A Very Brief History of Clackamas
County’s Equity and Inclusion Office
“Clackamas County Commission members Ken Humberston and Jim Bernard marched in a previous Portland Pride Parade, but they were unseated in the 2020 election by commission members interested in defunding the county's office for diversity, equity and inclusion.” Ethan Rogers, Milwaukie Review
Timeline of Early Days of DEI in
Clackamas County 2004-2015�Primary sources: #MyClackCo Magazine, Spring 2021, and Milwaukie Review, 6/5/2023.
2004 Leaders for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council (LEDIC) created - a volunteer advisory council.
2007 Diversity Manager hired and begins operationalizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in the county.
2010 An employee-run Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council (EDIC) begins to improve county efforts to hire, train and retain a diverse workforce.
2012-2015 County Commissioners adopt three resolutions: Resolution Valuing Diversity, Resolution Affirming Equal Pay for Women, Resolution Valuing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
2013 Diversity Manager promoted to Diversity Director
2015-2020
2016 Diversity Director promoted to Assistant County Administrator
2015 Clackamas County begins participation in Portland Pride Parade.
2017-2019 Resolution Affirming Clack Co as a Welcoming and Inclusive County; provides inclusive restrooms, Commissioners codify EDI through inclusion in Performance Clackamas strategic plan.
2019 County Administrator informs Assistant County Administrator that his position will be eliminated. Asks him to write up a plan for continuing EDI in 30 days.
2019-2020 Clackamas County creates an official Equity and Inclusion Office (EIO) and seeks staff people.
Former Assistant County Administrator, 12 years leading EDI work at Clackamas County, applies, does not advance past first interview (15-minutes). Settlement later reached with County as reported by print media.
2020 Resolution condemning violence and racism. Resolution codifying Juneteenth permanently as a county holiday.
2020-2022
2020 New Equity and Inclusion Office has filled three staff positions. Mark Shull and Tootie Smith elected to County Commission.
2021 Clackamas Co. supports employee-led workgroups working on EDI, and offers a support line people feeling the impact of racism, immigration struggles and other cross-cultural issues.
2021 EIO and County hires the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) for research justice study. Work begins.
2022 In early March, EIO publishes an annual report highlighting their 4 priority areas, training, structure, community-building, and hiring / retention.
2022 Ben West elected to County Commission.
Indigenous Task Force formed in 2021 and wrote the County’s Land Acknowledgment as well as planned Indigenous Peoples’ Day Events for three years.
2023-2024
2023 End of April, Director of Clackamas Co. EIO resigns and takes a job at the Port of Portland.
June 9, Commissioners adopt the budget, including $116.7M for public safety, which is 74% of the county’s general funds. The subject of the EIO is tabled.
July 6, over 600 groups, officials, citizens sign on to a letter circulated by Here Together asking Commissioners to retain funding and support the EIO.
June – August 2023 Continued testimony from individuals and organizations speaking in support of and against of the EIO.
May 24, 2023 In a budget committee meeting, Commissioner Shull proposes cutting the entire $828,000 budget for the County's Equity and Inclusion Office. Discussion occurs, but the cuts for the EIO is not approved.
August 1, 2023, County Administrator tells Commissioners he will move the two remaining EIO staff positions into other departments, finally makes that plan in January, 2024.
LEDIC and the Task Force continue to meet under the current administration.