Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, July 15, 2015, Image 3

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    July 15, 2015
The
Page 3
INSIDE
Week in Review
O pinion
page 2
pages 6-7
This page
Sponsored by:
L ocal N ews
page 8
S ports
photo courtesy of M ax H aynes
Make plans to be inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen and learn about the history and legacy of America’s
first black military pilots during the Oregon International Air Show this weekend at the Hillsboro Airport.
Rise Above
M etro
page 9
War II P-51C Mustang aircraft to the Oregon In-
ternational Air Show this weekend.
The exhibit is a unique opportunity for all ages
to experience the inspiring story of the Tuskegee
Airmen – America’s first black military pilots and
their support personnel.
The Oregon International Air Show will take
The Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squad- place at the Hillsboro Airport Friday, July 17
ron, America’s tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, is
C ontinued on P age 5
bringing its Rise Above mobile theater and World
Air Show salute to first
black military pilots
City Adopts Racial Equity Goals
Aim is to end
disparities
in services,
employment
pages
8-13
Arts &
ENTERTAINMENT
C lassifieds
C alendar
pages 8-13
page 14
page 15
The Portland City Council has
adopted three new racial equi-
ty goals along with six strategies
aimed to achieve them. The action
was taken last Wednesday in an
attempt to end racial disparities
within city government and to
insure fairness in hiring and con-
tracting.
The plan strengthens outreach,
public engagement, and access to
services for communities of color
while also supporting and chang-
ing existing services using racial
equity as a guiding principle.
Collaborating with communities
and institutions of color to elimi-
nate racial inequality in everything
from housing to transportation to
mental health services are other
priorities adopted by the plan.
The Office of Equity and Hu-
man Rights, led by director James
Dante James
Dante, also saw its proposal ap-
proved for a new database to track
demographics within each city
bureau.
Every branch of government in
the city will be required to present
a five-year equity roadmap by the
end of 2015, to include specific
and measurable goals about diver-
sity in hiring and how to achieve
those goals.
“Achieving these goals will
help provide benefits for everyone
as they receive benefits from the
city,” James said.
Even commissioner Dan Saltz-
man, who was originally skeptical
of the Office of Equity and Human
Affairs back in 2011, commended
James’ work and got behind the
new goals.
Commissioner Amanda Fritz
urged the City Council to imme-
diately start reviewing policy de-
cisions through the guiding prin-
ciples of racial equality. Mayor
Charlie Hales released a statement
on the plans.
“We are a very diverse city,”
Hales said. “And racial equity
means understanding both that di-
versity today and the institutional
racism and historical wrongs that
underlie that diversity, even now.
When we do our budget and we
have our director of the Office of
Equity and Human Rights at the
table, questioning bureaus, that’s
normal. We should be thinking
about how we spend money in
terms of equity.”
For information on the Office
of Equity and Human Rights, visit
portlandoregon.gov/oehr.