Cully Park Birthday Party Campaign
In 2018, Verde achieved a monumental milestone with the public opening of Cully Park—transforming a former landfill into a vibrant 25-acre green space for Portland's diverse and park-deprived neighborhood. This achievement not only marked a significant win for Verde but also served as a catalyst for neighborhood improvement, embodying the potential of the Cully community.
Approaching Cully Park's 5-year milestone, I spearheaded promotion for a unique celebration of success and community resilience: the Cully Park 5th Birthday campaign. This distinctive campaign, designed in Verde's brand colors, featured a logo that creatively blended the youthful spirit of a 5-year birthday with the symbolic link between Verde and Cully Park. The curved text elements, mirroring the park's landscape, added a captivating visual narrative to the campaign.
At the heart of Verde's mission is the cultivation of environmental wealth in BIPOC and low-income communities, a commitment exemplified by Cully Park. Throughout the Cully Park 5th Birthday campaign, I consistently showcased Verde's story of community-driven park development, emphasizing the transformative power of collective action in achieving such milestones.
The TREES ACT Campaign
The TREES Act (Trees Restoring Economic and Environmental Stability Act) Campaign showcases Verde's dedication to environmental wealth in frontline communities. Leading advocacy efforts and developing the communications campaign, I guided the bill through the 2023 legislative process, securing unanimous passage.
This campaign exemplifies Verde's core values, as it informed our audience and exerted pressure on Oregon legislators to prioritize environmental justice. Leveraging the power of storytelling, I testified before the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment, compelling them to support the TREES Act through a narrative that underscored its importance for our communities. I ensured accessibility by simplifying complex bill information into easy-to-understand terms for our audience and legislators.
As part of our comprehensive campaign, I crafted a one-pager that delved into the intricacies of the TREES ACT. This document was strategically distributed to legislators ahead of public hearings, a move that played a crucial role in shaping their decision-making process. Our social media campaign, featuring consistent imagery that echoed Verde's branding, further amplified our message. Through various channels, including social media, an informational blog, press release, news interview, and email newsletters, I ensured that the campaign was a beacon of the bill's significance and its alignment with Verde's mission of environmental equity and empowerment.
Prologis Proposed Distribution Center
In partnership with Verde, the Parkrose-Argay Opportunity Coalition, 1000 Friends of Oregon, and Neighbors for Clean Air, I collaborated on a campaign to halt the construction of a 250,000+ sqft. Prologis Distribution Center, situated dangerously close to residents in Argay and adjacent to Parkrose High School's athletic fields. This concerted effort aims to raise awareness and urge the City of Portland to prevent the distribution center's establishment near schools and within a residential neighborhood.
Central to this campaign is highlighting the substantial negative impacts this distribution center would impose on the community, emphasizing environmental injustice. By leveraging various channels, including social media platforms like Instagram, I played a pivotal role in disseminating information to the public and stakeholders about the detrimental effects of the proposed development. The campaign created an impactful Instagram reel, resulting in over 1,000 signatures on the petition and numerous community members engaging directly with Portland City Council members to voice their concerns.
As an ongoing initiative, this campaign underscores the importance of community advocacy and informed action in safeguarding environmental equity and the well-being of residents. Together, we continue to advocate for protecting our neighborhoods and schools from harmful industrial encroachment.