

A benefit for Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
This event was on October 15, 2020
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the root causes of racial disparities in housing, you will not want to miss this event.




Learn about the impacts of Portland’s racist housing practices.
Hear from one of Portland’s most highly regarded leaders—Rukaiyah Adams— as she helps bring to light racial disparities in wealth, its impact on the Black community, and how we can build a more equitable future.
Explore how affordable homeownership can help create a path towards equity for people living on low incomes and communities of color.
Come ready to learn and inspired to act. This educational event will raise critical funds to continue Habitat for Humanity’s work in North and Northeast Portland.
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the root causes of racial disparities in housing, you will not want to miss this event.
Learn about the impacts of Portland’s racist housing practices.
Hear from one of Portland’s most highly regarded leaders—Rukaiyah Adams— as she helps bring to light racial disparities in wealth, its impact on the Black community, and how we can build a more equitable future.
Explore how affordable homeownership can help create a path towards equity for people living on low incomes and communities of color.
Come ready to learn and inspired to act. This educational event will raise critical funds to continue Habitat for Humanity’s work in North and Northeast Portland.
Why Habitat for Humanity is a part of the solution
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East believes that everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home. Since 1981, we’ve partnered with people in the Portland Metro region who help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Over 80% of the people we collaborate with in our homeownership program are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
Over the last 5 years, Habitat for Humanity partnered with the City of Portland and other local nonprofits to enact the North/Northeast Preference Policy. A first of its kind in the nation, this initiative prioritizes residents who were displaced from these areas through eminent domain or who have generational ties to the area, for affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhoods they once called home. The initiative helps address the City’s legacy of displacement and marginalization of largely African American neighborhoods due to urban renewal, redlining, and racist lending policies.
Please check out our blogs below to learn more about our work with the City’s Preference Policy, and Portland’s history of housing discrimination.
LEARN MORE
Why Habitat for Humanity is a part of the solution
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East believes that everyone deserves a decent, affordable place to call home. Since 1981, we’ve partnered with people in the Portland Metro region who help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Over 80% of the people we collaborate with in our homeownership program are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).
Over the last 5 years, Habitat for Humanity partnered with the City of Portland and other local nonprofits to enact the North/Northeast Preference Policy. A first of its kind in the nation, this initiative prioritizes residents who were displaced from these areas through eminent domain or who have generational ties to the area, for affordable homeownership and rental opportunities in the neighborhoods they once called home. The initiative helps address the City’s legacy of displacement and marginalization of largely African American neighborhoods due to urban renewal, redlining, and racist lending policies.
Please check out our blogs below to learn more about our work with the City’s Preference Policy, and Portland’s history of housing discrimination.
LEARN MORE
Featured Speakers

KEYNOTE
Rukaiyah Adams
Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust & TEDx Speaker
Rukaiyah Adams’ job is to ensure the long-term strength of Meyer Memorial Trust, but Rukaiyah is not a typical investor. She pushes for transformation in finance that requires radical transparency and broader views on cost, risk and return that take into consideration impact on many stakeholders, including BIPOC communities. Before joining Meyer, she ran the $6.5 Billion capital markets fund at The Standard. She was the Vice Chair of the Oregon Investment Council, which oversees approximately $90 Billion for the State of Oregon and PERS. Rukaiyah holds a BA with academic distinction from Carleton College and a Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School, where she served on the Law and Policy Review and as Co-President of the Law Student Association. She has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

KEYNOTE
Rukaiyah Adams
Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust & TEDx Speaker
Rukaiyah Adams’ job is to ensure the long-term strength of Meyer Memorial Trust, but Rukaiyah is not a typical investor. She pushes for transformation in finance that requires radical transparency and broader views on cost, risk and return that take into consideration impact on many stakeholders, including BIPOC communities. Before joining Meyer, she ran the $6.5 Billion capital markets fund at The Standard. She was the Vice Chair of the Oregon Investment Council, which oversees approximately $90 Billion for the State of Oregon and PERS. Rukaiyah holds a BA with academic distinction from Carleton College and a Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School, where she served on the Law and Policy Review and as Co-President of the Law Student Association. She has an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

MODERATOR
Natosha Reid Rice
Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Habitat for Humanity International
Natosha Reid Rice was recently named Habitat for Humanity International’s first Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. She is a member of the Senior Leadership Team helping to carry this vital work forward. Prior to this new role, Natosha served as the Associate General Counsel at Habitat, managing financing programs and strategies to generate sources of capital that enable Habitat affiliates to provide decent, affordable housing to families throughout the country. In addition to her work at Habitat, Natosha is the founder of Fresh Rain for Life Ministries and is the Minister for Public Life at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. She is a frequent speaker on topics such as the intersection of faith and justice, race and gender justice, leadership development and community empowerment. She has been actively involved in efforts to pass legislation and policy to protect victims of human sex trafficking in Georgia and provide for a fair workplace for women. Natosha received her J.D from Harvard Law School and then practiced commercial real estate law in Atlanta and New York.

MODERATOR
Natosha Reid Rice
Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Habitat for Humanity International
Natosha Reid Rice was recently named Habitat for Humanity International’s first Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. She is a member of the Senior Leadership Team helping to carry this vital work forward. Prior to this new role, Natosha served as the Associate General Counsel at Habitat, managing financing programs and strategies to generate sources of capital that enable Habitat affiliates to provide decent, affordable housing to families throughout the country. In addition to her work at Habitat, Natosha is the founder of Fresh Rain for Life Ministries and is the Minister for Public Life at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. She is a frequent speaker on topics such as the intersection of faith and justice, race and gender justice, leadership development and community empowerment. She has been actively involved in efforts to pass legislation and policy to protect victims of human sex trafficking in Georgia and provide for a fair workplace for women. Natosha received her J.D from Harvard Law School and then practiced commercial real estate law in Atlanta and New York.

Steve Messinetti
President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
Steve Messinetti began his 26-year Habitat for Humanity career working at Habitat’s International headquarters in Georgia. Since taking the helm at Habitat in Portland 16 years ago, the organization has tripled the number of people served annually, and currently has plans to triple this number again over the next three years. Under Steve’s leadership, Habitat has been recognized as the Green Home Builder of the Year by Earth Advantage, one of Portland Business Journal’s Most Admired Nonprofits, and received the Rotary Oregon Ethics in Business Award. Steve is an active member of numerous local housing committees.


Steve Messinetti
President & CEO of Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
Steve Messinetti began his 26-year Habitat for Humanity career working at Habitat’s International headquarters in Georgia. Since taking the helm at Habitat in Portland 16 years ago, the organization has tripled the number of people served annually, and currently has plans to triple this number again over the next three years. Under Steve’s leadership, Habitat has been recognized as the Green Home Builder of the Year by Earth Advantage, one of Portland Business Journal’s Most Admired Nonprofits, and received the Rotary Oregon Ethics in Business Award. Steve is an active member of numerous local housing committees.
Reserve Your Free Spot Today
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the root causes of racial disparities in housing, you will not want to miss this event.
Reserve Your Spot Today
If you are looking for a deeper understanding of the root causes of racial disparities in housing, you will not want to miss this event.
Our Event Sponsors
Champion Sponsor

Advocate Sponsors




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Supporting Sponsors







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Friend Sponsors
Advantis Credit Union
AKS Engineering and Forestry
Dunn Carney
Fidelity National Title
KOZ
Law Office of Michelle Da Rosa
NBP Capital
Parr Lumber
Republic Services
Toyota
Walsh Construction
Become an Event Sponsor
Sponsorships for this event are available now on a first come, first served basis. Join Habitat for this impactful event. Sponsorship packages are available at several levels and include premium event privileges for you and your guests. Contact Tor Ostrom at 503-502-3472.
Become an Event Sponsor
Sponsorships for this event are available now on a first come, first served basis. Join Habitat for this impactful event. Sponsorship packages are available at several levels and include premium event privileges for you and your guests. Contact Tor Ostrom at 503-502-3472.