This project delves into the ways in which community members exercise and experience everyday democracy while using, defending, and protecting Columbia Park in North Portland. Our ultimate aim is to understand the compromises they make in both participating and disengaging as they attempt to establish civil dialogue to protect North Portland’s esteemed public spaces. By organizing community engagements we will collectively reflect on questions such as: what is democracy? and who is it for? In exploring these questions, we will showcase how the commons experience “everyday democracy” and how it might be distant from the description that emerges from institutional spaces. Project outputs will include designing and hosting an exhibition (either at the University of Portland or Columbia Cottage) in which we present, through storytelling, how community members experience everyday democracy when it comes to defending North Portland public spaces.
Beatriz Itzel Cruz Megchun is an Associate Professor of Design and Innovation at the Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. School of Business. One of her research areas focuses on exploring the city and how inhabitants intervene through place-making practices. She also has over twenty years of experience working as a cultural worker in different areas worldwide. In addition, she is involved in various types of projects with non-governmental organizations and government institutions that address social inequalities.
Year: Senior
Major/minor: Computer Science Major, English Minor
Hometown: El Dorado Hills, CA
Why PRF: As a cross-disciplinary student, I'm passionate about bringing together different disciplines to address problems in the community. PRF is the opportunity not only to work across the university with other students, but to work with the city of Portland itself. I'm honored to be working with the Fellows, and hope to conduct relevant research on democracy for our time.
Year: Senior
Major/minor: Biology with a Chemistry minor
Hometown: Mililani, Hawai'i
Why PRF: As an incoming senior, I feel this calling to give back to the community which has done a great deal of service in supporting me on my academic journey. So: I joined PRF to find a way in making a difference beyond the UP campus. My goal as a student fellow is to incorporate important themes such as inclusion, community engagement, and equity to strengthen everyday democracy. I am passionate about the intersection of public health and governance structures and hope to work with the community to build stronger relationships between institutions, fostering a more harmonious environment where injustices in access to communal spaces are addressed.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
