The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, March 4, celebrated its monthly Proclamation Day by approving four proclamations.
“Proclamations serve to honor, celebrate and recognize groups and individuals for their contributions and achievements, or to raise awareness of significant issues that are affecting our community here in Multnomah County,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.
“Today we’re creating space for four important proclamations that recognize the contributions of the procurement professionals at the County, recognize the New Year of Fire Horse; celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day; and raise awareness and support individuals affected by brain injuries.”
Procurement Month
Multnomah County proclaimed March 2026 as Procurement Month.
“I want to thank all our folks in procurement here at Multnomah County for all of the work that you do,” said Chair Vega Pederson, who co-sponsored the proclamation with the Department of County Management. “Multnomah County is the safety net government for our community, but none of the essential services we provide would be possible without our procurement professionals. They are the vehicle for delivering the 1.2 billion dollars that flow into our community to support services like shelters, libraries and preschool programs.”
County Purchasing Manager Brian Smith, joined by Deputy Purchasing Manager Barry Zimmerman, Procurement Operations Manager Emilie Schulhoff, and Supplier Diversity Officer Maggie Chavez, read the proclamation.
“Our practices do more than just buy things — we are intentional about considering the values inherent in each purchase and ensure that every dollar spent is an investment in a more equitable community” Smith said.
Schulhoff noted the scale of the department's output: “Over the last five years, our specialists have executed an average of 800 new contracts and 600 amendments per year. This requires deep knowledge of policy and strong relationships across the organization.”
Brain Injury Awareness Month
The Board proclaimed March 2026 as Brain Injury Awareness Month in Multnomah County.
“This is about people we love — neighbors, veterans, athletes and family members whose lives changed in an instant,” said Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, who co-sponsored the proclamation with the Department of County Human Services. “It is also a celebration of the resiliency of survivors who navigate changes in memory, mobility, and mental health with courage.”
Commissioner Brim-Edwards welcomed and thanked several experts and advocates, including Dr. Ahmad Raslan, Oregon Health & Science University’s Chair of Neurological Surgery; David Kracke, Oregon Brain Injury advocate coordinator; Matthew Kampfe, President and CEO of Brain Rehab Network, and former County employee and advocate Catherine Nickels.
According to the proclamation, an estimated 2.8 million Americans experience a brain injury each year, leading to nearly 2.5 million emergency department visits, 225,000 hospitalizations and 65,000 deaths annually.
“Today's proclamation is not only about creating awareness,” said Dr. Raslan. “It is about strengthening our shared commitment to prevention, research, rehabilitation, and support to the individuals and families living with brain injuries by working together across healthcare, research, public health and community leadership to continue to improve outcomes and expand opportunity for those affected.”
Brain injury affects people regardless of age, race, gender or ethnicity, and results from a multitude of causes, including motor vehicle crashes, falls, assault, sports injuries, military combat and training, aneurysm, alcohol or drug overdose, oxygen deprivation or stroke.
Nickels, who read the proclamation, said she learned about enduring a brain injury through the experience of her son, who fell while rock climbing eight years ago. “At that time, his prognosis was very grim,” said Nickels. “We were all told that he would not likely survive, that he would not likely come out of a coma, that he would never walk, that he would never return to work.
“He has done all of those things, and I want to honor and shout out his resilience. As he has gotten better, I've turned my attention to try to build out the supports and services we have in the state of Oregon and beyond.
“Survivors of brain injury demonstrate resilience, creativity and determination as they navigate changes in speech, memory, decision-making, mobility, mental health and other aspects of daily life. Caregivers, families, medical professionals, educators, employers and community organizations play an essential role in supporting recovery and helping survivors thrive.”
Chinese Lunisolar New Year
The Board proclaimed Feb. 17, 2026, as Chinese Lunisolar New Year in Multnomah County.
“The Lunar New Year celebration is a global event, and this is the Year of the Fire Horse,” said Commissioner Shannon Singleton, who co-sponsored the proclamation. “I want to thank the Vietnamese community of Oregon, Kenny Chen and Jun Zhu for bringing this proclamation forward. Their celebration was one of the most hopeful things I’ve experienced recently.”
The proclamation honored the international day celebrated by billions across East and Southeast Asia — including originally in China (Spring Festival), Vietnam (Tết), Korea (Seollal), Singapore and Malaysia — as well as the Asian diaspora worldwide.
“The Chinese Lunisolar New Year marks the beginning of a new year in the Lunar solar calendar, which coincides with the new spring of the year,” said Zhu, who read the proclamation. “We recognize the rich cultural diversity in Multnomah County. To reflect its roots and show cultural appreciation, we encourage diverse cultures to celebrate the new year in languages they prefer.”
Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day
The County proclaimed March 2026 as Women’s History Month and March 8, 2026, as International Women’s Day.
“In Multnomah County today and throughout the County's history, there have been so many inspiring women doing so many things for our community,” said Chair Vega Pederson, who co-sponsored the proclamation with Commissioner Singleton.
“This is true in formal leadership positions like my elected colleagues on the board and then the Auditor and Sheriff's office and the women who at this moment are leading almost every single department in the County, but it is also true of the thousands and thousands of women who are working or have worked across the county in service to their community.”
Commissioner Singleton noted the theme for International Women’s Day: Give to Gain.
“March 8 is International Women's Day, a holiday not widely recognized here in the U.S. Often women and femmes are known for giving to the collective and nurturing the community. I hope each of us is reminded that we gain when we give. We give of our time, our expertise, our perspectives.”
Salomé Chimuku, Commissioner Singleton’s Policy Director, introduced the proclamation. Director of Sustainability John Wasiutynski, Chair Vega Pederson’s Constituent Relations and Communications Liaison An Bui, and interim Communications Director Denis Theriault read the proclamation.
Congress declared March as National Women's History Month in 1987. This year’s theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
“The theme celebrates the diverse contributions of women who are leading sustainability efforts across environmental, economic, educational, and social justice movements,” said Wasiutynski.
“Whether developing green technologies, advancing economic justice, strengthening education systems, or building civic power, women are designing blueprints for sustainable transformation and creating a future that is rooted in equity, justice and opportunity for all.”
To honor this year’s theme, the proclamation recognized the efforts of the women in the County’s Office of Sustainability: Monique Smiley, Silvia Tanner and Jillian Hughes — whose work helps to ensure the Climate Justice Plan and the County’s climate goals are embedded within the County’s core services.
“Their work, alongside the countless contributions of women throughout the current Multnomah County enterprise, is helping to create a more sustainable future for our organization,” Theriault said.
“Multnomah County honors the long legacy of women leaders who set the course of making Multnomah County a place that celebrates, promotes and actively works towards a sustainable future for all County residents and will continue to fight for equal rights and justice for all women and girls in our community.”
