[OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown business owners

Thu Jul 22 11:31:42 PDT 2021

I would be interested in any rural-specific resources as well. 

It’s certainly an issue in our communities, just as it is in areas of larger, more concentrated populations. As a couple of you mentioned it is less in the forefront for myriad reasons, but it does exist. We get plenty of lectures from outside about how we should address it, but the fact of the matter is – like I said in our call today – the issue presents much differently in rural communities, and a community-centered approach is the most likely chance of creating a successful strategy that the community is willing to embrace. One of the hallmarks of rural communities – and one of the reasons I am endeared to rural communities – is our independence. That independence can lead to resistance when others from outside try to tell us how to manage our business whether it’s related to equity, natural resources, land use planning, or any other issue. It only takes listening to one or two of our local government meetings to understand that aspect of our community. It doesn’t mean we can’t learn and adapt and even break down cultural barriers, but it does mean that the resources we employ must guide rather than prescribe. 

Thanks for the candid conversation today – I continue to learn from this intelligent and thoughtful collective, and I’m anxious to learn more so that I can make our community better. 

D

For some of what I have noticed in the past year with the rural communities:

I have definitely struggled with the 'knowing everybody' aspect. I was born and raised in the town I work on for Main Street, which is a blessing and a curse in terms of worki weng relationships. Our previous Mayor made headlines last year (https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/06/gold-beach-mayor-resigns-from-nonprofit-after-email-railing-against-black-lives-matter.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach,_Oregon), as well as other elected officials posting very public social media posts that were thinly veiled attacks.  At the time of our Mayor's comments, there was an equal amount of support and dissatisfaction with his comments as was reflected when he ran again in November and he barely lost. Now, our current Mayor has identities that are often marginalized, but that was more coincidental than the community intentionally voting those identities in- although it was a big step in my opinion.

I think I struggle with the lack of thinking it's a problem in our community. We do have a statement of non-discrimination for our organization, but I think if I were to bring these topics up to many community leaders, they would dismiss it as a 'non-issue'. I think it is easier for them to dismiss because we don't have much diversity in our permanent population, so they 'don't see it', even though the last year has proved it's very much a problem. 

I would welcome any more resources anyone has for rural communities. Being on the coast, we have a significant tourism economy and our traveling groups are made up of a wide array of people and I would love to make sure our community is as safe and as welcoming as possible. 

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 2:36 PM Lizzy Caston <lizzy at albertamainst.org> wrote:

I’ll join this one for sure. Alberta has had to navigate a lot of gnarly issues around racism, equity & inclusion over the years.  We’ve learned how to bring our businesses & community to come together in a force for positive change and that has really strengthened our district as a whole. It’s never easy, every community & situation is different,  but specific actions around racism can be a positive force in community building. 

I look forward to learning from others here and sharing what we’ve learned at Alberta. 

(In short summary:  we tap into the power of our businesses and community in specific positive actions in everything from multicultural family friendly events (for example we are working with businesses & the city to have a monthly #BarrioOnAlberta arts, music, food,  culture evenings one a month to support & showcase different Latin American cultures). Other actions: partnerships & events with nonprofits that serve minority businesses & communities; BIPOC specific small business support programs to help retain & recruit historically marginalized owned businesses; AAPI awareness month campaign; ongoing communications campaigns / social media to highlight diversity in our district. All this simply drowns out & bipasses racists. 

If I had one piece of advice I would see if you and that Councilperson can reach out to the person who wrote the email and offer them your support, let them know OC does not tolerate racism, period. I would be honest that you are still trying to figure out how to address this, and ask them for their opinion. That way they will at least know you are aware, you care, you respect them and they are important & welcome in this district. 

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 11:18 AM Director, Executive <exec at newbergdowntown.org> wrote:

That is an excellent idea, Sheri. See you all at 9:30a tomorrow. 

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 9:39 AM <director at coosbaydowntown.org> wrote:

Hi Sheri,

I won't be able to attend, I will be at our Board of Directors meeting.

Thanks,

Holly

Holly Boardman

Executive Director

Coos Bay Downtown Association

320 Central Ave. Suite 410

Coos Bay, Or 97420

541-266-9706

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown
business owners
From: STUART Sheri * OPRD via OMS_MANAGERS
<oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Date: Wed, July 21, 2021 9:30 am
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>

Hi all – catching up and reflecting on this email thread. I am saddened and disheartened to hear about these experiences. At the same time, I am heartened to hear that our local programs are formulating strategies to respond. I think this will be a good point of discussion for our mornings on main call tomorrow – let’s plan on sharing your experiences, resources you might know about, steps you have already taken. Here’s the link to join the conversation:

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Time: Jul 22, 2021 09:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Director, Executive
Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2021 5:19 PM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown business owners

Liz and Elisa Joy, thank you for sharing your stories about business owners and bringing this very important question to the group!

I find this a timely discussion for us here in Newberg. At our last meeting on Monday, we decided to create a subcommittee to create a statement on inclusivity and anti-racism due to some recent events in our town:

1. The school board's new members voted to re-write (or recend) the school district's anti-racism proclamation,

2. The recent tearing down and burning of Pride Flags from downtown storefronts,

3. A Proud Boy rally a few weeks ago at our flag pole, the entrance to our downtown core,

4. A new City Council Member's statement against Pride Month proclamation. 

We are meeting next week to work on our statement. In anticipation of that meeting, I told my board I would find out what statements other Main Street organizations have made on these issues. And I looked up what Main Street America has said for anti-racisim, inclusivity. I was heartened by the Main Street approach -- Main Streets are for Everyone and found it a good place for us to start as we craft our statement. 

I am interested to hear if any of your organizations have statements about inclusivity and/or anti-racism, etc.

-Polly

On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 1:51 PM Elisa Joy Payne <ej at downtownhillsboro.org> wrote:

I coincidentally had a racist situation happen with one of our businesses this week. It was one of the business' employees. She was confronting a contracted sidewalk chalk artist for not including white people in the art -  in front of a black youth standing nearby (who happened to be my 10 year old niece who was fortunately focused on her shaved ice and oblivious to the interaction). The business' employee later told a city employee that BLM art shouldn't be approved (it was a drawing of four bipoc women playing instruments - no words). We are going to be reaching out to the business owner, so I don't know what we'd do if this was the owner like in your situation, Liz. And we'll see how the owner replies.

Where does your board stand on this? I wonder what would happen if we stopped including/supporting any businesses that refuse to be willing to empathize with the harm they are doing to members of our communities and commit to learning from it? This situation is so complex in our society. 

Elisa Joy 'EJ' Payne | Executive Director 

| Hillsboro Downtown Partnership | Cultivating a vibrant community.

| o. 503-640-6145 | m. 503-341-8639

| e. ej at downtownhillsboro.org | w. downtownhillsboro.org

Follow what's happening Downtown on INSTAGRAM.

On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 12:29 PM Liz Hannum <liz at downtownoregoncity.org> wrote:

Hey all,

I had an email forwarded to me by a City Commissioner from an OC resident who felt mistreated at a downtown salon. The email is below but I'd like to hear from you, how you've either helped business owners understand that what they were saying was unacceptable from a customer service perspective, or called them out on behavior that can be easily construed as racist. We have All Are Welcome signs in some of our business windows, but this salon is definitely not the first complaint we've had about being unwelcoming to minority groups who want to spend their money here. Any and all advice would be helpful.

Email from OC Resident: "My family moved to Oregon City from downtown Portland 3 years ago and have enjoyed living away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am an elementary teacher who understands the importance of learning and teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusivity.  Today my wife, who is mexican, went to get her hair cut and colored at XXX Hair salon in downtown Oregon City. This is a process that can take many hours. During this time the owner of the salon was also getting her hair done. After many hours my hispanic wife was the only customer left, with the owner still getting her hair done. The owner of the store then made continued disparaging comments about mexicans. The owner and her stylist were looking at a picture and stated, "this looks like two Mexicans looking for work in a berry field'' and "that is the only place Mexicans could work anyway." She repeated this multiple times loudly for my wife to hear. During this time she also was playing songs with the "N" word in it. My wife was very uncomfortable as was the stylist working on her hair. She wanted to complete the cut and color and the stylist working on her hair was very apologetic and was also uncomfortable with what the owner was saying. When my wife got home she was in tears. I called the owner right away and I told her how unacceptable this was and that if this is the way she talks and acts at her business, I am sure it is much worse at home. She told me she was just joking around with a friend at the salon and that she has a lot of "Mexican Friends'',  so it wasn't discriminatory. I don't have any social media accounts, so I cannot post this, but I also do not want to stay silent. Minorities in this country have too often remained silent; whether black, brown, asian, and every other minority. I am not a minority, so I do not know first hand how it feels to be discriminated against by the color of your skin, but my wife does know how this feels and I know my mixed children will have this occur to them. It is a sad reality. I want to educate them about it, but it saddens me that it still happens in this day and age.  The behavior at XXX Salon was completely unacceptable and I would like the city council and Mayor of Oregon City to speak up and not tolerate hateful and discriminatory behavior. I want to live in an Oregon City where I know my wife and children are able to go into any business without prejudices and/or derogatory things being said. Thank you for your time."

-- 

Liz Hannum

Executive Director

Downtown Oregon City Association

814 Main Street

Oregon City, OR 97045

liz at downtownoregoncity.org

Office (503) 802-1640

Direct (503) 802-1638

fb.com/downtownoc

downtownoregoncity.org

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-- 

Polly Peterson

Executive Director, Newberg Downtown Coalition

-- 

Polly Peterson

Executive Director, Newberg Downtown Coalition

-- 

Lizzy Caston 
Alberta Main Street 
Ph: 503-683-3252
Albertamanst.org

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