FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media contact: Cat Goughnour, radix.pdx@gmail.com, #Right2Root
Radix Consulting Group LLC Partners with ZGF Architects LLP
and I-SEEED on Right 2 Root Initiative
North Portland, OR -- Radix Consulting Group LLC is honored to announce our strategic partnership with ZGF Architects LLP and Oakland-based Institute for Sustainable Economic, Educational and Environmental Design (I-SEEED) in support of the Right 2 Root™Campaign - part of Radix’s Community RE/Construction 3.0 Initiative™- aimed at addressing the impacts of gentrification on Black communities through a Health/Wealth Strategy™.
Led by Radix Consulting, Right 2 Root™ is a grassroots, community-funded and led neighborhood development campaign. It is designed to create a people- and place-based community stabilization program for Portland’s Black/African American residents using the EcoDistricts approach as a means to reduce disparities, increase opportunities and generate prosperity.
“Right 2 Root™ addresses critical health and economic needs in the community by working from an asset-based, engaged-community model that roots the power to “placemake” in the hands of the people most connected to place - building community by, for and with us”, says Cat Goughnour, founder of Radix Consulting and Right 2 Root™. Community members will continue to vision how development of the Black community’s historic center can take shape in a way that is more inclusive and supportive of folks who want to continue to live and work here, as well as to return.
Through the sponsorship of I-SEEED, an award winning non-profit that specializes in cutting edge participatory and health information communications technology, community engagement and outreach, and environmental design with vulnerable populations, ZGF Architects - architecture, interior and urban design firm founded in Portland, OR, will contribute capacity building technical assistance to support the success of the Right 2 Root™ Campaign. This co-incubation will strengthen the community development process piloted in 2015, and outlined in Radix’s Phase I draft report co-created with Salazar Architects, Center for Public Interest Design, and other progressive firms.
Phase II: Via a series of community meetings and activities, ZGF will bolster community efforts by providing technical assistance to aid in partnership building, co-creation of development concepts, and goal setting.
Phase III: Participants will groundtruth planning efforts through the use of innovative technology. “Through using Streetwyze’s mobile platform and health information communication technology, Portland’s displaced African American community members will be able to input and aggregate real-time data about their access to quality amenities, services and resources within and outside their historic cultural center. This will support better community development efforts by the Right to Root™ initiative,” said Charles Kelley, associate partner at ZGF Architects
The campaign aims to identify and build upon community assets; build healthy, holistic infrastructure to maximize health,innovation and maker opportunities for the most vulnerable; prioritize community redevelopment and resource allocation through an equity lens; and foster resilience to weather the physical, emotional, socio-economic, and cultural effects caused by ‘root shock’ from multi-generational serial forced displacement.
Right 2 Root™ brings together community members, architects and planners, city and county officials to work collaboratively on a Community Master Plan that addresses the needs of Portland’s Black communities. The campaign will provide the tools necessary for people to become community builders, planners, leaders and decision makers.
“As well as overcoming barriers, Radix’s Right 2 Root™ strategic partnership promises to lift up and build upon what is already working for Black Oregonians. Some are thriving. Together, we will work to ensure equitable development by connecting ALL community members to prosperity through people powered placemaking”, Dr. Antwi Akom, Co- Founder and CEO of ISEEED and EcoDistricts Board Member.
Community members, public and private social innovators, and interested press are invited to learn more about our upcoming Right 2 Root™ activities at our October 15, 2016 anniversary celebration! For more information, please contact Radix Consulting at the contact information listed above.
