March Networking Luncheon 2019

ONAC invites you to join us for our Networking Luncheon. This event provides a unique opportunity to meet, network, and build relationships with business and community leaders (Native and non-native) from across Oregon and SW Washington. Government partners will be attendance to meet with Businesses interested in contracting throughout the state.

We Recognize Metro , the Department of Equity in contracting, as our Luncheon host.

We would also like to thank The Leadership Lab and ONAC Board Member Annie Weller, for generously sponsoring our March Luncheon.

This month we will be joined by Bobby Lee of Proper Portland to talk about the Portland Means Progress Initiative. Bobby leads a department of approximately 23 professional staff responsible for programs and initiatives that support target industry clusters, community-led initiatives, business competitiveness, international trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Portland Means Progress partners with businesses to help them hire local students, connect with diverse businesses, and create healthier company cultures. The initiative will connect businesses to proven programs that support these actions, making it more seamless for the private sector to engage in this work. To begin with Portland Means Progress, businesses commit to paying a minimum of $15/hr for all staff and employees, and, take at least one of the following actions:

*Provide work experience opportunities for underrepresented youth (through service providers like ELI and SummerWorks)

*Purchase goods & services from small businesses owned by people of color (through Mercatus Directory, My People’s Market, and COBID)

*Provide Diversity, Equity & Inclusion training.

Prosper is taking the time to build this out thoughtfully, with support for businesses to enter this space in a way that minimizes harm to employees of color and provides meaningful culture change at companies.

A core group of businesses – early adopters – will provide feedback and input to develop the Portland Means Progress initiative throughout 2019 before it launches city-wide to the larger business community.