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

Fat People

Body Home Fat Dance. Our goal is to inspire joyful movement, connection with our bodies, and creative expression that engages our fat bodies.
Chub Hub Portland provides a central place for the fat community to find and create size inclusive events, cultivate social connections, and support each other for more empowered lives.
Fat Forward Book Club Meeting dive into how society’s standards affect our relationship with food and body image, share personal experiences, and explore ways to nurture a healthier mindset.
Fat Girls Hiking a community where people can access outdoor spaces in a way that meets their needs.
Fat Self Care Your fat body deserves care, respect, love, fashion, travel, peace, joy, and community.

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 Latin@ Coalition advocates for the specific needs of the Trans Latin@ 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
Portland Mental Health and Wellness LGBTQAI+ Adult Intensive Outpatient Program
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 Latin@ Coalition advocates for the specific needs of the Trans Latin@ 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
Under the Desk News started out as a series expanding on news events affecting LGBT+ people and now is a go-to source for news on current events.

Men

Native Americans

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
One with Heart women’s self-defense classes
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