currently a graduate student at UO, Melina is studying public policy and planning as well as community engagement through the creative arts.

Dr. José W. Meléndez is Assistant Professor in Planning for Engaging Diverse Communities at the University of Oregon’s School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management. His work and research seeks to combine theoretical and practical solutions for community-engagement processes that seek more equitable participation and outcomes for under-represented communities.