Arts & Entertainment
City Of Hillsboro Celebrates Juneteenth
El Grito Community Festival, in partnership with Centro Cultural, engages community members and celebrates Latinx heritage.
Find out what's happening in Hillsborofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
By broadening our reading experience, we gain understanding and insight of the history race relations in our country. By developing insight and understanding, we can strengthen empathy and compassion.
Below you will find curated lists of reading, videos, and research articles created by Library staff and available through the Washington County Cooperative Library Services catalog.
Find out what's happening in Hillsborofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Celebrate Juneteenth!
Two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, American slavery came to an end and a celebration of freedom was born.
A powerful moment in Black history, Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when news arrived in Texas that the Civil War was over and 3.5 million enslaved Americans were officially free.
Browse the Celebrate Juneteenth! resource list through the WCCLS catalog.
Understanding Race
Books for Adults
Books on Understanding Race for Adults by Hillsboro Recommends is a staff-created list. These titles were selected because they can help us gain a broader understanding of race relations in our country. Through insight and understanding comes greater power for change.
Streaming Documentaries
These documentaries can help us gain a broader understanding of race relations in our country.
Podcasts and Videos
Covering current events, history, popular culture, parenting, criminal justice reform, and more, this list of podcasts and online talks has something for everyone interested in anti-racism.
Books for Kids and Teens
Understanding Race for Teens and Understanding Race for Kids by Hillsboro Kids are staff-created reading lists.
- Browse the Understanding Race for Teens book list.
- Browse the Understanding Race for Kids book list.
George Floyd and the Racial Injustices We Must Address
A Message from the Hillsboro City Council
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Mulugeta Seraw. Each of their lives were ended early due to racist violence. Each would be alive today — if they were white.
We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the countless individuals who have been killed due to racism and police brutality. To our residents of color, especially our black residents, please know that we see you, we hear you, and we recognize your pain is justified. Black lives matter.
Read the full message from our Hillsboro City Council.
When We Act Together, We Can Stop Coronavirus Discrimination
Read a letter from the City Council about stopping coronavirus discrimination against our Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities and our community’s need to act together against hate and bias.
The letter is available in English and several other languages spoken by our community members through the button below.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Developing policies that place equity at the forefront takes time, resources, a commitment to learn, and a dedication to be inclusive.
In 2019, the Hillsboro City Council made it a citywide priority to:
Support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in City policy-making and in the delivery of services by adopting an equity statement, continuing DEI training, and utilizing an equity lens.
Read the full 2019 City Council priorities.
The City Council also declared it a guiding principle to:
Instill diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential parts of policy-making and the delivery of City services.
We are working on an inclusion and engagement strategy to benefit everyone. Read the "Building Equity and Inclusion in Our City" news article to learn more.
Equity Statement
The City of Hillsboro is committed to equity. Equity work aims to remove barriers and eliminate social and economic disparities by centering those who have been excluded from the decision making process. Equity is the pursuit of equal outcomes.
We acknowledge that equity, particularly racial equity, is essential to providing exceptional public services — and to creating an inclusive and safe work environment for everyone.
The City recognizes that people of color and other communities continue to be marginalized and excluded – both intentionally and unintentionally — from constructing the institutions that govern our lives and the services we depend on to protect our health, safety, and well-being. We further acknowledge that structural and cultural barriers impact access to, and representation in, City government.
The City of Hillsboro has a pivotal role in creating a sense of belonging for all people. We must be inclusive in developing and implementing policies to ensure that City services are responsive to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and other individual identities.
We acknowledge that without an intentional focus on equity, we will continue to perpetuate and deepen inequality.
To realize our mission and core values, the City of Hillsboro commits to integrating equity into the fabric of our organization and the delivery of public services in pursuit of equal, fair, and just outcomes for all.
Background and Public Engagement
In 2019 the City’s Equity Team drafted an Equity Statement to reflect why our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to realizing our mission and core values.
In August 2019 the Equity Team shared the draft statement and requested comments from community members, employees, and City Council. With this feedback, the Team created the Revised Draft Equity Statement.
The Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to approve the official Equity Statement during its December 3, 2019 meeting.
- For more background information on the revised draft Equity Statement, read the Equity Team staff report.
- Read the initial draft Equity Statement.
City of Hillsboro Programs and Projects
Cultural Arts Action Plan
Adopted in 2018, the City’s Cultural Arts Action Plan encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion in arts and culture.
Its strategies include:
- Adding new, inclusive City events,
- Expanding opportunities for under-served populations and people with disabilities, and
- Emphasizing outreach to non–English-speaking community members.
Civic Leadership Academy
Each year, the Academy engages a diverse group of residents to:
- Learn about city government,
- Build leadership skills,
- Research a topic of community importance, and
- Make recommendations to City Council.
The Academy is an opportunity for community members who are not typically represented in local government to build connections and become leaders in the community.
Since 2016, more than 10 Academy graduates have gone on to serve on City of Hillsboro boards and commissions — and the City Council. Learn more about the Civic Leadership Academy.
Job Training Opportunity Program (JTOP)
The Job Training Opportunity Program engages talented, English/Spanish bilingual community members to gain work experience and training as part-time, entry-level customer service assistants with the City of Hillsboro.
More than 30 have participated since the program’s launch in 2013, and several JTOP graduates now hold full-time positions with the City. Plus, the entire community benefits from excellent bilingual customer service.
Learn more about the Job Training Opportunity Program.
HiLight Internet Service
The City is launching a new internet and phone service to increase equity throughout the community by offering affordable high-speed internet for all. HiLight’s Bridge program will offer eligible low-income families gigabit speed internet for just $10 per month. Learn more about HiLight.
The Outpost
A free summer lunch program for kids, the Outpost brings our community together to eat, exercise, learn, and play while enjoying our local parks.
Camp Eagle
Camp Eagle is a summer day camp for kids 7 – 12 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. The name EAGLE encompasses the goals for kids attending the camp: Empowerment, Adventure, Growth, Leadership, and Experiences. Through first-hand learning, free play, team building, art, and outdoor exploration, Camp Eagle provides fun summer activities, a chance to meet new friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Latino Outreach Plan
The City’s Communications and Marketing team shares culturally relevant City information and engages in personal outreach to welcome, build trust, and serve Hillsboro’s Latino population. The outreach plan includes a ¡Creciendo Juntos! newsletter in Spanish, as well as personal engagement and a variety of community events.
Sanctuary City Resolution
In March 2017, the Council designated Hillsboro a Sanctuary City, emphasizing the City’s commitment to provide a safe and welcoming community to all individuals, regardless of ethnicity or immigration status.
Read the full Sanctuary City Resolution.
Accessibility for People with Disabilities
The City provides appropriate aids and services to communicate effectively with people with disabilities and will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy City programs, services, and activities.
Community Partnerships
Prosperidad Economic Empowerment Center
A partnership with Centro Cultural, Prosperidad develops workforce opportunities and advancement for hard working individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet.
Cocinemos (Let’s Cook!)
A collaboration between local nonprofit Adelante Mujeres and the City of Hillsboro, Cocinemos utilizes the City’s Community Senior Center kitchen to teach future entrepreneurs what it takes to successfully run a food-based business.
Coalition of Communities of Color
In 2018, the City of Hillsboro financially supported the Coalition of Communities of Color’s report: “Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County.”
Portland Community College’s (PCC) Future Connect Program
Since 2013, the City of Hillsboro has contributed $650,000 in scholarship support to a total of 300 Hillsboro students who are either low-income or first-generation college students.
The City has hired more than 25 PCC Future Connect students as paid summer interns.
Equity Events
Pride Party: To celebrate what unites us and makes us unique, the City kicked off Pride Month 2019 with Hillsboro’s inaugural Pride Party, a free family-friendly community event.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, in partnership with Human Rights Council of Washington County, celebrates his work in advancing human rights for all.
El Grito Community Festival, in partnership with Centro Cultural, engages community members and celebrates Latinx heritage.
The Latino Cultural Festival, in partnership with Hillsboro’s Chamber of Commerce, celebrates diversity in Hillsboro and embraces the traditions of the Latinx community.
This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro . The views expressed here are the author’s own.
