Last week, the Urban League of Portland released top-line findings from a new report that examined how Black communities across Oregon are faring.

The latest State of Black Oregon — which follows up on a report of the same name from 2015 — found persistent challenges in education, while documenting substantial gains in several measures of civic participation, including voter registration and Black representation in the State Legislature.

We talk with the study’s lead author, Jazzmine Waugh, about the new report and possible solutions to the issues it identified. We’re also joined by Aislyn Brown, a Multnomah County teen and Black cultural librarian, to discuss the role of mentorship in building resilience among young Black Oregonians.

“Think Out Loud®” broadcasts live at noon every day and rebroadcasts at 8 p.m.

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News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/10/16/state-of-black-oregon-report-details-gains-challenges-among-black-communities-in-oregon/