Earlier this year, Human Centric Media had the extreme privilege to join our partners at the Northwest Health Foundation to document their Civic Health cohort’s trip to the San Francisco Bay.
Civic Health is a multi-year initiative that supports Black, Indigenous and communities of color to build political power and contribute to a democracy that reflects and serves everyone in Oregon and Southwest Washington. A huge part of this initiative is building shared infrastructure, and sharing organizing tactics.
Together, we learned from the Chinese Progressive Association about the way they have been joining workers’ movements, immigrant communities and progressive causes together into a coalition of political power that gets candidates elected, changes policy and looks to throw the significant weight of San Francisco’s Chinese-American community behind initiatives that enrich the lives of all Californians.
Elsewhere in this video, we hear reflections and organizing insights from some of the brightest political minds in Oregon and SW Washington, including:
Gloria Ochoa-Sandoval, Political Director for Unite Oregon, a membership organization led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty. They work across Oregon to build a unified, intercultural movement for justice.
Kaliko Castille, Civic Engagement Director for the APANO Action Fund, an organization working to unite, educate & organize Asian and Asian American Oregonians to advocate for real change.
Elona J Wilson, Executive Director for the Next Up Action Fund, a 501(c)4 nonprofit engaging the next generation of young leaders to build political power to fight for a more just and equitable Oregon.
Siobhana McEwen, Executive Director for the Southwest Washington Equity Coalition, a Vancouver based non-profit working to advance racial equity and justice by building multi-racial coalitions to center, uplift and prioritize voices of color in policy and decision making.
Going on this adventure together was invigorating not just because of the charming personalities and intelligence of these individuals, but because of their response to rising fascism — we are gathering together, learning from each other, expanding our capacity and building our organizing systems back even stronger than before.
I saw not a single blink away from this dedication, not a single retreat from our shared ideals. I know the future is bright because, in and amongst our communities, we are all growing into our strongest selves.
