It is exciting to witness the efforts Tualatin is making to create a sense of belonging for all our community members. This summer, Tualatin hosted vibrant celebrations highlighting our community’s diversity. Most recently ¡Viva Tualatin! returned to Atfalati Park on July 22nd. ¡Viva Tualatin! is a celebration of arts and culture honoring Tualatin’s vibrant Latino, Pacific Islander, and Asian communities. Those who attended experienced engaging performances, delicious food, and beautiful handmade items from local artists.
Earlier this summer, a group of Tualatin community members organized our first pride celebration, the Tualatin Pride Stride. An estimated 200 people participated in the grassroots event. Individuals of all ages gathered at the Lake of the Commons to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community. The Pride Stride was about a mile and took place in the Tualatin downtown area. The participants showed tremendous gratitude for having a Pride event in their community and expressed enthusiasm for similar events to continue in the future.
Presently, the City Council Committee on Advisory Appointments is conducting interviews for the newly approved Tualatin Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Advisory Committee (also known as the I.D.E.A. Committee). This committee will assist with achieving the City Council’s 2030 Vision to be an inclusive community that promotes equity, diversity, and access. The City Council is committed to ensuring all community members have a voice and can be involved in the City’s governance. I look forward to seeing the formation of this committee and am excited to see the positive lasting impression they will leave on our community.
These activities would not have been possible without the amazing effort of our community members to make Tualatin a more inclusive city. Special thank you to Beth Dittman, Emma Gray, Kelly Horsford, Valerie Holt, Glendora Claybrooks, Stacey Dolezal, Jennifer Eidson, Rio Espinosa, Rachel Greenough, Shannon Huggins, Lusi Hong, Mike Mata, Maria Nguyen, Sharon Noell, Bryan Ortiz, BJ Park, Isabella Raymond, Shane Skinner, Kit Lorelied and the many ¡Viva Tualatin! volunteers.
