State-Of-Black-Oregon-2015

ESSAY 10EQUITY WILL HELP OREGONPROSPERAngela Glover Blackwell,Founder and CEO, PolicyLinkGrowing numbers of economicleaders—from Nobel prize-winningeconomist Joe Stiglitz to PresidentObama to the CEO of GoldmanSachs—believe, as the president put it, thatinequality is not only a moral travesty, but also“bad economics.” 1STRENGTHENINGOREGON’S ECONOMYTheir statements are backed by the data:inequality hinders the level and durability ofgrowth, while more equal societies experiencestronger and more sustained growth. Andthe same relationship holds true in regions: askilled workforce, high levels of racial inclusionand greater income equality correlate stronglyand positively with economic growth. 2 Harvardeconomist Raj Chetty and others show thatless racial and economic segregation and lessincome inequality correspond with greaterregional upward mobility. 3The need for racial and economic inclusion inOregon is urgent. The state’s Black population isbeing left behind as inequality rises. 4Harnessing the economic potential of the Blackcommunity by connecting workers to good jobsin growing industries will strengthen Oregon’seconomy. For these workers, it will boost incomeand economic security. To accomplish this, thereare several promising strategies.PATHWAYS TO INCLUSIONOne pathway is to foster greater racial inclusionin Oregon’s rapidly growing tech sector, dubbedthe “Silicon Forest.” 5 Access to these technologysector jobs is essential. Adopting programs likeBlack Girls Code and Code2040, which provideskills training and access to tech industry jobs foryoung people of color, can build a more multiracialnext generation of coders and tech leaders. 6Green jobs, particularly energy efficiencyretrofits of large commercial and governmentbuildings, are growing occupations that can andshould be accessible to all workers. A big stepforward is the work Portland is doing as partof the Emerald Cities Collaborative. Recently,Portland approved a Community BenefitsAgreement (CBA) for city projects. It improvesworkforce diversity, increases utilization ofdisadvantaged businesses and provides highroadwages. The CBA also provides funds foroutreach, training, oversight and technicalassistance for disadvantaged contractors. Muchmore can and should be done to extend the useof CBAs in public and private sector projects.Another pathway to equitable development isthrough neighborhood-focused inclusive andsustainable growth, like the Living Cully initiativein the Portland area. Local groups establishedthe Living Cully Ecodistrict, putting equitableeconomic development at the heart of the“Ecodistrict” concept. Living Cully is a long-term,94