Contact: Shawn Uhlman, PDC, 503-823-7994

June 17, 2015

Portland’s most visible and successful technology companies have joined together to issue a challenge to their industry peers: take the “Tech Diversity Pledge” and improve training and hiring practices to create a more diverse workforce.

Supported by the Portland Development Commission, Technology Association of Oregon, and Worksystems, Inc., more than a dozen companies have signed a letter outlining agreed-upon actions to improve diversity in their respective organizations.

“The roots of gender and race underrepresentation in technology go deep into our education system and society. The work we are taking on as rising tech companies to bring these issues to the surface is important. But it is just the beginning,” said Sam Blackman, CEO and co-founder of Elemental. “Today’s announcement is a call to action. To effect enduring change, every company in Oregon’s tech sector must proactively support inclusivity and diversity.”

The collaborating companies have agreed to partner with groups in Portland that can assist with hiring and career advancement for underrepresented communities; create and implement strategies to increase hiring of women and communities of color; educate staff on unconscious workplace biases and implement specific actions designed to alleviate them; provide internal development and progression programs, and ensure underrepresented employees can access these programs; and share industry data on the demographic representation of gender and race within their offices in the Portland metro area.

The Tech Diversity Pledge continues a series of cooperative initiatives among Portland’s software leaders, facilitated by PDC, including two videos extolling the virtues of Portland as both a smart business location and hospitable environment to grow a tech career.