A Statement of Solidarity

As an impact-based organization, which holds racial equity as a pillar of our values, Forth stands with Black Lives Matter. We reject racism, bigotry, and hate.

The recent murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many other members of the black community in the US have left us devastated and heartbroken. Their lives, and the lives of all black people taken by violence, mattered and will persist in power, relevance and influence.

This racial injustice reminds us now more than ever how important it is to prioritize equity as a core value of our work and lives. We are continuously striving to grow our understanding of racial equity and to act to bring about change. We recognize the significance of the work ahead of us, and we pledge to listen, to support, and to learn how we can best show up in order to improve our culture and our society for communities of color.

There is tremendous change needed to address the issues that black, indigenous and people of color face in our country today. We will strive to be a positive force by using our platform to acknowledge and address historical and current injustices that transportation investments and developments have caused and perpetuated in communities of color. We will encourage ourselves and our partners to correct those injustices. And, as an industry, we will remain open to input on how we can better serve these communities.

How we move forward now makes a difference. Many people are wondering how they can help during this time. Below are a number of organizations, both local and national, which serve and support African Americans and communities of color. They are established and set up to provide direct assistance.

In Solidarity,

Jeff Allen
Executive Director, Forth.

Local:
Portland NAACP
Coalition of Communities of Color
Black United Fund of Oregon
Portland African American Leadership Forum
African American Alliance for Homeownership
Mercatus Directory of Black-Owned Businesses

National:
NAACP
Black Lives Matter
National Urban League
Color of Change
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
National Action Network