On Wednesday, June 17, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners convened for its monthly Proclamation Day, observing four recognitions highlighting elder safety, animal welfare, the end of slavery, and immigrant contributions across the County.
Elder Abuse Awareness Day
The ceremony opened with a proclamation designating June 15, 2026, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Multnomah County. The proclamation — co-sponsored by Commissioners Meghan Moyer and Julia Brim-Edwards — sheds light on both the scope and severity of elder abuse.
Representatives from Adult Protective Services, the Public Guardian and Conservator program, and local law enforcement described elder abuse as a complex issue that can include physical harm, verbal mistreatment, neglect and financial exploitation. Elder abuse is estimated to affect 1 in 10 older Americans, said Brian Hughes, a senior manager for the Adult Protective Services program, while only about 1 in 24 cases is formally reported.
Financial exploitation is the most prevalent form of elder abuse, accounting for more than $20 million in estimated annual losses for Multnomah County residents. County leaders underscored their commitment to a coordinated response system, including court-ordered public guardianship interventions aimed at protecting vulnerable older adults.
Kristen Riley, manager of the Public Guardian and Conservator program, emphasized shared responsibility in prevention and reporting.
“Recognizing and reporting abuse or concerns for the wellbeing of older adults to adult protective services is the responsibility shared by all of us,” she said.
Foster a Pet Day
The Board designated June 17, 2026, as Foster a Pet Day in Multnomah County, aligning with National Foster a Pet Month. Commissioner Brim-Edwards and Multnomah County Animal Services sponsored the proclamation.
The occasion drew a coalition of regional rescue organizations and volunteer networks, as representatives from the Cat Adoption Team, Oregon Humane, Rabbit Advocates, and Northwest Animal Companions filled the boardroom in recognition of the role foster networks play in supporting shelter operations. The proclamation highlighted how foster homes expand capacity, reduce kennel stress, and build connections, which improves long-term adoption outcomes.
“While our shelter facilities have physical walls, our foster homes give us an expandable community-wide safety net,” said Animal Services Director Erin Grahek. “Opening the sanctuary of your home, even to one animal, makes a monumental difference in that individual life.”
Juneteenth
The Board next adopted a proclamation formally declaring June 19, 2026, and each year thereafter, as Juneteenth Day in Multnomah County. Jointly sponsored by Commissioners Shannon Singleton and Vince Jones-Dixon, the proclamation traces the holiday’s origins — June 19, 1865, the day news of the abolition of slavery reached Galveston in the westernmost slave state of Texas — to its introduction in Oregon in 1948 through the advocacy of Clara Mae Peoples. Peoples is widely recognized as the “mother of Juneteenth” in Oregon.
Commissioner Singleton reflected on her childhood memories of Juneteenth and her past work in the Governor's office collaborating with Clara Peoples' descendants to establish the day as a recognized state holiday. She also highlighted the intersection of Juneteenth and Pride month, emphasizing that intersecting identities should be celebrated boldly.
“We can say happy pride and happy Juneteenth in the same breath because our joy is not in competition and our identities are not in conflict, so let us be bold and not simplify ourselves,” Commissioner Singleton said.
Commissioner Jones-Dixon shared a personal reflection on tracing his ancestry to an enslaved great-grandfather in Arkansas, calling for County systems to actively lean into historical truth-telling and equity.
“I called my grandfather last night to ask about his parents, and he told me they never talked about what they experienced because it was simply too hard,” Commissioner Jones-Dixon said. “This history is real. While Multnomah County is a leader in acknowledging this truth, we still have work to do across every single system we are responsible for.”
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson highlighted the county’s distinction as the first in Oregon to establish Juneteenth as a paid holiday, noting the importance of creating space for reflection amid national attacks on racial equity.
“Especially today, when we are really seeing attacks on principles of racial equity, Juneteenth is such an important day for us to reflect on the Black struggle for freedom, how far we’ve come as a society and the future that we must continue to strive for despite all the obstacles,” Chair Vega Pederson said.
Salomé Chimuku, Policy Director for Commissioner Singleton, introduced and read the proclamation text, and was joined at the dais by Heather Coleman Cox of Juneteenth Oregon and Reverend Cecil Charles Prescod.
Immigrant and Refugee Heritage Month
The final proclamation, co-sponsored by Commissioner Singleton and Chair Vega Pederson, celebrates June 2026 as Immigrant and Refugee Heritage Month, recognizing the cultural, social and economic contributions of immigrant communities in Multnomah County.
“Although I’m not an immigrant myself, as a Black person in America, I know what it feels like to have a government you’ve sacrificed for target you and your community,” Commissioner Singleton said. “When I read about the work being done by immigrant and refugee organizations across the county, I was moved and I want to emphasize that it takes a village. There are countless immigrants from all over the world that help shape this nation, this state, and this county."
Commissioner Singleton also noted $250,000 of emergency investments the Board directed in the wake of the Chair’s declaration of emergency to several immigrant legal service organizations, along with a mini-grant program that distributed funding to community-based organizations that did not have contracts with Multnomah County.
Chair Vega Pederson underscored the broader value of inclusion, quoting author Toni Morrison: “The destiny of the 21st century will be shaped by the possibility or the collapse of a shareable world.” She added, “It is because we are a diverse society that we are so strong. . . . Multnomah County remains committed to supporting our neighbors, families, and communities who are immigrants and refugees. All are welcome here today, tomorrow, no matter what.”
The session concluded with a multilingual reading of the proclamation by County employees in Armenian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Chinese, Portuguese and Russian. The proclamation included a mention of the County’s March 2026 codification of its sanctuary status, a rejection of xenophobia, recognition of immigrants’ vital role in the country's economic and cultural strength and resilience, and more.
