Oregon Black Resource Network is a community-led nonprofit organization founded by Black homeowners and small business leaders who live, work and worship together in Oregon.
Our roots are in Cully, and now we are flourishing across Oregon.
Our Story
Our founding members are building the Oregon Black Resource Network (OBRN) because Black community priorities in Cully and across Oregon often get sidelined in many of the spaces we share. We are taking charge of shaping our community's story, telling it in our own voice and on our own terms.
Our goal is to make a lasting impact in Cully, Portland, and throughout Oregon. We’re dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Black life here while speaking truth to the experiences that have shaped our journey in this region.
Our Work
Our work begins by asking our community in Oregon what we need and want. Too often, public, private, and government organizations either ignore or downplay the value of this essential step.
OBRN is a network that connects Black Oregonians with vital housing and health resources while fostering meaningful connections among the African diaspora. We celebrate Black joy in a safe, inclusive online space. Our resources are always FREE and open to everyone.
Our members contribute their professional expertise and personal experiences to drive our mission forward. We are dedicated to providing technical support and empowering our community to play an active role in shaping policies and investments that have the greatest impact on our lives.
Our Community Priorities
We are making a difference in Portland and the rest of Oregon, by creating and launching programs rooted in the needs expressed by our founding members. We believe that anyone connected to the African diaspora, as well as allies for racial justice, will find a place to call home with us.
Our work is centered around three key community priorities:
Affordable Housing
OBRN provides training and technical assistance focused on helping Black elders age in place while preserving generational wealth for their families.
Black Health and Wellness
We’re conducting neighborhood walk audits and sharing timely, actionable information with Black families about the physical and mental health disparities affecting our community.
Preservation of Black Culture
Through cultural programming that celebrates Black joy with art, music, food, and storytelling, OBRN is ensuring that Portland's Black history is shared in our own voice.
