Free Five-Event DEI Speaker Series Underway

January 30, 2023 — To educate the community by shedding light on the history and/or the lived experiences of people in historically-marginalized segments of our population, the City of Wilsonville’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee has scheduled a free five-event lecture series to be held at locations throughout Wilsonville.

The series begins on Thursday, Mar. 2, at 6:30 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn. (30800 SW Parkway Ave.) with “Displacing Black Portland: A History of Housing Discrimination,” presented by Zachary Stocks of Oregon Black Pioneers. Stocks’ program explains how generations of housing discrimination continues to shape Portland’s demographics, and Black Portlanders’ opportunities within a rapidly gentrifying city.

“Our objective with this series is to help people better understand the lived experience of their neighbors,” said Haider, the DEI Committee Chair. “Knowledge is a valuable tool to help people overcome fear and misinformation, and to hopefully help us build a stronger community.”

The Hilton Garden Inn is hosting an extended happy hour with food and drink available to purchase and enjoy during the two series events it is hosting. Later events include complimentary refreshments.

The complete schedule of lecture events follows (all events begin at 6:30 pm):

March 2           “Displacing Black Portland: A History of Housing Discrimination” (at Hilton Garden Inn)
Presented by Zachary Stocks, Oregon Black Pioneers

April 27           “Growing up Muslim in Clackamas County” (at Hilton Garden Inn)
Presented by Imran Haider, Washington State University

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May 4              “The Mainstreaming of Antisemitism in America” (at Charbonneau Country Club)
Presented by Bob Horenstein, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland 

June 8              “Systemic Racism in Oregon Schools” (at Wilsonville Library)
Presented by Rudyane Rivera-Lindstrom, Higher Education Coordinating Commission

July 6               “The Culture, Language and Etiquette of Disability” (at Clackamas Community College)
Presented by Ian Jaquiss, Relay Resources                                         

No pre-registration is required to attend DEI Lecture Series events, which are being funded by a $3,000 Community Opportunity Grant from the Parks & Recreation Department.

For more details on the DEI Lecture Series events, contact Bill Evans, 503-570-1502; evans@ ci.wilsonville.or.us.