Voices from the Edge on 03-01-12 Oregon lawmakers don't make the grade on racial equity

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Air date: 
Thu, 03/01/2012 - 12:00am
Oregon lawmakers don't make the grade on racial equity

Oregon lawmakers don't make the grade on racial equity

Communities of color are the fastest growing communities in Oregon, more than doubling in size - 21.5 percent of the total population - in the last two decades. But racial disparity continues to run deep despite this change. Many communities of color experience poverty rates two to three times higher than white Oregonians. Although the futue of Oregon's prosperity depends on fair opportunities and economic stabilty for all Oregonians, state lawmakers continue to fall short in dealing with these racial and economic gaps.

This week, Jo Ann and Dave talk with Western States Center's Kalpana Krishnamurthy the recently released 2011 Oregon Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity which evaluates the performance of state lawmakers in tackling this problem. Do our legislators make the grade? Join us in looking at where the 2011 Oregon Legislature succeeded and failed in facing up to our state's racial equity problem.

Jo Ann Hardesty is a former state legislator, former director of Oregon Action and past board president of Portland Community Media, as well as a long-time leader in the struggle for racial and economic justice. Dave Mazza is a journalist and former editor of The Portland Alliance who has covered and been involved in Portland's civil rights, environmental, labor and peace movements for over 20 years.

Join Jo Ann and Dave every Thursday as they bring you guests and conversations on issues that are important to you. Support Voices from the Edge by becoming a KBOO member (just click the "tip jar" in the upper right-hand corner on KBOO's homepage to find out how) or consider becoming an underwriter of this program (contact KBOO's underwriting director for details).

Co-Hosts: Jo Ann Hardesty and Dave Mazza

Producers: Dave Mazza and Jo Ann Hardesty

Program Engineer: Steve Nassar

Audio Editor: Alicia Olson

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