The city honors the executive director for her contributions to the community
The Portland City Council honored Street Roots Executive Director Kaia Sand this week with a Spirit of Portland Award, an annual award for individuals and groups who make outstanding contributions to the community.
Sand was nominated by Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who spoke publicly of Sand’s “compassion, fearlessness, integrity and tireless advocacy.” The honors were awarded during a ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 15.
As executive director of Street Roots, Sand returned to the street newspaper movement two decades after she was a staff reporter for Street Roots’ predecessor, Burnside Cadillac. During the intervening years, she worked as a poet, artist, community organizer and university professor at Portland State University, Pacific University, Willamette University and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Also receiving awards this week were the Sunrise Movement, writer S. Renee Mitchell, Portland Mercury Editor-in-Chief Wm. Steven Humphrey, the Oregon Public Broadcasting Senior Management Team, Madison High School coach Donald Dixon, the Oregon Native American Business Enterprise Network, Sandy Diedrich Stewardship, Columbia Land Trust, Angela Harris and Portland United Against Hate.
Spirit of Portland Award recipients are chosen by a selection committee composed of representatives from the mayor’s and city commissioners’ offices, the Office of Community & Civic Life, community leaders, and previous Spirit of Portland winners.
Kaia Sand is the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach her at kaia@streetroots.org. Follow her on Twitter @mkaiasand.
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