Skip to main content

February enews from Colors of Influence

The spring edition of Colors of Influence will be out in March. Here are some quotables from the upcoming edition:

"As a council, we are making a difference in the lives of people. By helping create opportunities for minority-owned businesses while creating value for our members, we’re helping people create and leave a legacy." ~ Kenneth Jones, on what he enjoys most about his work at the Northwest Minority Business Council.

"We have parents who ask specifically for their kids to be mentored by someone who looks like their child. Some of the kids end up on the waiting list for a mentor for three years or more." ~ Pamela Weatherspoon, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, speaks about the community need for the newly launched African- American Mentoring Program.

Coming in March, interviews with:

Dr. Carolyn West Bartley Dobb Professor for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Washington, Tacoma

Pictured, Dr. Carolyn West

Elizabeth Asahi Sato President, Rise to Excellence

Melvin Broadous Chairman, Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors

Carmen Caballero-Rubio Community Affairs Director, Office of Mayor Tom Potter

Kenneth Vigil co-founder, Vigil-Agrimis Inc., winner of 2007 Minority Small Business of the Year Award

Adrienne Livingston Executive Director, Black United Fund of Oregon

Dave Thayer board member, Oregon Native American Chamber of Commerce

Ping Khaw artist and board member, Asian American Business Alliance

and more ...

Community Events

From Say Hey NW! networking for professionals of color to a daylong Latina empowerment conference, there's a whole lot going among communities of color in the Portland area. View upcoming events


MLK Day Celebration Through Service

On Jan. 21, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette organized 14 community service projects to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

More photos here

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...
Read more

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...
Read more

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more