Justice Oregon for Black Lives

Building a movement for change, powered by community wisdom, collaboration and joy.

Our Commitment

Justice Oregon for Black Lives is the largest initiative in Meyer’s history, created in the wake of nearly two months of demonstrations protesting the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others that have awakened a national movement to end systemic and structural racism.

Meyer’s board of trustees approved the commitment in recognition of the urgent opportunity to transform institutions, systems and narratives in Oregon, a state founded on stolen lands and explicit in its constitutional exclusion of Black people. A long-term effort, the initiative is being co-created with Black communities working to advance racial justice and equity in Oregon.

GOALS + OUTCOMES

  1. Investing in Education
  2. Reimagining Public Safety
  3. Shifting Black Narrative through Arts + Culture
  4. Addressing Trauma + Healing

Increase Black ownership (i.e. businesses, homes, investments).

Intended outcomes:

  • Support an additional 100 Black owned businesses to achieve revenue of $1 million+ across Oregon by 2025
  • Increase Black home ownership to 35% by 2025

 

Increase financial literacy / opportunities in Black communities.

Intended outcomes:

  • Identify Black and community financial institution partnerships to access capital and to provide financial literacy by 2023

Increase representation of Black educators, administrators across Oregon.

Intended outcomes:

  • Increase recruitment and retainment of Black teachers and administrators to 400 total by 2025 across Oregon in K-12.

 

Improve Black student academic, social and emotional outcomes throughout Oregon.

Intended outcomes:

  • Increase Black student academic performance, namely mathematics, writing and reading skills
  • Increase Black student access to programs that improve their social and emotional well-being

Create a shared vision of what public safety is within the Black community.

Intended outcomes:

  • Develop a shared geographical public safety plan(s) for Blacks across Oregon by 2023

 

Increase the percentage of Black policy makers and leaders across Oregon.

Intended outcomes:

  • Increase Black policy makers to 2% across OR and to 6% for Portland metro by 2025

Invest in More Space for Black Artists

Increase the number of spaces for Black artists (specifically women, LGBTQ+, and youth) to showcase their work and support Black artists already creating art spaces.

Intended Outcomes:

  • Support two to four Black art spaces (metro and non-metro) by 2025.

  • Provide resources to support Black artists (laptops, art equipment, etc.)

Increase cross-educational opportunities (including professional development) for Black Artists (specifically women, LGBTQ+, and youth) across generational backgrounds.

Intended Outcomes: 

  • Support non-metro and urban artists for 10-20 pop-up shops on annual basis through 2025.
  • Support the creation of a minimum of 10 educational curriculum pods annually for youth and established artists representing various artistic mediums (visual arts, performing arts, musical arts, etc.).

Increase the economic viability for Black artists (specifically women, LGBTQ+, and youth) through increasing public-private and business partnerships.

Intended Outcome:

  • Increase the accessibility of funding for 20-25 Black artists annually.

Support Research and Evidence-Based Practices

Intended Outcome: Fund community-based research opportunities to study, incubate, measure and/or advocate for healing strategies.

Invest in Black Healing & Black Joy

Intended Outcome: Increase support to organizations that empower Black communities and individuals to experience healing and joy.

De-stigmatize Trauma for Black Communities

Intended Outcome: De-stigmatize the concept of trauma and increase awareness of self-guided healing activities within Black communities.

Shift from Community Grief to Community Relief

Intended Outcome: Support organizations establishing rapid response system(s) to intervene with resources, services, and advocacy when trauma-inducing crises impact Black communities.

Applicant Resources