Last week, I attended a presentation on “ Uniting Cultures in Portland: Bridging the Gaps in City Policy ” held at City Hall. The presentation was made by Portland State University students who were involved in a capstone course on “Politics of Immigration.” Fourteen students were involved in a 10-week research project that focused on pulse-taking of immigrant and refugee communities in the Portland area. Pictured is John Tranh, one of six students who presented class findings. In the foreground is Basko Kante, board chairman of the African Community Coalition of Oregon, a local group that advocates on behalf of African immigrants and refugees. A collaborative effort among the City of Portland, the Center for Intercultural Organizing and a host of civic associations and grassroots groups, the project sought to lay the foundation to enhance the city’s inclusionary efforts and outreach to ethnic minorities. According to Sam Gioia, one of the professors who led the capstone cours...
Book reviews by Maileen Hamto focus on racial identity, social justice, decoloniality, indigeneity, and spirituality.