Research and Education Focused on Black History and Preservation in Oregon

Making Preservation Work Better for BIPOC Communities

 

As part of our effort to tell an inclusive story of Oregon's past, Restore Oregon partnered with the University of Oregon (UO) Just Futures Institute,  Oregon Black Pioneers, Moreland Resource Consulting, Clatsop Community College Historic Preservation Program, and the Architectural Heritage Center, to launch the Albina Preservation Initiative–a step forward to make preservation work better for Black communities and a  transformative shift for Oregon.

Unknown numbers of places have been demolished or lost due to poor public policy, misallocation of resources, and intentional discrimination.

 

Decades of exclusion have led to an egregious lack of recognition and preservation of Oregon’s physical and cultural heritage. Both are vital ingredients to building a successful, dynamic society, particularly among Oregon's Black residents.

Bridging the Gap Between Traditional Preservation
and BIPOC-Lived Experiences in Oregon

Working collaboratively with Oregon Black Pioneers, Moreland Resource Consulting,
Clatsop Community College's Historic Preservation Program, and the Architectural Heritage Center,
The Albina Preservation Initiative Goals are:
Historic Preservation that Works for All

To bridge the gap between traditional historic preservation practices and the lived experiences of BIPOC communities by publishing data, creating access, developing tools, and amplifying voices.

Statewide Inclusive Preservation

To create a safe space for difficult discussions, documenting and sharing Black preservation methods and stories with the public, and establishing a path forward for inclusive preservation statewide.

A Hands-On Preservation Program

Participate in one or all components:
Urban Racial Justice Field School

Hosted by Clatsop Community College’s (CCC) Historic Preservation & Restoration Program, the demonstration site is at the historic Mayo House in Northeast Portland. Albina community members and CCC students will learn hands-on preservation techniques focused on wood window repair, energy efficiency upgrades for existing windows, and general wood repair for historic materials. Workshop held on June 24-29, 2023, and free for Albina residents.

Register

Fill out this form and email it to Emily Falleurat at efalleur@clatsopcc.edu with the header "Mayo House Registration" as the subject line. Please include your mailing address in the application.
Albina House History Research Workshop

As part of our Albina Preservation Initiative, in hopes of documenting previously unrecorded Black history in Portland’s Albina neighborhoods, Restore Oregon, the Architectural Heritage Center, and Moreland Resource Consulting are teaming up to offer this one-day house history research workshop.

Have you ever wondered who built your house or lived in it before you? Are you curious about how your neighborhood has changed over the decades? If so, please join us for our Albina House History Research Workshop, lead by Val Ballestrem - Education Manager for the Architectural Heritage Center, on August 12 and learn new research skills while potentially helping to document and preserve Albina’s historic resources! 

WHERE
Architectural Heritage Center

701 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97214

WHEN

Saturday, August 12, 2003

10 am - 3 pm (break from noon - 1 pm for lunch)

WHO

Anyone interested in learning historic house research methods

COST

$50 for the day-long workshop

Scholarships are available to Albina residents (current or former) and students to attend for free. See scholarship details on the registration page.

REGISTER: Register online at Architectural Heritage Center  

in collaboration with

Architectural Heritage Center

Learn More or Register Today!

StoryMap with Oregon Black Pioneers

Albina in particular has seen some of the most dramatic transformations in the city over the past fifty years, as displacement and demolition have erased evidence of the Black community that once called the area home. By recognizing the homes and social hubs of Black Albina which still remain, we can ensure that the neighborhood's African American heritage is not forgotten. Oregon Black Pioneers will launch a StoryMap, a digital exhibit, to deliver those untold histories and stories.

Preservation Research of Places in Albina

Includes deep-dive research into historically and culturally significant resources in Albina by consultant Kimberly Moreland of Moreland Resource Consulting. This research will be presented at the Future of Oregon’s Black Preservation Movement Symposium.

Future of Oregon’s Black Preservation Movement Symposium

Restore Oregon and the Just Future’s Institute will co-host Dismantling Stereotypes: Black Preservation in Oregon Symposium focused on the future of Black preservation in Oregon. Scheduled for early 2024, attendees will hear about the work of the Albina Preservation Initiative, celebrate Oregon's Black history, recognize culturally-defined preservation efforts, and much more. Tickets and dates are TBD. 

The Albina Preservation Initiative

is made possible by a grant from

The PNW Just Futures Institute for Racial and Climate Justice is an interdisciplinary collaboration between leaders from the UO’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Design, and other institutions in the region, including the University of Idaho, Whitman College, and Heritage University on the Yakama Nation. With capacity made possible by the Mellon Foundation through a $4.52 million grant awarded in January 2021, the institute is tackling the intertwined issues of racial and climate justice and working toward a more just future for the region.

in collaboration with