Susheela Jayapal is a Multnomah County Commissioner. She moved to the United States from India at the age of 16; a Portlander for the last 25 years, she also has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest (her sister is also in politics, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from Washington State). Her resume is extensive and impressive, including working as Adidas America's top lawyer and serving in leadership roles with many nonprofits and community-based organizations.
In this episode, Commissioner Jayapal discusses Portland's reputation, whether or not our existing homelessness solutions are at scale, and the intersection between racial justice and criminal justice. Also: an interesting discussion about why and how the identities of the five commissioners (all women, three women of color) matter -- plus, one thing she is doing to help close the urban-rural divide. It's an interesting conversation that ranges from deep policy analysis to personal stories about her family -- we hope you enjoy!
Multnomah County Commissioner Susheela Jayapal on Homelessness & Public Safety | Ep. 17