The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday, Nov. 4, celebrated its monthly Proclamation Day, adopting four proclamations observing Filipino American History, Family Caregivers and Native American Heritage months, along with Veterans Day.
“Proclamations serve to honor, celebrate and recognize groups and individuals for their contributions and achievements or to raise awareness of significant issues affecting our community here in Multnomah County,” Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said.
Filipino American History Month
The Board proclaimed for the first time ever October as Filipino American History Month in Multnomah County, celebrating the positive impact Filipino Americans have in our community. More than 50,000 Oregonians identify as Filipino, reflecting a vibrant and growing community whose contributions reach communities across the state. Portland is home to the largest Filipino population in Oregon — an estimated 9,400 Filipino residents — followed by Hillsboro, which has 4,100 Filipino residents, and Gresham, which has nearly 3,000.
Chair Vega Pederson and Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards co-sponsored the proclamation.
“Each year, Filipino American History Month provides an opportunity to reflect on, recognize and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans across our nation, and here in Oregon and Multnomah County,” said Chair Vega Pederson.
“Filipino American History Month is an opportunity to celebrate these contributions, recognize the generations who helped build our communities and ensure their stories remain an important part of our shared history,” said Commissioner Brim-Edwards. “It's also a reminder of our responsibility to foster a community where people of all backgrounds are welcomed, valued and have the opportunity to thrive.
“I want to thank the Filipino American community, leaders, families and organizations who continue to strengthen our County through their leadership, service and cultural traditions.”
October 2026 marked the 439th anniversary of the earliest documented proof of a Filipino presence on the shores of the west coast of the continental United States.
“With over 50,000 Filipino Americans calling Oregon home, Filipino Americans are reaching new levels of visibility and recognition,” said Christian Aniciete, a County marketing and communications manager who is also a Filipino American immigrant. “From Broadway star and Disney princess Lea Salonga becoming the first Filipino American to receive a Hollywood Walk of Fame star to the recent release of DreamWorks’ animated film, ‘Forgotten Island,’ it’s an honor for the County to commemorate October as Filipino American History Month.”
Filipino Americans make up one of the largest Asian ethnic communities in the United States, with more than 4.4 million people nationwide identifying as Filipino alone or in combination with another race or ethnic group.
“This anniversary is a significant time to study the advancement of Filipino Americans — a time of celebration, remembrance, reflection and motivation — and a relevant time for all of our citizens to learn and appreciate more about Filipino Americans and their historic contributions to Oregon and the rest of our nation,” read Fel G. Preligera, president emeritus of the Filipino American National Historical Society Oregon Chapter.
Family Caregivers Month
The Board proclaimed the month of November as Family Caregivers Month, which acknowledges the selfless and often unpaid labor that Multnomah County’s family caregivers provide to support a family member or loved one who is aging, has a disability, and/or lives with dementia. Commissioner Meghan Moyer sponsored the proclamation alongside Department of County Human Services (DCHS) Director Rachel Pearl.
November has been recognized as National Family Caregivers Month since 1997. The 2026 theme in Multnomah County is “Caregiving Around the Clock,” which acknowledges that caregiving continues through all hours of the day and night.
Chair Vega Pederson said this proclamation is near and dear to her heart.
“I believe family caregiving is one of the most important calls a person can answer. It's an immensely rewarding and challenging calling,” Chair Vega Pederson said. “I'm pleased to once again recognize the extraordinary dedication of the caregivers in our community.
Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon spoke about his family's experience when his brother had to take on a caregiving role at a young age for their great-grandmother.
“This proclamation is a stark reminder that we need to be extremely intentional as far as connecting families to resources," Jones-Dixon said. "And it's a reminder to pause and acknowledge the challenges that we face and how we as a community care for each other.”
According to the proclamation, approximately 150,000 Multnomah County residents are part of the "sandwich generation" that cares for both young kids and aging parents at the same time. Women are overrepresented in family caregiving especially if they are a person of color or from an immigrant background. And in some cases, caregiving is done by chosen family members rather than those who are biologically or legally related to the person needing care — an arrangement that is especially prevalent in LGBTQ+ communities.
Representatives from the DCHS Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division, as well as the Family Advocates of Employee Resource Group, which advocates for families and caregivers through workplace policies, practices and initiatives, read the proclamation.
“It's always the hope that some of the caregivers in the community could make this event, but it's really hard because caregiving is a full-time job,” said Jen Foreman, a program specialist for the County’s Family Caregiver Support Program. “It's my honor to, on behalf of them, read this proclamation.”
In honor of Family Caregiver Month, Commissioner Moyer and her office will host a screening and panel discussion of the film, “Take Me Home,” on Thursday, Dec. 3, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Multnomah Building Boardroom (501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland). The film addresses family caregiving, issues with support structures and the inequities facing disabled people.
“I want to invite everyone who is interested or impacted by family caregiving to talk about how we can better support family caregivers,” said Moyer.
Observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2026
The Board proclaimed the Observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11. In 1954, Congress formally created Veterans Day to pay tribute to all American veterans and current service members, renaming Armistice Day, which had been celebrated as a federal holiday since 1938. Multnomah County is home to an estimated 31,614 of the 15.8 million veterans in the U.S.
“Our veterans have served our country with courage and commitment, and we owe them more than our gratitude — we owe them meaningful support when they return home,” said Commissioner Brim-Edwards, who co-sponsored the proclamation with Commissioner Shannon Singleton. “That means ensuring veterans and their families can access the housing, healthcare, behavioral health services and benefits they've earned.”
She also thanked the County's Veterans’ Services program staff and community partners who work every day to connect veterans with the services and support they need.
For the fourth year in a row, Multnomah County will join the National Association of Counties in participating in Operation Green Light for Veterans. The Morrison Bridge will be illuminated in green lights in the days leading up to Veterans Day to signal the County’s support for veterans and to inspire veterans to reach out to their County veteran service officers.
Multnomah County Veterans’ Services staff members Tina Wilson and Carmen Young read the proclamation.
“Multnomah County continues to work toward greater inclusivity and equity as we support people who have served our country,” read Wilson. “We seek to better understand the needs of these individuals and communities, to provide care for veterans at the full intersectionality of their lives and identities, and to meet their needs as they transition back to civilian life.”
Native American Heritage Month and a Commitment to Continued Collaboration with Native American Communities
The Board of County Commissioners proclaimed November 2026 as Native American Heritage Month, while also solidifying the County’s commitment to continue its collaborative relationship with Native American communities in relation to its policies, procedures and practices to address mutual priorities.
The proclamation celebrates “the history, cultures and contributions of Native people and communities throughout Multnomah County,” said Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, who sponsored the proclamation with Tribal Relations Liaison JR Lilly (Diné).
“Our name, ‘Multnomah,’ is derived from the Multnomah, who are a band of Chookab people, and we conduct our daily business on Indigenous soil. We recognize that we are occupants, guests and stewards of this land originally cared for by bands with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.”
Today, more than 380 Tribal Nations are represented throughout Multnomah County, “shaping our region with their invaluable contributions, passing down strong cultural practices, knowledge and values rooted in tradition and community,” according to the proclamation.
Lilly thanked the Board for their work “to support our Native American communities and tribes and help protect our sovereignty.”
Lilly was joined by Renea Perry (Tlingit/Inupiat/North European) from the Center for Tribal Nations and Multnomah County Homeless Mobile Intake Team staff member Dustin Ilar (Pomo), who together read the proclamation in English. A representative of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Raven Star (Athabascan, Yup’ik and Colville on her maternal side, and Eastern Shoshone and Ute on her paternal side) read the proclamation in Chinook Wawa, a regional Tribal language.
Multnomah County is committed to both “engaging our Native employees and identifying and addressing systemic barriers” and “working together in a spirit of mutual recognition, respect, and reconciliation towards strengthened relationships and services in partnership with tribal communities and our employees,” Perry read.
