Since Oregon’s initial shutdown in March 2020, small businesses have had to constantly adapt to changing public health guidelines. In particular, businesses owned by women, immigrants and Black, Indigenous and people of color have been disproportionately impacted.

The need to support these businesses and the communities they serve led me to my role as president of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon since 2018 and now as co-chair of the Community Chamber Coalition.

Over the past two years, we have made significant progress, including helping secure $32 million in state and federal funds for emergency assistance that helped Oregon small businesses survive the pandemic.