Colors of Influence Reviews

A heads-up about an upcoming event that is being partly supported by CareOregon, my professional home outside of Oregon Minority Business, currently a labor-of-love, venture into social entrepreneurship. Through Oregon Minority Business, it has been a wonderful experience getting to know dynamic people of color making lasting social change by way of their business and civic involvements. I look forward to meeting many more of you. Through CareOregon, it is truly a rewarding experience to work alongside people who care a great deal about low-income families and children. CareOregon serves a quarter of people on Medicaid throughout the state - making it the largest administrator of the Oregon Health Plan. Some 46% of CareOregon are people of color - and about 85% live in the Portland metro area. We serve many families and children - some 65% of our members are under age 18. Click here for a radio ad that I wrote about the upcoming Northwest Multicultural Career Fair. Car...

Gale Castillo What was the business environment like for Hispanic/Latino businesses when the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber was founded? The reason that we started discussing formation of the chamber was the environment – in general was very negative for Latinos. Like now, we were seen by the public as illegal immigrants, we were all taking from the system, and all our kids are gang-bangers. We wanted to form an organization that would bring visibility and recognition to the contributions that we make. We wanted to highlight the fact that many Latino business owners are contributing to the economy through their businesses by creating jobs. We also wanted to highlight our young people – their good works and achievement. We wanted to establish an organization that focused on business and economic development – not a social service agency. We wanted something that was affiliated with a national organization – to lend our efforts credibility and prominence. That’s why we decided to form a ...

Sam Brooks Takes Gavel as Chair of the Portland Business Alliance Sam Brooks In 1987, Sam Brooks, founder and longtime president of the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), became the only the second person of color to serve on the board of the Portland Business Alliance. In 2007, Brooks makes history by becoming the first African-American to lead the Alliance, one of Oregon's leading business organizations. The Alliance is made up of more than 1,300 members representing more than 325,000 business people in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. Next to Sho Dozono, Brooks becomes only the second person of color to hold the esteemed post at the Alliance, which was established as the Portland Chamber of Commerce in 1870. Brooks is excited about the prospect of leading the Alliance and making an impact in various business communities. “My approach is simple: ask the question, find the answers, come up with s...

Tech industry CEO advocates for needs of small businesses Christine Chin Ryan, photographed in Synergy Consulting's headquarters. She stands by a work by Qigong master Ou, Wen Wei. Translated, the calligraphy reads: Heaven, Earth, Humanity in Harmony. Committed to lending a voice to small businesses throughout Oregon, Christine Chin Ryan, President, CEO and founder of Synergy Consulting, Inc., promotes growth and development of small businesses through entrepreneurship, advocacy and public policy work. As the first woman – and Asian-American – to serve as chairperson of the Governor’s Small Business Council (Council), Christine has been instrumental in identifying issues that are vital to small companies, such as affordability of health insurance; access to human resources; fiscal reform; business sustainability and renewable energy. “Our goal for the Council is to serve as the voice for small businesses across the state, and we are on our way to accomplishing that goal. Over...