DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION At the Port of Portland, we stand together against racism, discrimination, bigotry and intolerance. Because we know that our actions influence the socioeconomic and environmental fabric of our region, we believe that our work should help all communities prosper. OUR PORT OUR COMMUNITY OUR BUSINESS PDX AIRPORT CLOSE MENU That’s why we focus on addressing historical inequities and why we aim to leverage our resources to make the region we love even better. While the Port has always valued inclusion and service, our formal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts began in 2013 when we hired two consultants to advise the Port. In 2018, the Port of Portland Commission approved our first-ever social equity policy. Using the guiding principles from this policy, which leads with race, we asked the 18 different departments across the Port to develop their own equity action plans. The common themes across these strategies became our equity plan, which features three business priorities: Increase small business participation Create an equitable, inclusive and welcoming place to work Engaging community The Port began formal implementation of our social equity plan in July 2019. Read our progress update. INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION We believe in the power of small businesses and work to help them bid for contracts, expand their operations and connect with mentors. ELIMINATING BARRIERS We are focused on eliminating barriers for small business participation – with a particular emphasis on women and minority-owned businesses – and applying an equity lens to rethink how we conduct business and award contracts. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE To further empower small businesses, we offer the support they need to better position themselves for contracts with the Port and other public agencies. CONNECTING WITH MENTORS Our Mentor Protégé Program has brought together more than 100 small businesses with established companies to help them grow their business. EXPLORE MORE Learn more about our work with small businesses Meet graduates of our Mentor Protégé Program who helped build a new concourse at PDX Read how we changed an RFP process to remove barriers for small businesses CREATE AN EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE, WELCOMING PLACE TO WORK Advancing racial equity and creating a welcoming and inclusive place to work requires organizations to embark upon systemic and organizational change. We developed strategies to enhance employee-centered programs, eliminate recruitment and advancement barriers, and elevate employee understanding of DEI and cultural competency. EMPLOYEE DEMOGRAPHICS We closely examined our organizational culture, how we promote and retain our employees and our demographic makeup. Explore our employee demographic dashboard, which we update each year. EMPLOYEE-CENTERED PROGRAMS We developed employee-centered programs focused on growing and strengthening our workforce. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Business Resource Groups (BRGs), a PoP Culture team, and employee wellness and training programs contribute to the Port being a dynamic organization. Learn more about our ERGs. RECRUITING A more inclusive culture starts with recruiting, which involves more than simply having a diverse slate of candidates. We apply an equity lens across the entire hiring process – looking at how we can reduce barriers for applicants, remove bias from the interview process and create a welcoming environment for new hires. ADVANCEMENT Recruitment may be the first step, but that’s not the end. We want all Port workers to have equitable access to growth at the organization. Our goal is to ensure that the rate of promotions for women and people of color is equal to the percentage of employees who work at the Port. EXPLORE MORE Learn more about our Employee Resource Groups Explore our employee demographic dashboard Wellness is an important part of inclusion ENGAGING COMMUNITY Exchanging ideas and information with community partners helps us make better decisions. USING AN EQUITY LENS While public agencies like the Port have shaped policies through community input for decades, we now incorporate an equity lens into our planning and processes to ensure the way we seek feedback and distribute resources is equitable. BRINGING COMMUNITY VALUE Our Community Engagement focuses on matching department needs with diverse community expertise. Our goal is to deepen these relationships so that community organizations find as much value from the partnership as the Port. GATHERING FEEDBACK We are also working to develop a deeper understanding of how our engagement is perceived by community partners and asking for their feedback on opportunities for improvement. EXPLORE MORE How we’ve historically engaged communities in the region How a simple question led to a long-term partnership with a local nonprofit A network of community members informed a new mural at PDX MEASURING OUR SUCCESS We are committed to learning and growing on this journey. When something really matters to you, you pay close attention to its progress. That’s how we feel about our DEI work. We are working to establish meaningful quantitative metrics to measure success and identify opportunities for improvement. INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION CREATE AN EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING PLACE TO WORK ENGAGING COMMUNITY Get involved by signing up for our Email notifications Sign Up! CONTACTS Joy Fowler Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager (P) 503.415.6550 Dr. Steve Nakana Social Equity Program Manager (P) 503.415.6855 Kimberly Sutton Small Business Development Program Manager (P) 503.415.6587 YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN Social Equity Policy Social Equity Plan DEI Progress Update Small Business Development Program Employment Dashboard PORTSIDE Our digital magazine sharing stories about our Port of Portland team, the people we serve in our region, and our connections across the globe. Check It Out! STAY CONNECTED CONTACT US Port of Portland 7200 N.E. Airport Way Portland, OR 97218 Email Us 1.800.547.8411 or 503.415.6000 Additional Contact Info Mailing Address: P.O. Box 3529 Portland, OR 97208-3529 Public Records Request DIRECTIONS Other Port Locations Language: English Español Privacy Statement | Terms of Use | Feedback | Login Copyright © 2021 Port of Portland