Urban League MLK Day Brunch Remarks
January 19, 2026
Good morning, everyone—and thank you to the Urban League of Portland.
For 80 years, the Urban League of Portland has been a force for opportunity, dignity, and justice in this state. Eight decades of standing with Black Oregonians and communities across Oregon and Southwest Washington—advancing equity in education, employment, health, housing, and economic security.
It is an honor to be here on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, surrounded by people who are committed not just to remembering his legacy, but to carrying it forward through action.
That kind of impact doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because of values, trust, and persistence—and because the Urban League has always understood that justice requires both moral clarity and practical solutions.
Dr. King believed deeply in that same truth. His historic connection to the Urban League here in Portland reminds us that Oregon, too, is part of the national story of the civil rights movement and part of the ongoing responsibility to make equity real.
Dr. King challenged us to measure progress not by our intentions, but by our outcomes. He asked us to confront systems that produce inequality and to replace them with systems rooted in fairness and opportunity.
That challenge is just as urgent today.
We are living in a moment when division can feel loud and the challenges before us such as housing affordability, economic insecurity, mental health and addiction can feel overwhelming. But when I look around this room, I see something else.
I see the forces of good. I see community leaders, advocates, faith leaders, and public servants who refuse to accept that inequality is inevitable. I see people who believe government can be a partner in justice—and who work every day to make that belief real.
As Governor, I am proud to stand with the Urban League of Portland in advancing policies that expand opportunity, protect civil rights, and strengthen communities. Progress is not always easy, but it is possible.
On this MLK Day, as we honor Dr. King’s legacy, let us also honor the living legacy of the Urban League: an institution that turns vision into action and hope into results.
Thank you for your leadership, your partnership, and your continued commitment to justice.
Happy MLK Day—and let’s keep doing the work.