I have worked as a community organizer on behalf of residents trying to improve their housing and reduce crime in their neighborhood. I have worked to improve the lives of homeless individuals and families – fostering collaborations between government, non-profits and the business community to reform our public systems that provide funding and services so that we can reduce costs while creating mo
re dignified and humane ways of addressing homelessness, health care and youth violence/community safety. While I lived in Dallas, I actually sat on the board of a Housing ministry and developed strategies to improve urban development and business ownership in communities where affordable housing was located in an effort to reduce crime. I also worked with community leaders and CDC's to support housing for veterans, senior citizens and their families. Brings an understanding of process by educating the general public through community town halls, online focus groups that support the exchange of information and resources, and a commitment for using legislation and organizing to make direct change. Committed to social justice and economic equity. Problem solver and committed to collaborative leadership. Committed to making our community a great place to call home for all of us. Fourth generation Oregonian and a family history that spans the Nation in Civil Rights Leadership. An energetic advocate for all of Portland's diverse communities, Teressa brings a lifelong commitment to grassroots empowerment as well as her business and strategic program development skills. Teressa Raiford is the lead organizer of “Don’t Shoot Portland” A social justice movement in support of as a response to police brutality and the criminalization of Black American Youth. She works as a community advocate and is currently educating neighborhoods to provide safety strategies for marginalized communities. The focus is strengthening relationships to fight discrimination and organized hate.
