I testified at the hearing but was very aware that outside of City Hall–we were surrounded by law enforcement from nearly every branch possible keeping the voices of so many Portlanders outside. I always wanted to learn more and see more. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty bio and information I grew up in Baltimore as one of ten children; my father was a longshoreman and my mother stayed at home with us. We need to take into account voices from every walk of life. I’m running because I want every Portlander to feel like they can be heard at City Hall. I found a can-do spirit. No matter where in the world I went I would find people who were very good, very helpful, especially to a young woman who thought she knew everything.After the Navy, I spent a few years in the Bay Area but decided ultimately that I wanted to find somewhere else to settle down as my permanent home. So right out of high school, I joined the Navy, and I loved it. To request these services, contact I went to so many different places, from Hong Kong to Kenya and everywhere in between.
I finally decided on Oregon because it had things I was looking for— the ability to be close to the water and mountains, and a place where I felt like I could really make a difference. I was fortunate that my first job in Oregon was with the Black United Fund. So right out of high school, I joined the Navy, and I loved it. There were so many people that I worked with who didn’t necessarily have formal training but they saw an ill that was taking place or something that needed to be changed, and they were willing to come together and improve it.
I’ve been an advocate for years now and have felt so many times Iike I’m just banging my head against the doors of City Hall, hoping that somehow things will change.
That time really informed my opinion that most people are naturally good people.
By the time I graduated high school I had read pretty much anything that I wanted to read in our library. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty bio and information I was stationed in the Philippines, working in the personnel office, and then had the opportunity to be on board ship. I grew up in Baltimore as one of ten children; my father was a longshoreman and my mother stayed at home with us.
Hardesty is the first African American woman to serve on Portland's city council.
They just had to listen to good people who were interested in making the city better for EVERYONE and use that to make public policy. There’s an opportunity to not be divided by where one lives in the city, by economics, gender, race, sexual orientation or any other way that we can find division, but to be one Portland.
I was stationed in the Philippines, working in the personnel office, and then had the opportunity to be on board ship. I went to so many different places, from Hong Kong to Kenya and everywhere in between. There were so many people that I worked with who didn’t necessarily have formal training but they saw an ill that was taking place or something that needed to be changed, and they were willing to come together and improve it. I always wanted to learn more and see more.
They just had to listen to good people who were interested in making the city better for EVERYONE and use that to make public policy. I was so fortunate to work for an elected official like her because she was true and consistent to what she said she would do.
No matter what part of town she was in or who she was talking to, she cared deeply about what they had to say. We need to take into account voices from every walk of life.
I was so fortunate to work for an elected official like her because she was true and consistent to what she said she would do. We need to find commonality.
I’ve been an advocate for years now and have felt so many times Iike I’m just banging my head against the doors of City Hall, hoping that somehow things will change.