July 20, 2016
Page 9
Mississippi
Alberta
North Portland
Vancouver
East County
Beaverton
Laquida Landford, a community organizer and health worker, surrounded by kids at the Community Cycling Center’s Bike Repair Hub at New Columbia in north Portland.
Landford has partnered with the center to create a bike ride addressing the deep wounds communities of color have suffered due to gentrification, with an emphasis on
healing.
Healing Wounds of Gentrification
Activists plan Saturday bike ride to build understanding
Gentrification is the major talking point
of the city today, but for many neighbor-
hoods it has been a reality for far too long.
Activist Laquida Landford has part-
nered with the nonprofit Community Cy-
cling Center and Donovan Smith of Igno-
rant/Reflections to create a “Gentrification
is Weird!” bike ride addressing the deep
wounds communities of color have suf-
fered due to gentrification, with an empha-
sis on healing.
“Black people in Portland have been
displaced. There are not spaces and places
to have a conversation,” explains Land-
ford. “I thought the ride could connect the
conversation around Portland’s black his-
tory, particularly around Vanport. I hope
the ride can provide resources and build a
bridge for new black people in Portland to
learn about the history.”
Borrowing its namesake from a popular
design produced by Smith’s Ignorant/Re-
flections clothing line, which uses provoc-
ative imagery to create conversations, the
“Gentrification is Weird!” ride will include
live performances, guest speakers, food,
and informational booths from an array
of community organizations. There will
be live performances by the Poetic Justice
crew, poetry by Llondyn Elliott, and DJ
Ryder will be spinning.
Mayor-elect Ted Wheeler has pledged to
attend the event and field questions from
Smith, a former reporter for both the Port-
land Observer and the Skanner.
Wheeler called the event is a great way
to act together to affirm the city’s dedica-
tion to a healthy, vibrant and diverse com-
munity.
“Displacement can rip people from
their schools, churches, and neighbors.
Portland’s history on this issue illustrates it
all too well,” Wheeler said.
Smith calls the thread of history to pres-
ent day conditions as evidence of a renais-
sance in the city.
“People are demanding the history of
Portland and Oregon be told like it really is
more and more. Gentrification is weird! The
ride is just another piece to the puzzle that is
the renaissance we’re living in right now. “
The ride will begin at noon Saturday,
July 23 at the Community Cycling Cen-
ter’s Bike Repair Hub in New Columbia at
North Trenton Street and Woolsey Avenue
and will travel to Vanport, where commu-
nity members will share stories, history,
and healing.
Biketown, Portland’s Nike-themed rent-
al service, will have some bikes available
for borrowing on the ride.
For more information or if you need to
borrow a bike, email Landford at lland-
ford@communitycyclingcenter.org.