PORTLAND, OR—On November 10th, the Community Alliance of Tenants and the For Every Kid Coalition will bring neighbors, tenants, and local leaders together to tackle the issues their kids face around health and safety. Multicultural community members and elected officials from East Portland, Gresham, Fairview, and
Troutdale will discuss concerns around the disproportionately worse street-level safety and community health in their neighborhoods.
East Multnomah County parents and community members aim to work with local leaders to improve safe routes for walking, biking and transit. Too many families in East Multnomah County don’t have the necessary safe infrastructure—sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes—in their communities to support healthy activity for their families. Kids who most need opportunities for physical activity often don’t have safe routes to walk or bike to school, which could give them 66% of their recommended daily exercise.
Community members who usually struggle to advocate for their children because of a language barrier will participate using translators speaking Spanish, Nepali, Karen, Vietnamese, Russian, and Burmese.
Event: Neighbors and Tenants Unite for Safe Routes to School
When: Tuesday, November 10th, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. – Community testimony training
6:30-8:30 p.m. – Panel of elected officials and community members
Where: The Rosewood Initiative, 16126 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97233
Why: The Metro area’s multicultural families face disproportionate health and safety concerns for their children, but speaking up for your child is hard when you don’t speak English. This will be an opportunity to work with local leaders to find solutions utilizing translators speaking seven languages.
Who: Local leaders include Gresham City Councilor Mario Palermo and Reynolds School Board
Member Diego Hernandez. Multicultural community members and local leaders from East
Portland, Gresham, Fairview, and Troutdale. Open to the public.
Visuals: Families, community leaders, children, colorful signs, passionate parents learning to advocate for the health and safety of their children.
Formed in 1996, the Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT) is Oregon’s only statewide, grassroots, tenant-controlled, tenant-rights organization. CAT educates, organizes and develops the leadership of low-income tenants.
For Every Kid is a growing coalition of the following organizations supporting safe routes to school for every
kid in the Metro-area: Community Cycling Center, Community Alliance of Tenants, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon; Safe Routes to School National Partnership; American Heart Association; Oregon Walks; OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon; the Bicycle Transportation Alliance; and over 50 more organizations.
