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Annual Multnomah County event honors Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, provides perspectives past and present

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Freedom Rider Max Pavesic (center) poses with county employees and community members at annual MLK Jr. celebration.

Multnomah County Managers of Color’s annual event to honor Martin Luther King Jr. this year featured a moving presentation from Max Pavesic, a Portland resident who risked his life 50 years ago as a Freedom Rider in the civil rights movement.

“There were only 463 of us [freedom riders],” Pavesic told the gathering Jan. 11 in the boardroom. “But we are the reason the Civil Rights act passed.”

Pavesic’s remarks perfectly fit the theme of this year’s event, “The Beloved Community: the time is always right to do what is right.” [Read more]

News and Announcements

Free Multnomah County program supports family caregivers living with loved ones who have Alzheimer's disease

1/10/12 - 12:00 pm

STAR-C caregivers A Multnomah County program that provides support to caregivers looking after loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia has been featured in local news stories in The Oregonian and on KOIN Local 6.

Board unanimously approves resolution to put Multnomah County Library funding on ballot

1/3/12 - 5:08 pm

The Multnomah County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Thursday that will ask voters to renew the current library tax levy in May. The decision at the Thursday, Jan. 5 meeting is part of the two-step plan to create permanent, stable funding for the Multnomah County Library system. Contingent on county voters approving the levy in May, the county then will place a library tax district measure later this year on the November ballot.

Board of Commissioners moves to help homeless families in crisis

12/23/11 - 12:15 pm

shelter/contingency_nick fish With record numbers of children and families being turned away from overwhelmed shelters, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously agreed on Thursday, Dec. 22 to expand safe places to sleep.

The Sellwood Bridge: A New Milestone

12/16/11 - 3:18 pm

Sellwood Bridge groundbreaking The Sellwood Bridge replacement project has officially begun. A groundbreaking ceremony took place Friday, Dec. 16 at Sellwood Riverfront Park in Southeast Portland.

Q&A with André Baugh

12/16/11 - 2:18 pm

André Baugh André Baugh is the diversity coordinator for the Sellwood Bridge Project. Baugh will oversee Multnomah County’s diversity plan, which outlines how the project will address diversity and equity in the bridge’s workforce and contracting. The plan was proposed by the general contractor, Slayden/Sundt, and approved by the county.
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About Multnomah County

Population: More than 735,000 residents (the most populous of Oregon's 36 counties)

Geography: 470 square miles (the smallest of Oregon's counties)

Cities: Fairview, Gresham, Maywood Park, Portland, Troutdale, Wood Village

County Employees: About 4,500 people.

Functions: Services for seniors and disabled people, animal services, assessment and taxation, bridges, community justice, courts, elections, health, jails, libraries, marriage licenses and passports, school and community partnerships.

Elected officials: Four commissioners elected to the board by district. Elected countywide are a board chair, sheriff, district attorney and auditor.

Weekly board meetings: At 9:30 am Thursdays, first-floor board room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. 

County History: Created on Dec. 22, 1854 and named after native people in the region.