Community panel hosts PSU Professor
The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods will be hosting a discussion panel looking at the history of economic development in Northeast Portland from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Curious Comedy, located at 5225 NE MLK Blvd.
The event, titled “Historical Perspective For Today’s Understanding: Economic Development in N/NE Portland,” will be the first in a multiple-part speaker series that aims to educate people on the economic developments that affect communities in the city’s North and Northeast areas.
According to Shoshana Cohen, NECN’s neighborhood program manager, the discussion panel will consist of three speakers, each representing a different perspective on development in Northeast Portland. One of the speakers includes Karen Gibson, Portland State professor of urban studies and planning.
Gibson said she will provide a historical context surrounding Northeast Portland’s economic development in order to help community members understand how the neighborhoods have reached their current state. She said that understanding the area’s complicated past will influence how people perceive development policies made today.
“This series is important to residents in the NECN to proactively engage the city in development planning and decision-making. This is democracy in action,” Gibson said.
Gibson has been researching the political economy of neighborhood change in the Albina district, one of Portland’s historically black communities. Her research paper, Bleeding Albina, follows the discriminatory practices used by public and private institutions—spanning 60 years from 1940 to 2000—which inhibited Albina residents from achieving successful economic and community development.
“I hope that [my research] has made people more aware of the processes by which racialized policies have systematically disinvested parts of our city, to the detriment of some and the benefit of others,” Gibson said.
The event’s other speakers include Carl Talton, a former co-chair of the Northeast Economic Development Alliance, and Paul Knauls Sr., owner of Shear Perfection Barber and Beauty Salon, a business in North Portland. After the speakers have presented there will be time devoted to answer public questions.
This speaker series will be presented by the NECN’s newest committee, the Community Economic Development Council. This committee is responsible for educating and advocating for community needs such as job creation, economic generators and small business support.
The NECN is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 that focuses on inclusive civic engagement through a number of different methods. The organization is one of seven neighborhood coalitions in the city of Portland. NECN is comprised of 12 North Portland neighborhoods and neighborhood associations: Alameda, Boise, Concordia, Eliot, Grant Park, Humboldt, Irvington, King, Sabin, Sullivan’s Gulch, Vernon and Woodlawn.
NECN provides support and advocacy for the community volunteers who run the individual neighborhood associations. NECN says that its committees address issues such as public safety, land use and sustainability efforts.
NECN stated that this inaugural speaker series event is directed towards anyone living in, working in or interested in the development of the Northeast Portland area. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided by Bridges Cafe and Catering, Horn of Africa and Elevated Coffee.
