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Community Advocacy Highlights – What’s Happening In Southeast?

  • by Muz
  • May 2, 2019May 6, 2019

By: Leah Fisher, Neighborhood Planning Manager

It is finally spring! Look around Southeast Portland, what do you see? Flowers blooming, rain falling, people outside working and playing? At SE Uplift that’s not what we see… ok, maybe we see that too. At SE Uplift we see our neighbors joining together to make streets safer for walking and biking, transit more accessible, the air cleaner, and to preserve the historic character of our main streets. There are a number of groups across our coalition area gaining traction on a number of livability issues. They are making change happen by sharing information, creating collaborations, and conducting strategic advocacy with key decision-makers at all levels – state, region, and locally.

We just had to share what dedicated volunteers have been up to and also share these advocacy opportunities with others passionate about these land use and/or transportation causes. Review the efforts going on across SE Portland, join in, share, replicate, and let’s all work together to help everyone in our community thrive.

Want more information on these groups, or to connect? 

  • Learn more about PNDA here and here, and connect at contact@pnda.info
  • Visit Main Street Design Initiative’s website here.
  • IPA meets monthly, to connect and learn more, email IPA’s main point of contact at ckna.landchair@gmail.com.
  • Visit SEAM’s website here.
  • Attend an 82nd Avenue Coalition meeting, the 4th Monday of the month 7-8:30 at the Lumberyard on 82nd Ave.

Want to learn more or did we miss your advocacy efforts? Connect with Leah Fisher, Neighborhood Planning Program Manager or join us for our monthly Land Use and Transportation Committee meetings.

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Muz Afzal

Muz Afzal is the Community Resource Manager at SE Uplift. He also is a community engagement liaison building networks with diverse communities throughout Portland. Muz works with the Portland United Against Coalition, a community initiated partnership of organizations, concerned communities, and the City of Portland, working with the Office of Community and Civic Life to build a rapid response system that combines reporting and tracking of hateful acts and providing the support and protection our communities need in this uncertain era. Another part of Muz’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Muz earned a BA in Philosophy with a Minor in Global Sustainability. He was a Public Relations Intern with city government in Sacramento, and worked in housing and support services for houseless community members in Portland before joining SE Uplift. He is motivated by a desire for a more just and kind world by raising awareness to disparities stemming from cultural, racial, economic and social injustices. Muz speaks Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Muz is the SEUL staff liaison to six  Neighborhoods: Creston-Kenilworth, Eastmoreland, Montavilla, and SMILE (Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League), Laurelhurst, and Hosford-Abernathy.

Muz was born into a Muslim Pakistani family in California, and was raised on a small farm. He spends his time volunteering, fostering dogs, cooking and gardening.

Leroy Eadie

Leroy is the Executive Director for SE UPLift!

He has the wonderful opportunity to work with an outstanding staff and Board to carry out the mission of SE Uplift. He feels very lucky to get to work in such a great community and is excited to his best to make a difference.

Leroy has a bachelors in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University. His background has been mostly in local government – working for 25 years for the City of Spokane. Leroy worked for 15 years in the Planning Department and for 10 years as the Parks and Recreation Director.

He loves to be outside on his time off. His favorite outdoor activity is backpacking – in the last five years or so he has been working to complete the Washington Section of the Pacific Crest Trail. He and his wife also love camping in their tear drop trailer with their two dogs Frisky and Charlie. 

Mireaya Medina

Mireaya manages the Community Clean up Events Program at SE Uplift and is the Communications Manager. She has found true love in combining social justice, art and digital design, while working to keep neighborhoods clean. Mireaya also works with the Portland United Against Coalition, a community initiated partnership of organizations, concerned communities, and the City of Portland, working with the Office of Community and Civic Life to build a rapid response system that combines reporting and tracking of hateful acts and providing the support and protection our communities need in this uncertain era. Another part of Mireaya’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Mireaya has directed programming and been an instructor at a variety of social justice nonprofits and has a degree in Design. She has expertise in empowerment, community engagement and leadership development.

Mireaya is the SEUL staff liaison to four Neighborhood Associations: Foster-Powell, Kerns, South Tabor, and Woodstock.

Mireaya enjoys capacity building through volunteering and serving marginalized and oppressed communities, building relationships and creating new outreach strategies. She also loves 90’s jams, collecting rocks and zumba.

Leah Fisher

Leah is the SE Uplift Neighborhood Planning Program Manager, and serves as the main point of contact for community members wanting to communicate about Portland’s land use and transportation planning policy and processes. Leah supports SE Uplift’s Land Use and Transportation Committee which meets monthly and represents perspectives of volunteers from each of our twenty neighborhood associations as well as several business associations. Another part of Leah’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Leah holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning, Minor in Economics. She has worked for state and local government, and is a LEED accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Leah is the SEUL staff liaison four Neighborhood Associations: Brentwood-Darlington, Reed, Buckman, and Mount Tabor.

On any given day, Leah can be found working in her yard or garden, relaxing on the porch with her 2 daughters, playing soccer, jogging, or walking through her Southeast Portland neighborhood.

Christina Estimé

Christina is the Operations and Events Manager at SE Uplift. She develops and improves SE Uplift operational systems, manages our website, and handles inquiries about conference room use. She plans and coordinates workshops, events, and trainings for members of SE Portland that address the mission of collaborating to build informed, inclusive, and participatory neighborhoods that support our social and ecological well-being. Another part of Christina’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations and neighborhood association communication funds.

Christina has a BA in Philosophy and English with a minors in both Women and Gender Studies and Justice. She has been an Americorps volunteer working in solutions to homelessness. Christina parle le francais et Creole.

Christina is the SEUL staff liaison to three Neighborhood Associations: Mt. Scott-Arleta, Richmond, and Sunnyside.

Christina was born in Haiti and moved to New York when she was nine years old. She enjoys spending time with her friends, and watching the latest films in theaters!