On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced that the Oregon Department of Justice will be hosting a month-long “Community Conversations” series in an effort to hear and amplify the voices of marginalized communities in Oregon, specifically about their personal experiences with institutional racism and implicit bias, thoughts on Oregon’s new hate crime law, and how the DOJ can better assist underserved Oregonians.
During these sessions, discussions about the Department of Justice’s funding in relation to marginalized communities will be discussed. Community Conversation sessions will concur with the $9 million in grant funding being released, which will be utilized to push justice and state support for underserved Oregon citizens. More specifically, this money will be going toward culturally specific crime victim service programs.
Rosenblum explained, “We want to create a safe place for people to discuss these issues, and we want to learn how we can improve access and decrease barriers for Oregonians to receive support within our DOJ-funded programs. With all the pain and uncertainty in the world right now, I am really pleased that Oregon DOJ’s Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division and our new Bias Hotline are available to support Oregonians who are experiencing hate, bias, and other forms of victimization.”
The marginalized groups being heard from include the following communities: LGBTQIA+, Religious Minority, Latinx, Black/African-American, Asian Pacific Islander, Undocumented/Migrant Farm Worker, Houseless/Mental Illness, Native American, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Disabilities and Limitations, and Refugee/Immigrant. Every Community Conversation session will be free and open to the public with no RSVP needed.
Here is the information for each session:
LGBTQIA+ Session: Monday, July 6, 2020, 1-3pm
Click here to join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Or dial in toll-free for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 804 1146, Password: justice
Religious Minority Session: Wednesday, July 8, 2020, 1-3pm
Click here to join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Or dial in toll-free for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 613 1955, Password: justice
Latinx Session: Friday, July 10, 2020, 1-3pm
Click here to join with video: https://oregondoj.webex.com »
Or dial in toll-free for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 177 1055, Password: justice
Black/African American Session: Monday, July 13, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 606 1693, Password: justice
Asian Pacific Islander Session: Wednesday, July 15, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 774 8651, Password: justice
Undocumented/ Migrant Farm Worker Session: Friday, July 17, 2020 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 572 6005, Password: justice
Houseless/Mental Illness/Substance Issues Session: Monday, July 20, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 212 5668, Password: justice
Native American Session: Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 507 4831, Password: justice
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Session: Friday, July 24, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 799 3920, Password: justice
Disabilities and Limitations Session: Monday, July 27, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 222 2838, Password: justice
Refugee/Immigrant Session: Wednesday, July 29, 2020, 1-3pm
Join with video: oregondoj.webex.com »
Toll-free # for audio-only: 1-855-797-9485
Event/access code (needed for online and phone participation): 133 878 1320, Password: justice
By Cara Nixon
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