Re-Opening our Portland Hotel

Any business opening is special, as you hope to share your vision and something new with the world.   But on the cusp of the end of the pandemic, and witnessing the most important social justice movement of our lifetime, we have to say that this re-opening feels a little extra special.  Beautiful spaces are important- to soothe us, and to remember that being human is precious, and that human connection is a life force. At the same time, we also need to make some big changes, particularly in how we connect with one another.

We wanted to do something different, something to mark that all of our lives have changed, and we understand the world and each other differently now, and that we’re not just going to go back to what we were before.  We recognize that we have the opportunity to reinvent what our city is all about, and rather than thinking about how we get Portland back to what it used to be, we are asking “What kind of city do we want Portland to be?”

For us, we want Portland to be a place where everyone wants to live. A place that everyone feels safe and welcomed. We want Portland to be a place that talks about our mistakes, apologizes, and works towards restorative justice. We want Portland to be a place that celebrates Juneteenth like it celebrates Fourth of July, and where Black Lives Matter is more than just a sign you hang in your window… It’s daily work that you make happen every day.

During COVID, we founded Equity Development Lab, a foundation with a mission to assist marginalized communities in building generational wealth through business ownership and real estate.  We have made Old Town our business incubator location, and have been guiding entrepreneurs through the process of building their companies, lease negotiations, navigating government programs and policies, and we will be assisting our first few clients through the process of commercial building purchases and tenanting in Old Town.

And as Portland begins to reopen from this economic slumber of the past 16 months, we hope you’ll find our new spaces to be safe, inviting, and supportive- a respite.  That you can take a break, meet with other minds, and plan your vision to make big changes in the world happen.  The world is listening- let’s make it happen!