Since the 2017 state legislative session, which brought new investments in mass transit, OPAL has served on the Public Transportation Investment Plan to represent the concerns of youth and bus riders in how funds are spent. Last Friday, the exhaustive process came to a […]
After an exhaustive nationwide search, OPAL is proud to introduce Janaira Ramirez, our new Oregon Just Transition Alliance Organizer! Janaira was born and raised in New York City, the oldest of three daughters born to Dominican parents. She relocated to Portland this week, but […]
OPAL is proud to present our 2017 Annual Report! This year, we decided to create a consolidated publication to share our many victories from the past year with our community. OPAL tackles many different issues around Environmental Justice, but in this one place you […]
YouthPass means opportunity. YouthPass means greater equity. YouthPass means a cleaner environment. With Youth Environmental Justice Alliance leaders, OPAL staff, and community allies showing up for YEJA, an overwhelming majority of the testimonies shared at the July 27th meeting of the HB 2017 Advisory Board were […]
Transportation is a human right. Sustainable, equitable funding for youth transportation access is a key goal of the local youth-led movement for transportation justice. Youth Environmental Justice Alliance (YEJA), Multnomah Youth Commission, our allies and supporters have long been working with school districts and […]
It’s time to train the next cohort of the bus Riders Unite Fellowship! We are accepting applications until June 22nd for the next group of movement leaders. The cohort will begin their training on July 5th, and will be organizing with Bus Riders Unite for […]
One year ago, on May 26th, three courageous individuals put their lives on the line to stop white supremacist violence on our public transit system. Honoring the fallen, we wrote: “Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, Ricky Best, and Micah David-Cole Fletcher did not know each other, […]
OPAL and YEJA would like to thank our allies and partners for their support in working towards securing YouthPass for East Portland youth. We celebrate the successful implementation of the YouthPass program for the 2017-2018 school year at David Douglas High School and Parkrose […]
By Orlando Lopez Bautista, BRU Organizer I am a bus organizer. I talk to folks about their transit experience and how folks would like to see the system improved. Today I saw a group of folks who appeared homeless at the Gateway Transit Center. […]
“My dad’s an immigrant and he’s paid under the table,” says a youth, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He should be making $3000 but he’s making far less because he’s an immigrant. My mom works at Subway, she’s not making a lot of money.” […]