Community engagement plan
Facilitated by funding and direction from a grant from the Federal Transportation Authority (FTA), the MP2H study emphasized the importance of equity-focused engagement and reaching underserved communities and those potentially impacted by public decisions. Read more in the MP2H Community Engagement Plan (December 2019).
Community-based organizations
Beyond the broader public involvement outlined in the MP2H Community Engagement Plan, the FTA grant funds supported community-based organizations (CBOs) in order to conduct outreach to underserved communities. These CBOs engaged communities they generally serve, including a high percentage of BIPOC community members, focusing on the perspectives of underserved people in, or connected to, the project area.
The organizations involved in this outreach included:
- Friendly House – NW Portland
- Northwest Industrial Business Association (NIBA) and Columbia Corridor Association – NW Portland
- Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) – NE Portland
- Hollywood Senior Center and Urban League of Portland – NE Portland
Community-based organizations – outreach reports
Starting in fall 2020, each organization engaged with the communities they serve and prepared a report, linked below, which included summaries of feedback and highlighted issues. This feedback was used to help shape the desired project outcomes.
Additional community-based organization input
In addition to the outreach and feedback provided by the CBOs funded through the FTA grant in 2020-21, the project team also worked with the York Street Work Group in 2022-23. Sponsored by the Portland Harbor Community Coalition, the York Street Work Group aims to raise awareness and commemorate the contributions of York, an enslaved member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and Black history in Portland. The group is also working to ensure equitable development in the area.
The York Street Work Group produced the ”York Urban Village Concept,” a vision for a “justice- and climate-centered transit and land use development strategy and cultural heritage district along York Street.” The concept outlined approaches for commemorating York, and included key themes for public and community benefits within the concept plan. In some cases, these themes overlap with other feedback from CBOs and other planning goals.
Overview videos
In 2020, BPS prepared the following recorded overview presentations to aid in this outreach work.