Connections

We all have intersecting identities (race, gender, age, ability, sexuality, religion, size, and socio-economic status just to name a few). An important part of healing and growth might be connecting with (or receiving services from) others who share an understanding of those identities. Here is a far from complete list to get you started.

The Empathic Civilization

African American

• Avel Gordly Center for Healing at OHSU (one of the few practices in the NW that focuses on culturally sensitive care for the African and African-American community)
• Black Alliance & Social Empowerment (a volunteer nonprofit community organization that provides events, community information-sharing, connection, support, and resources that work towards the well-being and advancement of Black people living in Southern Oregon)
• Black Parent Initiative. BPI’s mission is to educate and mobilize the parents and care-givers of African-American and African American Multi-cultural children to ensure they achieve success.
• Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
• City African-American Network seeks to build a common bond of fellowship among Black employees who serve the City of Portland
• Imani Center (provides culturally specific and responsive Afrocentric approaches to mental health and addictions treatment, peer support and case management)
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Portland
• Self Enhancement, Inc.

Asian & Pacific Islander Americans

• Asian Health & Services Center
• Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
• United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance (UTOPIA), Portland

Hispanic Americans

• Casa Esperanza a culturally specific, trauma-informed group home, located in Clackamas County, provides free, temporary housing, case coordination, and advocacy for women affected by domestic violence.
• Conexiones (bilingual Spanish/English mental health providers who specialize in multi-cultural counseling and trauma)
• Oregon Latino Health Coalition
• Puentes Bilingual staff available for alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment.
• Spanish National Suicide Prevention Hotline
• Susan G Komen Latina Initiative A culturally specific initiative to advance breast health equity focused on decreasing late stage breast cancer diagnoses among Latinas in NW Oregon and SW Washington (13 counties).
• Trans [email protected] Coalition advocates for the specific needs of the Trans [email protected] community that resides in the USA and to plan strategies that improve quality of life

LGBTQIA+

• Affirmation (LGBT Mormons, Family, and Friends) supports and encourages its members by assisting them in dealing with the Church, their families, employers, work associates and social contacts
• Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
• Brave Space
• Cascade AIDS Project
• Gender Diversity increases the awareness and understanding of the wide range of gender diversity in children, adolescents, and adults by providing family support, building community, increasing societal awareness and improving the well-being for people of all gender IDs
• Gender Spectrum works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens
• Greater Portland Trans Unity A volunteer committee organizing events to build community and foster solidarity among trans, nonbinary, intersex, and two spirit people in Portland.
• Gay and Lesbian Archives of the Pacific Northwest works to discover and publicize the history of sexual minorities in the Pacific Northwest
• Gender Queery a discussion group in Portland for trans, genderqueer, questioning, folks outside-the-gender-binary, and allies that meets the 1st Monday of each month at the Q Center
• LGBT Near Me
• LGBTQ+ Resources
• National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people
• Northwest Gender Alliance: A social, support and educational group for individuals who desire to explore and express another gender. The group cosponsors Esprit, an annual national conference for the transgender community
• Oregon Bears: A service club for bears or bear-identified gay men and their admirers
• OutCare: Find an LGBTQ+ competent healthcare provider
• Outside In helps homeless youth and other marginalized people move toward improved health and self-sufficiency and provides services for LGBTQ youth
• Prism Health
• Q Center
• Queerapy Queer therapy with Queer therapists
• Queer Vocal Groups for those who like to sing
• Quest Center
• Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC)
• TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark College
• Trans Folx Fighting Eating Disorders (T-FFED)
• Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people
• Trans Gender Resources
• Tranz Guys PDX: A peer-led social support and discussion group that meets on the third Sunday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Q Center
• Trans [email protected] Coalition advocates for the specific needs of the Trans [email protected] community that resides in the USA and to plan strategies that improve quality of life
• Trans Women of Color Collective uplifts the narratives, leadership, and lived experiences of trans people of color, while building towards the collective liberation of all oppressed people
• Trans Youth Family Allies: Organization that is supportive of trans, gender variant and gender questioning children and their families
• True Colors: recovery organization for the LGBTQIA2S community

Men

• The Mask You Live In
• Men’s Resource Center

Native Americans

• Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA) of the Northwest
• Native American Youth and Family Services (NAYA)
• Whose Land Are You On?

Slavic Americans

• Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon: Russian Social Services
• Russian Oregon Social Services Bilingual staff available to Russian refugees and immigrants. Services are free and include crisis counseling and response, immigration legal services, housing assistance, and more.
• Russian-Speaking Communities in Oregon

Women

• Hey! VINA Created to empower women through female friendship, this app is considered “the Tinder for girlfriends.”
• Peanut is an app that connects women across fertility and motherhood
• Women for Sobriety

Multicultural Organizations

• Coalition of Communities of Color in Oregon
• Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Provides wrap-around services for immigrants, refugees, and the community at large through more than 150 culturally specific programs that help newcomers achieve self-sufficiency
• Linked Inclusion
• Marissa Mission encourages young people’s development through improvisational tribal style belly dance, yogic practice, expressive art, community and empowering life skills
• Nalgona Positivity Pride
• OHSU Intercultural Psychiatric Clinic Provides mental health services to immigrants, refugees, and non-English speakers
• Oregon Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (OAMCD)
• The Oregon Cultural Trust
• Trans Women of Color Collective uplifts the narratives, leadership, and lived experiences of trans people of color, while building towards the collective liberation of all oppressed people

Learning Opportunities

• Desiree Adaway: The Freedom School
• Joy DeGruy, PhD: African American Multi-Generational Trauma & Implementing Models of Change
• Cheryl Forster, PhD: Intercultural Trainings and Assessment Services
• Resmaa Menakem, LICSW: Somatic Abolitionism