Our Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Statement

We know that post-secondary education is challenging for many young people. Systemic racial inequities and cultural and gender bias in expectations and curricula options negatively impact low-income, BIPOC, female, and LGBTQ students. For many, these factors are exacerbated by harmful neighborhood environmental conditions, lack of access to health care, unsafe communities, and poverty, further compounding the barriers to learning.

A lack of access to post-secondary education is one of the primary systemic obstacles in building generational wealth for marginalized individuals. It is a major driver of poverty in the United States, limiting opportunities for individuals to achieve success, grow out of poverty, and participate as equitable community members. Rising costs and increased debt are an additional and significant factor in making access to higher education challenging. 

Recognizing the important role that education plays in improving lives, Stumptown Scholars is committed to doing its part to increase access to higher education. We are giving local Portland students financial resources to help make college a reality. Each year we are reaching more students. When we started our scholarship program, we awarded one scholarship at one high school. Over the next seven years, we awarded scholarships to more than 40 students from six local high schools. To reach even more students, we have formed a non-profit corporation, Stumptown Scholars, increasing the number of schools we work with in Portland as well as the number and size of scholarships we award.  

We encourage applications from students of all cultural, racial, and economic backgrounds, and all gender identities and sexual orientations. Knowing that diverse voices are needed to make the best possible decisions with the funds donors have entrusted to Stumptown Scholars, we are committed to including individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences on our Board and committees. At Stumptown Scholars, we believe that we are better together when all voices participate, and we acknowledge our responsibility to change past systemic exclusions that have adversely impacted marginalized communities.