July 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 14

Letters
ter where they hail from, what religion
they practice, their abilities, race, sexual
orientation, no matter what. I encourage
you to print and/or to distribute these
posters to those you care about, and they
are also all available in many more languages; please message us if you'd like to
obtain them.
Supporting New Portlanders continues to be a priority for the city of Portland and the Parks Bureau. It is based on
valuing all who call Portland their home.
Portland Parks & Recreation is more
tolerance and acceptance. In his words
committed than ever before to make sure
We - Portland Parks & Recreation Difrom a poem he wrote:
New Portlanders are safe and welcomed
rector Mike Abbaté, Equity & Inclusion
I spat in the eye of hate and lived.
and embraced in our facilities, programs
Manager Art Hendricks, Commissioner
This is what we must do for one another
and activities. As the person in charge of
Amanda Fritz and I - write to you with
We must live for one another
the Parks for New Portlanders program,
a heavy heart and many emotions.
We must fight for one Mother.
I offer my assistance in helping with inThe tragedy on the MAX a few days
I met with the community youth amformation on PP&R programs, facilities,
ago is both a sad and disturbing remindbassadors, who are employees of Portjobs and other offerings - and an open
er that many Portlanders are confronted
land Parks & Recreation's Parks for New
ear to further our diverse communities'
by hate and acts of violence - but also
Portlanders Program. Among them, they
healing. Please let me know how I may
that heroes are everywhere, and many
speak 15 languages and represent nine
assist you and your partners.
of them are your friends and colleagues,
different New Portlander Communities:
On a positive note, the Portland Poperhaps even you, someday. This event
four are Muslim. These young leaders are
lice Bureau and Portland Fire & Rescue
may have touched you in profound and
shocked, horrified and saddened by the
started coaching teams for the Portland
disturbing ways - that is certainly the
loss of the two Portland heroes. They are
World Cup Soccer Tournament this
case with me personally.
praying for the victims and their families.
But know that, as our director wrote in
year! The popular annual tournament
Now more than ever, we must stand
a recent email to our staff, every time you
featuring teams of Portlanders origitogether against hate, ignorance and
engage a colleague or family member
nally from around the globe took place
senseless violence. Portland Parks & Recwho says something that could be offenJuly 21, 2017, at PP&R's Delta Park.
reation (PP&R) has crafted the attached
sive; every time you teach your children
We encourage you to find out more, and
poster (http://ow.ly/oTY830cxrId) afthat people are all made precious and
to sign up to volunteer; more informawonderful, and yes, each and every time
tion is available at: www.portlandorefirming our embrace of people no matyou intervene to come to the aid
gon.gov/parks/article/553563.
of the defenseless, the oppressed,
Remember, no matter how long
the marginalized, you are a hero.
each of us has been in Portland,
We grieve as we mourn the loss
a single act of violence doesn't
of the people who stood up for
represent or define who we are
the defenseless teen girls on the
as Portlanders. This city belongs
train - including a fellow city
to all of us, all Portlanders, and
employee, Rick Best and Taliesen
I am proud to work for a governMyrrdin Mamkai-Meche. All
ment that strives to make sure
of us are glad that Micah Dawe all feel safe and welcomed in
vid-Cole Fletcher is out of the
our home.
hospital and recovered enough
Thank you for your continued
Som Subedi (2nd from right) is pictured with the Portland Parks &
now to spread his messages of Recreation's Parks for New Portlanders Community Youth Ambassadors generosity and compassion.
[Editor's Note: Following the May 26 tragedy on the MAX,
Portland's public transportation system, Som Subedi, who
heads Portland Parks & Recreation's Parks for New Portlanders program, shared the following post on the agency's Facebook page. It has been slightly adapted for publication here.
Given the increasing frequency of acts of violence against those
who some have deemed " not American, " this post reminds us
of the importance of making all members of our communities
feel welcomed in our facilities.]

In Solidarity with New Portlanders

Parks & Recreation

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July 2017 - Parks & Recreation

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