Building Adaptive Capacity Through Community Visioning

East Portland represents one of Oregon’s most diverse communities. This rich cultural tapestry reflects the strength and resilience of communities who have built vibrant neighborhoods despite facing systemic exclusion and displacement. This project focuses on community engagement efforts undertaken in collaboration with the Rosewood Initiative, a community-based organization operating in East Portland. However, the legacy of discriminatory policies and practices has created concentrated challenges in East Portland, which have relegated many residents to areas with inadequate infrastructure, limited access to services, and heightened exposure to environmental hazards. Climate change intensifies these challenges, with East Portland experiencing more severe urban heat island effects and facing greater risks during extreme weather events. This project builds upon significant previous work by MURP students. These studies, combined with ongoing community engagement efforts, provide a strong foundation for developing a comprehensive resilience hub vision that reflects community needs and aspirations.