The conversation shared below was part of the YIMBYtown 2022 conference, cohosted by Sightline Institute and Portland: Neighbors Welcome.*
How can housing advocates build relationships with business leaders to support a larger agenda of housing abundance? In an era in which municipal politics are often dominated by corporate interests, civic leaders willing to speak out about the importance of proactive investment in equitable housing practices are a critical asset in the larger campaign to implement progressive policies for housing abundance and climate action.
This panel, presented by Business for a Better Portland, featured two Portland-based civic leaders who have used their positions as entrepreneurs to advocated for housing justice and transportation improvements for better urban form, providing an opportunity for advocates to learn more about how to cultivate small business leadership in their own communities:
- Ryan Guy Hashagen (Twitter: @PortlandPedals) of Icicle Tricycles (@IcicleTricycles) and Bureau and Budget Advisory Committee Member with Portland Bureau of Transportation;
- William Henderson of Ride Report (@RideReport), founding board member of Business for a Better Portland (@wearebbpdx);
- Mike Westling (moderator; @MikeWestling) of Brink Communications (@BrinkComm)
Related:
- Affordable Housing in Oregon Is About to Catch a Big Break from Parking Mandates
- Oregon Just Slashed Parking Mandates. 5 Things That Might Happen Next
- Yes, Even Walmart Wants to Build Smaller Parking Lots
*YIMBYtown 2022 occurred April 11–13 in Portland, Oregon, the fourth annual gathering (after some COVID delays) of “Yes in My Back Yard” (YIMBY) community leaders, organizers, planners, policymakers, educators, and housing providers eager to share resources and strategies for building more affordable, sustainable, and equitable communities.
