Portland State University Visitors Guide - Flipbook - Page 26
KNOWLEDGE
THAT
SERVES
Portland State alumni are part
of something greater than
themselves — they’re part of a
community working together
to build a better world. Whether
it’s fighting climate change,
creating opportunities for future
generations to succeed or working
to overcome systemic racism, PSU
alumni are the change they wish
to see in the world.
UPLIFTING
BLACK
COMMUNITIES
ience Alu
m
DAL WY
AN
Socia
l
Sc
T
AT
R
When Randal Wyatt ‘21 sees a need, he tries to fill it. In
the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Wyatt turned to
his community in search of a way to give back. He took
inspiration from what he learned while pursuing a degree in
Social Science at Portland State to found Taking Ownership
PDX.
Wyatt describes Taking Ownership PDX as a communitybased, reparations-based organization that strives to
renovate and revive Black-owned homes in Portland while
fighting back against gentrification.
“We fix up homes free of charge so they can keep their
homes,” says Wyatt, a longtime community activist and
Por tland State Universit y
26
hip-hop artist. Support for the idea “snowballed, much faster
than I could have imagined,” he says.
In the last year, Taking Ownership PDX has raised more
than $1.5 million and helped lift up more than 100 Black
families and businesses in Portland. Donors and supporters
have included real estate agents and developers.
“We have over 100 people on our waiting list,” Wyatt
says. “I’m meeting with other communities about the model
I’ve used. I would love to have a hand in creating Black
homeowners.” It’s been a wild ride, he says, and something
he’s amazed he can do for a living.
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