Part II: Celebrating Portland’s Community Engagement Program

By Paul Leistner PhD, Policy Analysis and Community Engagement, Portland State University 

[Ed. Note: This is the second in the series of articles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Portland’s nationally and internationally recognized community engagement system.] 

What does it take to create community and ensure community members have an effective voice in decisions that affect them? Fifty years ago, Portland made a commitment to move toward a “shared governance” approach in which government and the community are partners in making decisions. 

City leaders discovered over time that making this partnership work requires first helping community members get involved in community activities and begin to interact with people outside their close circle of family and friends. Once people are open to engaging with others, they need help developing the skills and confidence to join and work with other community members to make a difference in their community. 

A vital third step is to ensure that government leaders and staff are willing and able to work in authentic, respectful, and effective partnership with community members.

See PDF for full article. SW News March 2024 PDF