Unite Oregon

Mission

For over 22 years, Unite Oregon has been working to eliminate systemic inequities and fight for a just and equitable society for immigrants, refugees, people of color, and rural communities across Oregon. 

Led by immigrants, refugees, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Unite Oregon is the only intercultural movement-building nonprofit in Oregon with four chapters in northern/southern Oregon serving 70,000+ members/supporters and organizing communities across the urban-rural divide.

Bottom Line for Portland

Unite Oregon works across six key pillars to advance immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities in Portland - Climate Justice, Equitable Economic Development, Housing Justice, Health Equity, Education Equity, and Reimagining Community Safety. 

From our small business incubator program launching 40 new immigrant, refugee, BIPOC small businesses in East Portland, to our immigrant and refugee-led community gardens in Knott Park, to our Black Policy Table, which brings together Black community leaders in Oregon, Unite Oregon delivers powerful leadership development programs to train over 100 immigrant, refugee, and emerging leaders of color a year to tackle the issues that most affect their lives - from climate change to affordable housing. 

In 2024, we plan to launch bold, new projects to advance immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC people in Portland, including converting our headquarters into a Climate Resilience Innovation Center, providing not only an emergency cooling and heating center with emergency supplies, but also offering wraparound services and resource navigation, a childcare center, and workforce development hub.

Quote

"To bring representation and more faces that look like me, give back to my community, and leverage a platform for them. To be the first but not the last. I am excited to be part of the policy team at Unite Oregon because I feel closer to my community. I want to motivate our community to turn their passions into culturally appropriate resources and advocate for our often left-behind voices." - Metzin Rodriguez, Climate and Environmental Justice Policy Coordinator

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our by-laws require that our board, staff, and membership be at least 50% immigrant, refugee, or people of color - our director team is 100% Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), immigrant and refugee and our staff is 80% immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC; collectively, we speak 12 languages. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the center of our mission to advance immigrants, refugees, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color throughout Oregon.

Incentives

Scottie's Pizza Parlor: The first 10 donors who give $50 or more will receive a $15 gift card to Scottie’s Pizza Parlor.

Keys Lounge: For the month of November, Keys Lounge will offer a special cocktail in honor of Unite Oregon and donate $2 of each sale to Unite Oregon.

Birdie Time Pub: The first person to give over $100 will receive a certificate for 2 for Birdie Time Pub's Golf Simulator & Game Room. It can hold up to 15 people ($85 value).

Partner(s)

Scottie's Pizza Parlor: Scottie's Pizza Parlor serves simple, well-crafted, delicious pizza as 18" round and 16" square pies to the SE Portland area.

Keys Lounge: A classic mid-century cocktail lounge inside a restored locksmith shop from 1962. 

Birdie Time Pub: Visit Birdie Time Pub, Portland's best mini golf pub & sports bar for a round of mini golf, putt putt.