CANCELED: April 11 10 a.m. Event Honoring Civil Rights Champion Robert Phillips

April 11 update from Multnomah County: Today’s 10 a.m. event honoring civil rights champion Robert Phillips is canceled due to the spring snowstorm. The event will be rescheduled at a later date. In keeping with the spirit of Robert, we’ll plan for a brighter future!

The Multnomah County Chair, Managers of Color and the Portland Bureau of Transportation on Monday, April 11 will dedicate a memorial street sign in Northeast Portland to employment civil rights champion Robert Phillips. The outdoor event on NE Sixth Avenue honors the late Phillps’ commitment in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the City of Portland, Multnomah County and in the community. The sign, at NE Sixth and NE Fremont, is near his childhood home.

This event will include remarks by colleagues, friends and family and a release of doves. A recorded version will be posted at MultCoPresents on Youtube.

Order of Program: 

Master of Ceremony: Mr. Emmett Wheatfall  
Welcome and Acknowledgement of Guests
Special Prayer -  Reverend Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr. Lead Pastor, Allen Temple Church
Moment of Silence
Multnomah County Chair, Deborah Kafoury
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden letter read by Grace Stratton
U.S. Sen.Jeff Merkeley letter read by Sonja Hendrix 
Kay D. Toran, Volunteers of America Chief Executive Officer, Robert’s Confidant
Sherrell Jackson, LCSW 2018 Robert Phillips Award Recipient
Mohammad Bader, Multnomah County Managers of Color, Friend of Robert
Chris Warren, City of Portland - Director, Portland Bureau of Transportation
Ron Herndon, Director of Albina Head Start Program , Robert Phillips’ Lifelong Friend
Family Remarks - Jeannetta Byrd, Robert Phillip’s Sister
Acknowledgement and Gratitude- Gail Waters, Robert Phillip’s Sister
Class of 69 - Escort Family & Group to Sign for Revealing
Robert Phillips’ Sign Reveal
Dove Release

Robert Phillips Appreciation Day

Mr. Phillips, who died on April 15, 2020, served for decades as Multnomah County’s Affirmative Action Officer and on the Port of Portland’s Civil Service Commission, Nike Corporation’s Minority Affairs Advisory Board, Oregon State Commission on Black Affairs, Oregon State Board to Register Clinical Social Workers, Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Committee, City of Portland Diversity Program, was presented the 2009 Arthur Flemming Award by the Multnomah County Managers of Color, Black Affairs Political Development Award, Northwest Conference of Black Elected Officials Leadership Award, 2009 Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference Robert Phillips Regional Diversity Award. After retiring, he served on the NW Renal Patients Advisory Board, Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs Political Convention Planning Committee and the Port of Portland Fire Department Civil Service Board.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners also  proclaimed February 28, 2012, as Robert Phillips Appreciation Day.

What: Dedication of memorial street sign
When: 10 a.m. Monday, April 11, 2022
Where: Sixth  Avenue and N.E. Fremont Street  in Portland
Parking: North on NE Sixth