Journalism That Matters and the University of Oregon Agora Journalism Center have partnered with Mike Green, co-founder of ScaleUp Partners, to produce the first-ever Conversation on Inclusive Competitiveness (empowering underrepresented populations to compete in the Innovation Economy). The intersection of important community issues and the journalists who tell these stories creates quite a conversation around what's important to communities and what appears in media (or doesn't).

1. What’s the Story of
Inclusive Competitiveness?
A Collaborative Community Conversation
Friday, October 2
5:30pm - 8:30pm
University of Oregon - Portland
70 NW Couch Street
Portland, OR
Have you heard this story?
According to census data, more than 31% of the U.S. population today is
African American or Latino American with a projected growth to more
than 46% of the population by 2060. Yet, less than 3.5% of GDP comes
from these two demographic groups. How can America sustain leadership
in global competitiveness with so much of her population producing so
little?
What if we took responsibility for raising awareness and empowering
disconnected communities to work together by telling the emerging story of
Inclusive Competitiveness?
OUR PURPOSE for this evening’s conversation and collaboration is to
connect people across sectors so that we all get a greater appreciation of
related efforts occurring across the region. You may also come away with
new relationships, new perceptions and an idea of your own next step.
As part of ​Experience Engagement​, a conference on journalism,
community engagement, and impact, ​Journalism That Matters​and the
Agora Journalism Center​, are hosting this community conversation to
highlight a topic vital to Portland’s future.
This highly interactive session will bring a diverse cross section of Portland
residents involved in the innovation economy together with conference
attendees -- journalists and other community storytellers from around the
country.
Collaborative sessions will focus on…
● Stories told from across the spectrum of the innovation ecosystem
-- education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, funding,
and policymaking -- that bring about shared vision, strategy and a
framework with measurable goals to improve the productivity
performance of underrepresented populations to grow new jobs and
benefit the national economy.
● Underrepresented populations -- racial minorities, women, rural
residents -- connected to education, resources, and support to
effectively cultivate their hidden talent and value.
● Public support for policies that equip entrepreneurs from all
backgrounds to contribute to the prolific growth of innovation
ecosystems and fast-paced industries that improve the economy.
● Inclusion and economic well-being of, by, and for us all.
Registration is free, but space is limited. So please ​register​soon and join​us
to jump start a conversation to bring these aspirations to life in Portland --
and beyond.
￩Inclusive Competitiveness​is a
vision and strategy that empowers
underrepresented populations to
actively engage and compete in a
globally competitive innovation
economy. Local efforts are seeking
to address this important issue of
economic inclusion and
competitiveness in the Greater
Portland region​.
￩Journalism That Matters​is a
nonprofit that convenes
conversations to foster
collaboration, innovation, and
action so that a diverse news and
information ecosystem supports
communities to thrive. We believe
journalism matters most when it is
of, by, and for the people.
￩Agora Journalism Center​is the
gathering place for innovation in
communication and civic
engagement. It is devoted to
nurturing transformative
advancements for better journalism
and stronger democracy.

2. Why you should attend
If you are in education K-12 and higher education, workforce development,
small business development, economic development and urban planning,
community foundations, local corporate entities, NGOs or someone
concerned about Portland’s future… ​Register today​!
Agenda (5:30-8:30pm, Friday, Oct. 2)
5:30 Buffet Dinner, Registration
6:30 Program
● Welcome - Andrew DeVigal
● Introduction to Inclusive competitiveness - Mike Green
● Community conversation - Peggy Holman (facilitator)
The bulk of our time together will involve a lively exchange intended
to bring to life the story of Inclusive Competitiveness in Portland.
We will envision how it manifests across community sectors
individually and collectively today and in the future.
● Next Steps
8:30 Adjourn
Meeting Hosts
● Airship Technologies
● Built Oregon
● City of Portland
● Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
● Oregon Story Board
● Portland Incubator Experiment
● TiE Oregon
Organizers
● Agora Journalism Center
● Journalism That Matters
● ScaleUp Partners
￩​This Friday evening community
event is a part of a larger gathering,
Experience Engagement​, Oct 1-4,
which brings together the best
practitioners on the leading edge of
engaging with communities to learn
from one another.
￩​For the ​community
conversation​, we'll be using the
World Cafe​, which creates a living
network of connected small-group
conversations focused on shared
“questions that matter” in order to
foster the emergence of collective
intelligence and committed action.