This Sunday, July 21st, Parks for New Portlanders is hosting the third annual Walk with Refugees and Immigrants in partnership with the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s (PBOT)  Sunday Parkways program.  

The walk will begin at the East Portland Community Office (1017 NE 117th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97220) at 11 am. Participants will walk less than a mile to Knott City Park, where various community partners will be hosting a celebration of new Portlanders! There will be food, festivities and entertainment for the whole family as well as a variety of stories and speeches by community leaders here in Portland. 

Additionally, there will be a soccer gear and school backpack donations drive at Knott City Park for those looking to stock up on supplies for the fall.   

The Walk with Refugees and Immigrants, which began in 2017, serves as a welcome to Portland’s growing immigrant and refugee community. The walk is a part of Parks for New Portlander’s goal of connecting people who have recently immigrated to Portland with green spaces and outdoor recreation around the city. 

While we are only the 24th largest city in the US, we are proud to rank in the top 10 for refugee relocation.  Oregon was legally declared a sanctuary state in 1987 under Statute 181A.820, and in 2017 Portland was officially declared a sanctuary city. Oregon has a strong history of providing a welcoming home for refugees and immigrants upon arrival in the U.S. and we hope to be a part of building an even better future. 

Join the Outer Northeast Portland community Sunday, July 21st, 2019 to celebrate the immigrants and refugees of Portland at the Walk With Refugees and Immigrants at the East Portland Community Office.  

Celebration Walk starts at 11 am at  East Portland Community Office (1017 NE 117th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97220) 

Walk Start Time: 11:30 am 

Walk End Time: 1 pm

Walk length: 0.8 miles

Start Location: East Portland Community Office (adjacent to Hazelwood Hydro Park) 

End Location: Knott City Park 

Written by Phia Halleen